June Highlights: Celebrating Excellence, Culture, Diversity, and Belonging
- opeyemi kayode
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
June was a month of growth, collaboration, and community impact. From empowering the next generation of creative entrepreneurs through Empowered Strides x Moncton Creates to celebrating Canadian Multiculturalism Day across New Brunswick, this month reflected UCOF's continued commitment to creating opportunities where creativity, culture, and belonging thrive.
As we continue preparing for the 2026 UCOF Fall Fashion Festival, every initiative reinforces our belief that when communities invest in people, creativity flourishes and lasting impact follows.
Empowered Strides x Moncton Creates Cohort 2 Takes Off
One of the month's most exciting milestones was the launch of Empowered Strides x Moncton Creates Cohort 2, a collaborative initiative between United Colours of Fashion (UCOF) and The Mandate Development Centre (TMDC).
Running from June 6 to August 8, 2026, this 10-week hybrid program now serves participants across Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton, expanding access to creative entrepreneurship opportunities for youth throughout New Brunswick.
Designed for young people aged 15 to 30 from diverse ethnocultural communities, the program brings together aspiring designers, photographers, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, content creators, storytellers, and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to transform their talents into meaningful careers and sustainable businesses.
The journey officially began on June 6 with an engaging orientation session that welcomed both new participants and alumni into a collaborative learning community. Through networking activities and interactive discussions, participants began building relationships, setting personal goals, and preparing for an exciting summer of learning and creative exploration.
Month of Learning and Growth
As the program progressed, participants engaged in a series of hands-on workshops designed to strengthen both their creative practice and professional development.
Week 2 focused on developing culturally responsive creative leadership. During The Culturally Competent Creative, facilitated by Olukayode Olusope, participants explored the powerful relationship between creativity, culture, identity, inclusion, and community impact. They also participated in Culturally Respectful Communication, led by Christine Eruokwu, where they learned practical communication strategies for navigating cultural differences, building meaningful relationships, and overcoming communication barriers in diverse environments.
The week concluded with an inspiring Storytelling and Concept Development session facilitated by Maria de Fátima Lima, where participants refined creative ideas, developed compelling narratives, and explored how storytelling can transform artistic concepts into meaningful community impact.
During Week 3, participants shifted their focus toward Branding and Creative Presentation. Facilitated virtually by Olukorede Taiwo, the session challenged participants to build authentic personal brands, strengthen their creative identity, and communicate their unique value with confidence. The in-person workshop, led by Esther Ibang, encouraged participants to think intentionally about how they present themselves professionally and position their creative work for long-term success.
The month concluded with Week 4: Turning Talents into Income Through Entrepreneurship, facilitated by Ronald Moncada. Participants explored practical pathways to building sustainable creative businesses by identifying opportunities, understanding entrepreneurship, and developing strategies to transform their passion into purpose.
With six weeks still ahead, participants will continue building the knowledge, confidence, and professional networks needed to launch successful creative careers.
Interested in learning more about Empowered Strides or joining a future cohort? Visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for program updates and future opportunities.
Canadian Multiculturalism Day
On June 27, UCOF proudly joined communities across New Brunswick in celebrating the Multiculturalism Day. From the vibrant festivities at Market Square in Saint John to the celebrations at Riverfront Park in Moncton, the day brought together people of diverse cultures, traditions, and backgrounds in a joyful celebration of community.
The events featured multicultural parades, cultural performances, international cuisine, community exhibits, family-friendly activities, and countless opportunities to connect across cultures. More importantly, they served as a reminder that our differences are one of our greatest strengths and that every culture contributes something valuable to the communities we call home.
At UCOF, celebrating multiculturalism is a commitment for us to keep creating spaces where cultures are celebrated, stories are shared, and everyone feels seen, welcomed, and valued.
Looking Ahead
The work doesn’t stop here. As our Empowered Strides participants continue their 10-week journey, we look forward to seeing new ideas take shape, new connections grow, and creative dreams become reality.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We invite you to continue following our stories, highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments as we prepare for the upcoming UCOF Fall Fashion Festival. There is so much more to come, and we cannot wait to share it with you.
