Ujamaa

Empowering the

African Nova Scotian

community to reach

its full potential

WHAT DOES UJAMAA MEAN?

• Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah): from the fourth of seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa

– cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.

Branches Outcomes Tangible results and success Community moving forward

in all the strategic areas Symposiums, discussions,

conversations Energy Advocacy Research Policy Implementation

Trunk Ujamaa Association Afro centric philosophy Cohesion Coordination Synergy Research Policy development Advocacy Gap analysis of key

focal areas Outcome monitoring Resource monitoring Network maintenance

Roots Network capacity building Leadership/community capacity

building Information sharing Program/project development Stimulus for communities overall

economic growth

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

UMOJA [OO-MO-JAH] (“U-N-I-T-Y”)

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, race.

KUJICHAGULIA [KOO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-YAH]

(SELF-DETERMINATION)To define ourselves, name ourselves,

create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined,

named, created for and spoken for by others.

UJIMA [OO-GEE-MAH] (CREATIVE WORK &

RESPONSIBILITY)To build and maintain our community

together and make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems and solve

them together.

UJAMAA [OO-JAH-MAH] (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS)Economic sensibility, responsibility, self

sufficiency, group interdependence.

NIA [NEE-YAH] (PURPOSE)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to

restore our people to their traditional greatness.

KUUMBA [KOO-OOM-BAH] (CREATIVITY)

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our

community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

IMANI [EE-MAH-NEE] (FAITH)

To believe with all our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness

and victory of our struggle.

AFROCENTRIC PHILOSOPHY

People of African descent working together to respect and promote each other and to

celebrate our collective history, identify and adopt an Africentric world view.

WHY IS UJAMAA NEEDED?

• Historically, African Nova Scotia (African Nova Scotia) community has been successful implementing projects to address community, economic and social issues

BUT• Long-term sustainability

continues to be a challenge

Only three government initiatives specifically target the needs of African Nova Scotian communities: Black Business Initiative (BBI) Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), and African Canadian Services Division

African Nova Scotians are virtually absent from government-affiliated volunteer agencies, boards, and commissions.

Existing statistics state that African Nova Scotian community members: Earn less than average citizens of the province Participate in the labour force less Experience higher levels of unemployment, illiteracy and incarceration than the average

citizen Have higher rates of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes Greater numbers live in inadequate housing

WHY IS UJAMAA NEEDED?

Compared to Average Nova Scotia, African Nova Scotians have: Lower participation rates in the economy Higher unemployment Lower income Poorer health outcomes Poorer justice outcomes Lost potential to Nova Scotia of about

$100 million each year

BLACK AND AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN POPULATION

African Nova Scotian Stats: 9,805 African Nova Scotian and 19,225 Black

persons in Nova Scotia in 2006; 94% per cent of African Nova Scotians are 64

years of age or younger 20 per cent are 14 years of age or younger,

compared to 16.2 per cent for the general population of Nova Scotia

Halifax - African; 34.8%

Halifax - Other Black; 34.2%

Rest of Nova Scotia - African; 16.2%

Rest of Nova Scotia - Other Black; 14.8%

Source: Statistics Canada Census, 2006

Work to Date

• July 2007 Roundtable– Hosted by the Greater Halifax Partnership at the Preston Area Board of

Trade focused on labour market development and economic development in African Nova Scotian communities.

Recommendations– Stakeholders gave a formal endorsement of the work the Greater Halifax

Partnership was doing to enable the community to build the capacity required to create sustainable economic opportunities.

– The need for a satellite office in Preston.

• Action– October 2007 - Greater Halifax Partnership opens a satellite office in

Preston in partnership with NSCC and Black Business Initiative

ROUNDTABLES

September 2007 Roundtable– Hosted by Greater Halifax Partnership focused on Community Capacity –

participants included the AGS, Martin Luther King Project, Beechville, Preston Board of Trade, and the African Canadian Music Association.

Recommendations– While there are a number of vendors in the African Nova Scotia community,

there are a limited number of events where the vendors have the opportunity to showcase and sell their products. The idea of the African Village Bazaar was born.

Action– The Partnership and the Black Business Initiative organized and held an

Afrikan Village Bazaar on February 2007 at the WTCC.

