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Episode 8: "It’s Okay to Admit That You Are Still Not Okay" with Dr. Cinera Cartwright

Release Date: 08/30/2024

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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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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

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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...

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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,...

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

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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...

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Dr. Cartwright obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University with a double major in biology and psychology. She attended Dalhousie Medical School and obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2017. She completed her psychiatry residency training at Dalhousie University in 2023. She is currently the Clinical Academic Leader for the Transcultural Psychiatry Program at Dalhousie University, Department of Psychiatry. In this role, Dr. Cartwright is working to provide culturally competent psychiatric services to multiple underserved and equity deserving groups including Black/African Nova Scotian, Indigenous, Newcomers, and people experiencing homelessness.

It was a pleasure hosting the inspiring Dr. Cinera Cartwright for our Feature Friday this month!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Cinera

6:15 - The people in Cinera’s life that have inspired her

10:05 - How Cinera decided to choose a career path in Medicine

18:50 - Cinera’s experience in post secondary education

26:25 - The legacy of racism in Nova Scotia and how it has affected Black Nova Scotians in the education system

34:34 - Cinera and the passing of her Mom and how she still plays a role in her life

56:25 - Cinera on the importance of culture competency

1:04:00 - Cinera’s current work

1:10:40 - Resources for psychiatric support

1:16:05 - Navigating the mental health stigma that still exists