Black Public Joy Special Literary and Cultural Gathering with Jay Pitter

Black Public Joy book launch and reading is a special literary and cultural gathering featuring a live reading from Jay Pitter’s new book, followed by an audience Q&A. Using Jay Pitter’s public joy framework, which she defines as civic, cultural, and spatial infrastructure, the conversation will expand to include the place-based perspectives of Indigenous planner Jessie Hemphill. A special moment of honour will be held to recognize a local elder featured in the book, grounding the gathering in lineage, legacy, and intergenerational connection.

Extending beyond a traditional book event, the gathering, moderated by Aftab Erfan, is designed as a sacred storytelling space—anchored in culture, conversation, and connection—with a reception, music, and a live hair braiding ritual that honours the embodied, communal, and intergenerational dimensions of public joy.

Copies of Black Public Joy will be available for sale at this event thanks to Iron Dog Books, and Jay will be signing books during the reception. If you'd like to purchase a copy in advance, check out a local bookstore such as Iron Dog or Massy Books!

This event is sponsored by the David and Cecilia Ting Endowment and co-presented by SFU Public Square and the SFU Centre for Dialogue. It is part of the second offering of When the Map is Useless: Conversations for a World in Transition series — a multi-year series that convenes SFU and the broader community to strengthen public sense-making and civic discourse during a time of profound social, political, and ecological change. This initiative is supported in part by the North Family Foundation.

As this event is free, and free events routinely have a high number of no-shows, it is our policy to overbook. In case of a full event, registration may not guarantee entry. Seating is limited and will be available to registered attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event will be hosted at the The Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre, 149 W Hastings St., Vancouver.

The building is accessible at street level on Hastings Street or via one of the two ramps on the Cordova Street Courtyard side. One ramp is located near the entrance to the Woodward’s Westbank Atrium, which houses Nesters Market. The other is located beside the Cambie Street alley. Push buttons that open accessible doors are located at both the Hastings and Cordova entrances.

The venue is wheelchair-accessible via ramp from floor level. Public washrooms are available on the B2, 2, 3 and 4 levels of the building. All public washrooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible stalls. Gender Neutral washrooms are available on the 3rd floor and on the B2 level.

Our community guidelines are intended to ensure the safety of all guest speakers and event participants, and to foster honest, socially accountable dialogue at our events. Thank you for respecting our community guidelines!

• Above all, there will be zero tolerance for those who promote violence or discrimination against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, or disability. Anyone who incites harm towards other participants (whether through chat, video, audio or otherwise) will be removed at the discretion of our technical team and moderator.
• Don’t assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance. Please refer to people using the usernames and/or pronouns they provide.
• Take space, make space: share your perspective, and make space for other voices to be heard too. Recognize that we are all here to learn.
• Practice self-care in whatever way you need to. If you need to get up or take a break, please do so.

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Host or Publisher SFU Public Square