Workshops
Exploring Intersectionality: Embracing Multidimensional Identities
Join us for the NB Racialized Youth Summit workshop, Exploring Intersectionality: Embracing Multidimensional Identities, where we will delve into how overlapping aspects of identity—such as race, gender, ethnicity, class, and sexuality—shape lived experiences. This interactive session will provide a safe space for youth to explore the complexities of their identities, share personal stories, and engage in meaningful discussions on how intersectionality impacts social systems, relationships, and opportunities. Through group activities and open dialogue, participants will be empowered with a deeper understanding of their unique strengths and the value of embracing diversity within themselves and their communities.
About the Facilitator
Deanna Mohamed is an 8th generation African Nova Scotian woman from the community of New Glasgow, NS.
Deanna has worked in the field of education for 21 years. She started her career in New Glasgow Schools as an African Nova Scotia Student Support Worker and has been employed for the past 16 years at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), where she currently works as the Student Services Advisor and African Canadian Supports. She was seconded for a term at NSCC’s Central Office as the Equity and Inclusion Advisor with Human Rights and Equity Services in 2021. Deanna also currently teaches a Certificate Program in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Dalhousie University.
Deanna has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Acadia University and a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning with a focus on Africentric Leadership from Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) and a Community College Education Diploma from NSCC.
In 2024 Deanna was presented with the inaugural King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contributions to Education and Cultural Heritage at the investiture ceremony at Government House. In 2023 Deanna was awarded the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Legacy Award by Mount Saint Vincent University. In 2017 she received the Award of Merit Recognizing Contributions Towards the Elimination of Racial Discrimination from the Town of New Glasgow. In 2012, Deanna was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for providing mentorship and inspiration to young adults, especially within the African Canadian community and for helping to build a more inclusive and understanding society.
Deanna is the co-founder, co-chair and Executive member of the Black and African Canadian Student Services Professionals Division of the Atlantic Association of Colleges and Universities (AACUSS). She is also the co-founder of the Archy Beals Legacy Awards which has annually provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to African Nova Scotian students at the Nova Scotia Community College.
Deanna is a sought-after keynote speaker, emcee and workshop facilitator, having presented to thousands of people on numerous topics related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Africentric Practice, the Islamic faith, Leadership, and African Nova Scotian History and Heritage. She is a member of numerous Boards and agencies and is part of several Africentric advisory committees related to upward social mobility within the African Nova Scotian community.
Navigating Microaggressions and Bias
This offers a practical and empowering space for youth to identify, understand, and address the subtle and often unintentional biases that impact their daily lives. Through interactive discussions and real-life scenarios, participants will learn strategies to confidently navigate micro-aggressions in school, work, and social settings while fostering resilience and self-advocacy. This workshop will also explore ways to challenge biases constructively and build inclusive environments, equipping youth with tools to thrive and promote equity in their communities.
About the Facilitator
Graham Nickerson is a multidisciplinary Black historian. In his previous life, he focused on underwater archeology and contributed to discovering and mapping several important cultural heritage sites. Graham also works tirelessly within the Black community as a member of the New Brunswick Black History Society, The Tomlinson Lake Hike to Freedom, and the Black Loyalist Heritage Society. Graham is currently working on his PhD titled, "To Be Made Majesties Of," a study on the evolution of Black Loyalist Society. Graham is also a producer on the Loyalist Connections Podcast, which studies the throughlines of Black African Nova Scotian communities. Graham garnered recognition from the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, which named him a future leader in 2022, and was a researcher on New Brunswick’s updated Black history curriculum. Graham led the Anti-racism pillar of the National Trust for Canada’s “Heritage Reset” and is currently the lead on the Trust’s National Black Caucus. Graham has been a consultant on The Curse of Oak Island and will appear on This American Life podcast the summer of 2025. Graham is the lead researcher for the Loyalist Connections Podcast, a podcast discussing historic Black communities in the Maritime Provinces. Graham’s Atlantic Canada’s Hidden Histories project won the 2023 National Trust Governor’s Award. Graham is currently the EDI strategist for ST. Thomas University.
Decolonizing Education: Rethinking School Curriculum
The NB Racialized Youth Summit workshop, Decolonizing Education: Rethinking School Curriculum, invites youth to critically examine how colonial perspectives have shaped traditional education systems and to envision a more inclusive and representative curriculum. Through group discussions and interactive activities, participants will explore the importance of incorporating diverse histories, cultures, and voices in their learning environments. This workshop will empower youth to advocate for changes in their schools, fostering a more equitable and culturally responsive education that reflects the realities and identities of all students.
About the Facilitator
Chelsea Harris-Carr is Mi’kmaw and grew up in a military family in Oromocto. She is a Matthews with roots in Trout River, Newfoundland. She holds a diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Technology from Algonquin College, a Bachelor of Integrated Studies, and a Bachelor of Education at the University of New Brunswick.
In her current role as the Future Wabanaki Coordinator at St. Thomas University's Wabanaki Centre, Chelsea supports Indigenous students in finding meaningful experiential learning opportunities and work placements. She also helps develop cultural learning activities for students, faculty, staff, and the broader STU community.
Beyond the summit: Sustaining youth advocacy movements
The NB Racialized Youth Summit workshop, Beyond the Summit: Sustaining Youth Advocacy Movements, focuses on equipping participants with the tools and strategies to continue their advocacy work long after the summit ends. This session will explore how to build momentum, foster collaboration, and create impactful, lasting change in their schools and communities. Through practical exercises and discussions, youth will learn about effective leadership, community organizing, and self-care in activism. Participants will leave inspired and prepared to take actionable steps toward sustaining their advocacy efforts and empowering others to join their movement for equity and social justice.
About the Facilitator
Ivan Okello is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ocan Consultants, a social enterprise that designs and delivers premium research and training solutions to clients on Intercultural intelligence, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Antiracism (EDIB/A).
For the past 7 years, Ivan has devoted his life to anti-discrimination work with a focus on anti-racism, gender equity and social inclusion. He previously served as the Project Manager of Anti-racism Initiatives at the New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) and as the Co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion at Mount Allison University.
Ivan immigrated to Canada to pursue his education where he completed a Master of Arts in International Development Studies (IDS) at Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies.
Ivan is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities, eliminating barriers to inclusion, tapping into the potential of people, and ensuring organizations are designed to serve and cultivate everyone's potential.