Madam Speaker, during this Black History Month, I would like to draw the attention of this House to two young dynamic leaders who are making a difference in Montreal's West Island: Kemba Mitchell and Akilah Newton.
As president of the West Island Black Community Association, Kemba, along with her team, including Joan Lee and Maria Durant, is leading this long-standing pillar of the West Island community groups network into a new era with new and varied activities.
Akilah Newton has channelled her passion for the arts into grassroots community action. A graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, she returned to the West Island to create Overture with the Arts, a non-profit organization that enables young people to pursue their passion for the performing arts when financial circumstances may not otherwise permit.
Through their community vision and contributions, Kemba and Akilah are strengthening our community and enriching the quality of life of West Islanders.