Ware Syrus Marcus

Syrus Marcus Ware is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University. A scholar, visual artist, activist, curator and educator, Syrus uses painting, installation and performance to explore social justice frameworks and Black activist culture. His work has been shown widely across Canada in solo and group shows, and his performance works have been part of local and international festivals. He is part of the Performance Disability Art Collective. Syrus is cofounder of Black Lives Matter Canada and a core-team member of Black Lives Matter - Toronto. Syrus is curator of the That's So Gay show and a co-curator of Blackness Yes!/Blockorama. Syrus has published widely and is the co-editor of the best-selling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (URP, 2020), and the illustrator of the children's book I Promise written by Catherine Hernandez. Syrus lives in Tkaronto (also known as Toronto, Canada)

Alannah Fricker is a mom, caregiver, community organizer, artist, activist, educator, and Registered Social Worker living in Toronto/Tkaronto. She has organized with the Toronto Prisoners' Rights Project, Abolition Coalition, and Students for Harm Reduction, and is involved in a wide variety of mutual aid, popular education, direct action, and creative arts projects focused on building a world where we keep each other safe. Alannah is currently completing her Master's of Arts in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. Abolition is Love is the first children's book she has illustrated.