ROUNDTABLES

November 2007 Roundtable – Greater Halifax Partnership hosted the November 2008 roundtable exploring a

multi-year, multifaceted funding process that would allow the African Nova Scotian community to achieve it goals without having to worry about the year-to-year funding cycle.

Recommendations:

– More research is required.

Action: – Establish a Reference Group to give voice and action to African Nova Scotia concerns

in HRM. – Achieve commitments for significant, long-term funding focused on African Nova

Scotia priorities to:– reduce and ultimately eliminate systemic challenges and barriers to success – build a stronger, sustainable and empowered future for the African Nova Scotia community.

ROUNDTABLES

13

REFERENCE GROUP - PURPOSE

Establish a multi-year, multi-party “framework” for full integration of various objectives held by the three levels of government, local institutions, business and community NGOs.

Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones, Co-chairBurnely Jones & Associates

Joan JonesNova Scotia Legal Aid

Calvin GoughAfrican Canadian Services Division

Irvine CarveryAfricville Genealogy Society

Dr. Wayne AdamsAdams Consulting & Management Group

Dr. Les OliverBlack Cultural Centre

Cynthia Dorrington, Co-ChairGreater Halifax Partnership Director

Yvonne AtwellCommunity Justice Society

Reverend Rhonda BrittonCornwallis St. Baptist Church

Reverend Wayne DesmondCherry Brook United Baptist Church

Gordon Doe/Rustum SouthwellBlack Business Initiative

14

REFERENCE GROUP

Reference Group was drawn from community, public and private sector to advise and guide process

REFERENCE GROUP – 2008

Full day working session to synthesize the feedback and recommendations from the roundtable discussions

Reviewed best practice models and governance structures, e.g. East Vancouver Tri-partite Agreement

Developed a Terms of Reference Seconded staff from Department of Education (3 months) to assist with the development of

the initiative Completed baseline research of reports and services provided for the African Nova Scotian

community Gathered research in the area of Afro centric organizational development, which allows

organizational framework to be culturally centered from the initial stages.

Key Deliverables : Agreed to a network model of operation that will allow for association of organizations to

develop and monitor the economic situation of the African Nova Scotia community Agreed to an internal operation structure that would focus on research, advocacy and policy

needs of the African Nova Scotian community Agreed to the desired approach and building blocks for community consultation and

engagement

The network model allows for community groups and individuals to fully participate in

this process.

The council will support the capacity of

these networks, as they become the life

blood of the organization.

As the networks build, they also provide

membership for the Council.

Also built into these networks is regional

representation.

• Meets quarterly with the Council to present recommendations and priority issues and to update the progress of the Networks

Ujamaa Networks

• Reports to the Networks with respect to progress made from the quarterly meetings.

• Present feedback and recommendations from the Networks at an Annual Symposium.

Ujamaa Council • Policy Papers

• Research• Symposium/Conferences• Presentations to Key

Stakeholders and Funding Partners

Outcomes

17

UJAMAA Internal Structure (Proposed)

STAFF RESOURCES (8)

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Office of African Nova Scotia Affairs

Greater Halifax Partnership

Black Cultural CentreNova Scotia Community

College(meets quarterly)

ACCOUNTABILITY/OUTCOME

COMMITTEE

Responsible for monitoring

deliverables as defined by outcome

measures

Research

Advocacy

Policy

INTEGRATED, UNIFIED APPROACH TO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Identify Common

Challenges

Create a Community

Vision

Determine Existing Capacity

Set GoalsEstablish Objectives

Develop Action Plans

Implement Action Plan

Evaluate Progress and

Results

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR BUILDING CAPACITY

Organizational Commitment to

Public Policy

Nurture Relationship with Government

Agencies and Policy makers

Collect Disaggregated Data and Conduct Community Based

Research

Establish Decision Making Structures

Deliver Communication and

Media Skills

Foster Community Leadership Among

Group Members

Mentor Group Members

Develop Policy Agenda

Continuously Assess Progress

REFERENCE GROUP - 2009

Hosted Network Sessions Feb - Employment Network Session Feb & Mar - Regional Education Planning Sessions Feb , Mar, May & September – Justice and Corrections Network Sessions Mar , April & September – Youth & Employment Network Session June – Joint Networking Session

