An opportunity for young adults from the Black community to share stories, experiences and struggles with a focus on gifts, strengths and opportunities within our communities as well as in trying to address issues such as racism, violence, and spiritual disconnectedness.
Participants will have the chance to reflect on the resources, and needs of our communities while opportunities will be provided to analyze and discuss some of the root causes and barriers for Black Canadians in realizing their full potential. This will be a time for young Black leaders to network, collectively develop strategies, and gain tools in order to thrive and excel while actively addressing injustices. We will refine our skill-set specifically in regards to facilitation, community organizing, and activism.
Program Cost: $0 This program is generously supported by funding through Green Shield Canada.
Leadership
Ann Marie Beals
Ann-Marie Beals was born in Dartmouth, NS, and is the oldest of six children. Though she grew up in downtown Dartmouth and North Dartmouth, her people come from North Preston. She has spent the majority of her working life as a banker, but realized during a mid-life reflection that it was not her calling and decided to go into education, where she feels very comfortable and loves working with children. She believes in life-long learning and is currently enrolled at Mount Saint Vincent University studying Psychology.
She is the happy Mom of three beautiful girls, one who has graduated university in Toronto, one in her third year at NSCAD and one entering high school. She believes we must live in a just and fair world, but she understands that we do not all live in such a place, especially if one’s skin colour is different than most. She feels it is of the utmost importance to teach our children the skills require to successfully navigate a world where all are not considered equal, yet want and deserve to live a contented successful life.
Barbara Hamilton-Hinch
Barbara Hamilton-Hinch is Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University and was previously the Black Student Advisor at Dalhousie University (a position she helped develop as a student in 1988). She was one of the first full-time female General Managers of the Community YMCA in Halifax, a Regional Educator for the Black Educators Association and worked internationally in the Gambia West Africa, educating children on the importance of health with the Nova Scotia Gambia Association.
She is actively involved in a number of community groups including Connecting to Africa, which strives to take students and community members to a country in Africa every second year and Imhotep Legacy, a Dalhousie based program funded by several organizations that strive to increase the number of students of African descent enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. She is presently completing her PhD and her area of research interest is looking at the impact of racism on individual’s health and well-being. She considers herself an advocate for “marginalized populations” and often delivers workshops and training in Diversity.
Amanda Reddick
Amanda Reddick, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator, has a background in Peace and Conflict Studies which compliments her passion for community building and social justice. Amanda is a certified Dialogue for Peaceful Change Mediator, a member of the Black Leadership Advisory Committee and the Program Resource Group at the Tatamagouche Centre. She works with the Canadian Centre for Diversity as the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick Regional Program Manager.