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Episode 2: "Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed" with Nickaya Parris

Release Date: 02/23/2024

S2E6: “If You’re Committed to the Legislation, What Are You Doing to Get There?” | A Conversation on Environmental Racism and the Fight for Justice with Vanessa Hartley

Feature Friday

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...

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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...

S2E3: "More Than Just an Athlete" with Daneesha Provo

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S2E2: "Let Your Light Shine No Matter Who Gets Blinded by It" with Angelina Simmonds

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday, as well as first guest of season 2, is Angelina Simmonds! From North Preston, Angelina spent much of her early life as an athlete including basketball and competitive swimming. Competing provincially and nationally, and holding records in Nova Scotia. Driven to uplift women and girls through empowerment and confidence-building, Angelina founded Black Girls Pillow Talk (BGPT) in 2023 to create nurturing and encouraging spaces for young Black girls to share their lived experiences, prompt the healing of intergenerational...

S2E1: The Shift: Growth, Gratitude, and Fresh Perspectives

Feature Friday

Season 2 of Feature Friday is brought to you by the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative administered by the Black Business Initiative. In this episode, hosts Aaliyah Arab-Smith and Trevor Silver dive into the vision and mission of Feature Friday, share what’s in store for the new season, and let you know how to get involved. They’ll also update you on what they’ve personally been up to this year! For years, Feature Friday has been a platform dedicated to amplifying voices, sharing experiences, and celebrating the achievements of ANS (African Nova Scotian)...

Bonus Episode: Experience is the Key to Knowledge

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Join us for this bonus episode brought to you by the Youth Climate Action Fund, where the ONE team of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Ambassadors—Josh Paris, Sarah Yehayes, and Leah Khisa—share their experiences in raising awareness about climate change within African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia. Their goal is to engage you in a dialogue around 'green jobs', a crucial step to help close the employment gap for Black individuals and African Nova Scotians aged 18 to 35 in our province. In this episode, Rodney Small, Josh Paris, Sarah Yehayes, Leah Khisa,...

Episode 12: "Not everyone approaches Black students with love" with Ashley Hill

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Ashley Hill! Ashley Hill is an African Nova Scotian woman, creator and social entrepreneur. With over 10 years of combined experience working in corporate and non-profit industries, she has led strategy, fundraising, donor engagement, community outreach, student engagement, program evaluation and program development. She's inspired to serve Black students as they shape their way forward to being young trailblazers, and to be a guide to changemakers who want to launch non-profit organizations. As the Founder of The PREP Academy, a...

Episode 11: "It Takes Two to Tango" with Chaz Samuel

Feature Friday

This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise. To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361. Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Chaz Samuel! Chaz Samuel was born and raised on the island of Antigua. He moved to Halifax in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor’s of Commerce at Saint Mary’s University. From a very young age he fell in love with basketball. He played collegiate basketball at...

Episode 10: “You’re Not Doing Anything Until They Can See It” with Lindell Smith

Feature Friday

Lindell Smith is a lifelong resident of the North End Halifax, and a proud father. Co-founder of Center Line Studio, a non-profit recording studio for youth who want to express themselves through art and music. In 2016, Lindell was elected as City Councillor for District 8 Halifax Peninsula North. Lindell has been a member at large on The Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), which is a provincial advisory council that provides advice and guidance to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development on educational programs, services and funding for African Nova Scotian...

More Episodes

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Nickaya Parris! Born in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and raised in the Community of Uniacke Square, Nickaya Parris is a recognized role model within the African Nova Scotian community, who she pays major homage to as they have crowned her with resiliency and plasticity while showing her the importance of self-discipline and hard work. Nickaya allows her passion for nutrition, healthcare, and underserved communities to lead her daily.

Currently working at the Population Public Health level as a Food Security Policy Analyst for the Provincial Government of NS, Nickaya is also a Registered Dietitian (RD) and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) Degree in Nutrition and Food Science and a Certificate in Food Security from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH) Nutrition & Dietetics with a Clinical Nutrition Specialization from the University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

It is an honor to host Nickaya as this is a full circle moment as Nickaya was the original "hostess with the mostess" for our "Feature Friday."

Show notes:

00:00 - Introducing Nickaya Parris

6:00 - Nickaya’s vocalness and how she uses her outgoing personality to her advantage

17:20 - Importance of family structure and support

23:30 - Nickaya’s different perspectives of growing up

34:24 - Interpreting culture from an ANS perspective

43:00 - Touching on historic ANS communities

55:20 - Finding self guidance from within

1:02:00 - Being a role model in the community

1:07:00 - What is Nickaya up to currently?

1:20:25 - One word check out!