I'm Making History in 2025 on the Legacy Black History Month Poster!

I have known Robert Small for decades. Way before he became an acclaimed artist and a proud Order of Canada recipient. I knew him when we were both just entering university, still trying to figure out life and teetering between irresponsible carefree teenagers and focused young adults of academia. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch mainly through community events and activism, but also through a long mutually respectful friendship. I have supported and encouraged him with his Black History Month posters and the later expansion of his brand to the Legacy Collexion. He has been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout my six year entrepreneurial journey. So when he asked me to give him a call in late October, I just thought it had to do with something personal - boy was I wrong.

Over the years, I have watched people I know and admire be immortalized for their accomplishments on Rob’s Black History Month Poster. Folks such as The Honourable Jean Augustine, (my mentor) the legendary journalist Jojo Chintoh, The Honourable Marci Ien, Community activist Ginelle Skerritt, former Governor General Michaelle Jean and so many more. Rob has been creating these posters for more than three decades! But more importantly he has been documenting African Canadian history and making sure it is visible in schools, banks, corporations, community spaces - I even saw his poster in the background on an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation!

So when Rob called and asked for my permission to include me on the 2025 poster celebrating four female trailblazers: El Jones - Advocate for social change; Wendie Wilson - Artistic and educational leader; Anna Ardella “Jacobs” - Founding president of the historic 100 Hours a Day organization; and then there is me: Journalist and Media Changemaker, you could have knocked me over with a feather.

To say that this has been The Year of Fennella is an understatement. As I wrote in a previous blog, the awards and acknowledgements that I have received in 2024 have been mind-blowing. They have come from my peers, my industry, my community, corporate Canada and one of my alumni educational institutions. This honour from Rob tops off a phenomenal year of accolades for all of my hard work.

I encourage everyone to purchase a poster - or a few of them from Rob’s website. And not because I am on the 2025 edition! We’re in an age of Instagram and a million digital photos we forget about on our phone. Encyclopedias are extinct. There are very few documents we can touch or examine that tell our history - and I don’t just mean Black history, because although it’s categorized on his site, what Rob is doing is Canadian history. Our children need to see and learn about it. Put his posters up in your homes, in community centres, libraries, schools, hallways - wherever people can see them. I admire Rob’s tireless effort to educate a country for more than 30 years. There are very few people who are willing to dedicate their adult life to one mission.

Thank you Rob….I appreciate you. As you see me, I also see you.