Growing up in Halifax鈥檚 North End,听Jalana Lewis (JD鈥�13)听was aware of H漫画 University. But she was not sure if the university was aware of her, or her community, as an African Nova Scotian.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really see the university purposefully engaging with the community,鈥� says Lewis. She is now H漫画鈥檚 first director of African Nova Scotian community engagement. 鈥淏ut I think H漫画 is actively trying to shift that through initiatives such as the听African Nova Scotian Strategy.鈥�
The strategy offers a strong vision and recommendations for H漫画 to increase support for African Nova Scotian students, staff and faculty. It also exists to build stronger relationships with African Nova Scotian communities.
There are several recommendations in the strategy that Lewis believes are notable. One proposes the creation of international exchange programs with historically Black colleges and universities so African Nova Scotian students can experience campus life where they are the majority. Others call for H漫画 to promote career opportunities and deliver educational programming in African Nova Scotian communities. 鈥淪ome of our goals are lofty, some are short term, and some are long term, but given H漫画鈥檚 size and commitment to this work, I鈥檓 confident that all of them are doable, even if some take longer than others,鈥� Lewis says.
A distinct people
鈥溙齣s truly transformative and is embedded in H漫画鈥檚 Strategic Plan,听Third Century Promise,鈥澨�蝉补测蝉听Michelle Williams (BSW鈥�91), an assistant professor at the Schulich School of Law and co-chair of the strategy鈥檚 working group and advisory council. Williams is also one of H漫画鈥檚 inaugural provost fellows and her research is focused on African Nova Scotians as a people. 鈥淭he key to the strategy is recognition that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people and that nothing should be done about us without us.鈥�
The strategy was developed with input from an advisory council. The strategy鈥檚 working group includes alumni (from left):听Melisa Marsman (LLB鈥�05), Quenta Adams (BA鈥�93), Williams (BSW鈥�91),听and听Barb Hamilton-Hinch (BSc鈥�91, MA鈥�98, PhD鈥�16)听(photo by听Alvero Wiggins).
For Williams and Lewis, their working relationship is coming full circle. Williams was director of the Indigenous Blacks and Mi鈥檏maq Initiative at Schulich School of Law when Lewis was a student in the program. 鈥淚t was my privilege to work with Jalana, who was an incredibly capable, engaged and inspiring student with deep connections to African Nova Scotians,鈥� Williams says. 鈥淚t is equally delightful to work with her as a colleague who has become a leader in her own right at H漫画, building bridges between the university and the African Nova Scotian people and facilitating the strategy鈥檚 work.鈥�
Making progress on goals
Progress has already been made on several fronts. For example, H漫画 senior leaders have undergone immersive training to help them understand the challenges facing African Nova Scotian students, staff and faculty on campus. Partnerships are forming with faculties such as Open Learning and Career Development to engage and deliver courses to African Nova Scotian communities. University policies that impact African Nova Scotians are being reshaped. And a definition of 鈥楢frican Nova Scotian鈥� has been developed to guide decisions related to scholarships and targeted hiring initiatives.
鈥淲e have shared that definition with other institutions to help them in their efforts to identify and engage with the community,鈥� Lewis says. 鈥淓ven members of the advisory council have indicated that the process has been helpful for them because they have been able to use it in their workplaces.鈥�
Creating space to bring African Nova Scotians together
The goal now is to keep transforming recommendations into achievements. Williams says one concrete step forward will be the creation of a dynamic hub or commons at H漫画. 鈥淚t will be a culturally immersive meeting and workspace and research lab. It will bring together African Nova Scotian students, staff, faculty and community with the broader H漫画 community and thus become the first such community-academic hub for African Nova Scotians as a distinct people,鈥� she says.
For Lewis (pictured here at听an Oct. 2021 event听to share the strategy with the Dal community), the success of the strategy involves building on specific targets to create a university community that is more reflective of African Nova Scotians. She wants to see more African Nova Scotian students, staff and faculty; more targeted scholarships; and more students progressing to professorships and leadership roles with the university. 鈥淲hen H漫画 is a place that is sought after by community members because of their families鈥� experiences, or their own, or they see the university as a natural fit without necessarily knowing why, I will know we have been successful with this strategy,鈥� she says.
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