Our guest for this months Feature Friday is Vanessa Hartley!

Vanessa Hartley is an 8th-generation Black Loyalist descendant, born and raised in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her work and volunteer efforts demonstrate a deep commitment to Black history, Community Engagement, and Environmental Justice within her home province.

Hartley began her career at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in 2019, serving as Program Coordinator and Visitor Experience Supervisor, where she developed a love for Black history and Community Engagement. After completing her education, she returned to her community to support adults with different abilities. Seeking further growth, she joined the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education (TCRCE) as a Community Outreach Coordinator, which led her to The PREP Academy as Community Engagement Lead.

Her dedication to community service has been recognized, notably in 2021 when she was awarded Provincial Volunteer of the Year, representing the Municipality of Shelburne. She chaired the South End Environmental Injustice Society (SEED) from 2019-2022, an organization recognized for its efforts in fighting environmental racism in historic African Nova Scotian communities. Hartley also volunteered for the Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) as the Rural COVID Community Coordinator, part of the ABSW/HACC Covid response team. Additionally, she was the Community Regional Researcher with the Delmore "Buddy" Daye Learning Institute, developing research for an Afrocentric Framework for Recognition of Prior
Learning.

Furthermore, Hartley was the Project Manager for the Provincial Environmental Racism Panel and was a research assistant to Dr. Ingrid Waldron's research project, "Genes and Geography: Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Outcomes in a Black Canadian Community. She also worked as the African Nova Scotian Student Support Worker at Lockeport elementary and high school and is currently the Active Living Coordinator for the Municipality of Barrington.

Vanessa Hartley is also the co-founder and president of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), a community-based board established from the historical Bill C-226, aiming to redress environmental harms and injustice in her hometown of Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

It was a pleasure hosting the inspiring Vanessa Hartley on our Feature Friday this month!

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Alfred Burgesson!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Alfred Burgesson

2:50 - From Ghana to Cape Breton to Halifax!

6:40 - Family values for Alfred

8:05 - Alfred on taking risks in life

12:30 - Alfred on finding your tribe and starting Tribe Network

21:50 - Alfred on dealing with imposter syndrome

27:20 - What does success look like at Tribe for Alfred?

34:20 - Strategic collaboration over competition

36:20 - Where does Alfred see Tribe in 10 years?

40:15 - Alfred’s experience with the ANS Lab committee

42:55 - One word checkout with Alfred!

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is DeRico Symonds!

DeRico Symonds is a 8th generation African Nova Scotian currently employed with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute as the Director of Engagement and Justice Initiatives.

DeRico Symonds is the founder and President of Ignite Consulting, as well as a founding member of two non-profit organizations, ACCE (Arts, Culture, Community, Economics) and GC902 (Game Changers 902), a social justice advocacy group based in Halifax.

DeRico has been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Century of Service Award, the Irving & Ruth Pink award for youth development and social justice, and the Dr Burnley “Rocky” Jones Human Right award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

With an extensive career in community work in our racialized and marginalized communities, DeRico has a wealth of community engagement experience. DeRico provides counselling to marginalized youth and is called upon during incidences of gun violence in our Black communities. DeRico Symonds is also an Impact Race and Cultural Assessor (IRCA) with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute serving Atlantic Canada.

It was a pleasure hosting the motivational and community-driven DeRico Symonds on our podcast this month!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to DeRico Symonds

2:30 - DeRico on his upbringing

15:00 - How DeRico translated his experiences to where he is today

21:20 - DeRico on his experience and lessons learned at university

40:10 - DeRico’s post-university work

56:40 - DeRico on being politically informed

1:05:30 - DeRico on the work he’s currently doing

1:15:05 - DeRico on his consulting work

1:20:50 - “Always Take the Stairs”

1:28:35 - One word checkout