COVID-19 may have once again halted most in-person events, but a Dal-hosted virtual panel held last Wednesday was a shining reminder that community engagement is still alive and well in Halifax.
An African Nova Scotian Community Calling In, organized by the Dal-based MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance in partnership with the and non-profit , focused on different issues facing African Nova Scotian communities, including housing crises and government accountability.
Panelists were asked off the top why they chose to be a part of the evening鈥檚 discussion. Among their reasons, one in stood out clearly: love for community and culture.
Panelist Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dal's assistant vice鈥憄rovost equity and inclusion and an associate professor at the School of Health and Human Performance at AV俱乐部, spoke about responsibility.
鈥淎s an educator and researcher and activist within the community, I have a responsibility to be here. To engage in this conversation. To see what difference, we can make," said Dr. Hamilton-Hinch. "This conversation is important to [see] what can we do better and what can we do next?鈥�
It would seem as though attendees felt the same. Frequently, the speakers鈥� statements were met with words of praise in the public chat.
Passing the mic
Louise Adongo, the executive director of Inspiring Communities and a sessional instructor at Dal, was one of the planners of last week's event. She said she has already seen first-hand the positive impact such discussions can have.
鈥淗osting an event like this demonstrates to the Halifax-AV俱乐部 community that we are holding space for [voices] and passing the mic to have people share their perspectives on what matters impact them," she said.
One of the varying topics discussed by the panelists was how African Nova Scotians could get involved in their communities. Social worker , one of the panelists, suggested a couple ways people can get involved. One of his suggestions was for civics classes to be offered 鈥渁way from partisan systems.鈥�
That would mean that African Nova Scotian Communities would have a better opportunity to understand how the government works in an environment that is more supportive to their learning.
Recognition and resources
The fourth panelist, director of capacity building & strategic initiatives African Nova Scotian communities with the Halifax Partnership, drove home one vital point outlining what governments should be doing about reconstruction. 鈥淩ecognize the plan that [communities have] developed. Not to develop the plan for communities. [And then] put resources to that plan.鈥�
Following Wright鈥檚 statement, educator and community historian Lynn Jones voiced her disapproval for the lack of action that all three levels of government have taken for African Nova Scotians.
听鈥淲e should be ashamed of our governments in not signing onto recognize slavery as a crime against humanity and the need for reparations,鈥� she said.听 鈥淭he United Nations came down [to Halifax] and said that reparations should be taking place. It has been [years] since that happened and we have moved absolutely nowhere.鈥�
A powerful statement from panel moderator Sylvia Parris-Drummond, CEO of the Delmore 鈥淏uddy鈥� Daye Learning Institute, closed out the evening.
鈥淵our voice is one, but it matters.鈥