The largest consultation with African Nova Scotian communities in the municipality was held in 2018, guided by keynote speaker and facilitator Nene Kwasi Kafele who helped set the context for the Road to Unity for African Nova Scotians.
The Road to Economic Prosperity Advisory Council was established to lead the development of an economic action plan with African Nova Scotian communities and partners.
The Advisory Council and Working Groups engage with African Nova Scotian communities and partners throughout the municipality to develop the Action Plan.
Halifax Regional Council endorsed The Road to Economic Prosperity for African Nova Scotian Communities Action Plan (REP).
Halifax Regional Municipality committed to working with the community of Beechville on its Planning Strategy Review and Beechville Community Benefit Action Plan.
The Action Plan was publicly launched at an event with community members and partners which included funding announcements from RBC and the Province of Nova Scotia.
The first annual Road to Prosperity Community Summit was held to report back to the community and partners on progress made on the Action Plan.
Presented preliminary findings of the first African Nova Scotian Prosperity and Well-being Index at the Community Summit.
The REPAC Advisory Council hosted the second roundtable with HRM leaders and representatives from the planning department. This roundtable focused on the need for boundary reviews and zoning changes for ANS communities to protect the historical nature of communities and ensure access to ancestral lands.
Members of REPAC and the broader African Nova Scotian community were engaged in the development of Halifax's 2022-2027 Inclusive Economic Strategy - People. Planet. Prosperity. Growing African Nova Scotian economic prosperity is one of the strategy's five-year objectives which includes supporting the implementation of the Road to Economic Prosperity Action Plan.
Worked with Akoma as part of the Food Security Innovation Challenge led by the Halifax Innovation Outpost. Community gardens play an important role in connecting food security, history, culture, self-sufficiency, and active living for Black communities in the Preston Area. With support from HIO and Davis Pier, Akoma worked to form a community network to grow its community garden program.
The Elder Council was launched to provide counsel and guidance to the Road to Economic Prosperity Advisory Council (REPAC) and serve as advocates and guardians of the work.
The REPAC Advisory Council hosted the third roundtable with HRM leaders and representatives from the planning department on the preservation of African Nova Scotian community neighbourhoods. REPAC put forward a proposal to HRM requesting additional resources (e.g. Planning staff for the ANS communities in HRM).
The Advisory Council has been sharing the Road to Economic Prosperity Plan and best practices with ANS communities across the province to bring more communities along the Road to Prosperity. The Council is supporting interested communities in undertaking their own community-led planning processes. To date, we have presented to communities in Truro; Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne/Birchtown; Amherst; New Glasgow; Sydney / Whitney Pier; and Glace Bay.
Youth Council is launched to provide counsel and guidance to the Road to Prosperity Advisory Council and develop and lead youth consultation and engagement strategies.
Hosted the second annual Road to Prosperity Community Summit to share and celebrate the progress made on the Action Plan over the past two years.