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
Release Date: 06/27/2025
S2E10: "A Marble in Honey" with Nathan Simmons | PART 2
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Nathan Simmons. Nathan is an actor of compelling presence and range, best known for his role as Elgin Williams on the supernatural horror-mystery series FROM. Hailing from the historical Black communities of East and North Preston in Nova Scotia, Simmons brings both authenticity and nuance to his craft. He graduated from the acting program at the Fountain School of the Arts in 2017, laying a solid foundation in theatre before making the transition to screen. Early in his career, Simmons distinguished himself in Canadian theatre,...
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S2E10: "A Marble in Honey" with Nathan Simmons | PART 1
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Nathan Simmons. Nathan is an actor of compelling presence and range, best known for his role as Elgin Williams on the supernatural horror-mystery series FROM. Hailing from the historical Black communities of East and North Preston in Nova Scotia, Simmons brings both authenticity and nuance to his craft. He graduated from the acting program at the Fountain School of the Arts in 2017, laying a solid foundation in theatre before making the transition to screen. Early in his career, Simmons distinguished himself in Canadian theatre,...
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S2E9: "Turning Impulsivity into Possibility" with Damini Awoyiga
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Damini Awoyiga. Damini is a student, an activist, a spoken word poet, and the former Halifax’s Youth Poet Laureate (2023-2024). Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club, a book club created to encourage young people to read books written by Black and Indigenous authors and to share the realities and experiences of Black and Indigenous Canadians. Damini was the Junior Artist in Residence for Wellness Within, a community organization working for reproductive justice, prison abolition, and health equity;...
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S2E8: "All Things in Time" with Tyree Haley
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Tyree Haley. Tyree Haley is a model, actor, and fitness coach with a deep passion for helping others unlock their full potential. Now based in Thailand, he runs a wellness retreat on the island of Koh Tao and teaches English part-time, supporting Thai locals in his community. Originally from Halifax, Tyree previously worked as an African Nova Scotian recruiter and served on the board of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI). He has also walked in New York, Paris and most recently Thailand Fashion Week respectively. Ty lives by the...
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S2E7: The Future of Black Land Ownership Starts Here | Shekara Grant & Curtis Whiley
Feature Friday
Our guests for this month’s double feature is Shekara Grant and Curtis Whiley! Shekara Grant has ancestral ties to both Cherry Brook and Weymouth Falls, two of over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities in this province. She graduated from Dalhousie University with combined honours in Sociology and French and a Certificate in Intercultural Communications in 2019. In 2023, Shekara founded the Weymouth Falls Community Land Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a platform for a vibrant community voice that stewards the land of Weymouth Falls by intersecting...
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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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S2E5: "Find Your Tribe" with Alfred Burgesson
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Alfred Burgesson! Alfred Burgesson is an entrepreneur committed to driving inclusive innovation, economic growth, and social impact. Recognized as a 30 Under 30 Innovator and Top 50 CEO by Atlantic Business Magazine, a Changemaker by Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, and the recipient of the Public Policy Forum 2025 Emerging Leader Award. He is the Founder & CEO of Tribe Network, a thriving community for racialized entrepreneurs and innovators, providing access to capital, coaching, and networks to help them start, build, and scale...
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S2E4: "Take the Stairs" with DeRico Symonds
Feature Friday
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...
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S2E3: "More Than Just an Athlete" with Daneesha Provo
Feature Friday
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Daneesha Provo! Daneesha’s journey has been all about growth, purpose, and impact, and she is excited to see where it takes her next. Right now, Daneesha is taking some time away from basketball to focus on family, enjoy life, and really be present in this chapter. After years of dedicating herself to the game, playing at the highest levels, traveling the world, and pushing through the ups and downs, she’s embracing a new balance. One of her biggest priorities is building her basketball academy. She’s always believed in using...
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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...
info_outlineOur 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!
Show notes:
00:00 - Introduction to Vanessa Hartley
8:20 - What is environmental racism?
13:45 - Vanessa on the research she’s doing
17:00 - The history of environmental racism in Shelburne
26:30 - Vanessa on navigating government to help the community
33:25 - Vanessa on her family history
36:55 - Who inspires Vanessa
44:15 - Vanessa on gratitude
46:35 - Vanessa on what she values most
48:14 - Vanessa’s advice
49:45 - Vanessa’s five year plan
54:35 - Vanessa’s spiritual journey
59:25 - Environmental racism in the news
1:07:32 - Vanessa on her identity
1:15:00 - One word checkout!