Hosted Information Sessions & Presentations (examples include): Antigonish – Guysborough Community Development Association Cape Breton Service Providers Network Capital District Health Authority Digby Family Services Association Black Employment Partnership – Provincial Committee Black Business Initiative Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children Black Cultural Centre East Preston Recreation Centre/ East Preston Ratepayers/Preston Area Board of Trade/Preston Trails Association Nova Scotia Regional Development Association (Executive Director) NDP Caucus Liberal Caucus

Ongoing Community and Stakeholder Relations and Presentations throughout the Year

Building the Governance Model for the Organization

CULTURAL:• Engage regional working groups to ensure needs of

various communities are addressed and met• Develop programs that fit the needs of the

community• Offer cultural development programs for youth• Develop policy to increase support for cultural

institutions in the African Nova Scotia community

HEALTH:• Train more continuing care workers• Increase and provide broader access to mental

health services• Increase youth aptitude in math and sciences to

increase opportunities in the health professions• Research possibility of holistic health services and

centers for the African Nova Scotia communities

HOUSING:• Conduct a land inventory• Develop a provincial strategy• Research and evaluate affordable housing

opportunities in the African Nova Scotia community

• Research and evaluate home ownership (for data purposes)

YOUTH:• Engage cultural mentors• Train and build access to skilled child and youth

care workers with a deep respect for Africentric principles

• Create more Drop-in Centres• Increase the number of Black community

officers, in partnership with RCMP

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NETWORK SESSIONS

JUSTICE: Create mobile legal clinic Increase the number of court support

workers Expand curriculum for community legal

advocate training Develop policy re: issue of sentencing

inequities Ensure access to legal information Train 30 Corrections Officers over the next

two years to work in Corrections Facilitates Extend the existing crime prevention models

being delivered by the Community Justice Society into other African Nova Scotian communities across the province

Increase dollars for prevention programs, provided by organizations like the Community Justice Society.

EMPLOYMENT: Engage government in discussions on the

present criteria for EI and Income Assistant, the present criteria excludes the majority of the African Nova Scotian community whom are unemployed.

Evaluate and improve present Life skills and transition to employment programs

Create a data base for stats on employment in the African Nova Scotia community: Where we are where we are not

Create a strategy for hiring, and retention Evaluate existing best practices in equity hiring

programs. Devise a strategy for these programs to be rolled out province wide.

Develop a Cultural Competency program (equity) for employers, to support African Nova Scotia members that are presently employed, and as incentive for employers who hire members of African Nova Scotian community

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NETWORK SESSIONS

EDUCATION: Partner with Africentric Learning Institute

(ALI), on community initiatives. Create a mechanism to measure, what

success looks like in the African Nova Scotia community with respect to education

Increase support for and education of parents

Create opportunities for community dialogue with all intuitions and agencies that are responsible for education in the province

ECONOMICS: Create comprehensive evaluation of

community land holdings in African Nova Scotia communities that can have a major impact on sustainable development.

Engage planning department within municipalities and the province in conversations, about land use, “Community Streetscapes”, beautification, and development, to have a community centered approach to building our communities

Create a clear and comprehensive municipal planning and development policies related the African Nova Scotian communities

Create a Talent Strategy (how we retain youth with post secondary education) with a specific focus on the African Nova Scotian community

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NETWORK SESSIONS

REFERENCE GROUP – 2010

Signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Greater Halifax Partnership

Created the Bylaws Hosted Ujamaa Dialogue Lounge

July 2010 August 2010 October 2010 December 2010

Key Deliverables August 2010 - Ujamaa incorporated under the Societies Act Transition Reference Group to the Interim Council

Joan JonesNova Scotia Legal Aid

Irvine CarveryAfricville Genealogy Society

Dr. Wayne AdamsAdams Consulting & Management Group

Dr. Burnely “Rocky” Jones, Co-chairBurnely Jones & Associates

Cynthia Dorrington, Co-ChairGreater Halifax Partnership Director

Yvonne AtwellCommunity Justice Society

Reverend Rhonda BrittonCornwallis St. Baptist Church

26

INTERIM COUNCIL

Role of the Interim Council is to guide the process to operationalize the new organization.

INTERIM COUNCIL – 2011

2011 (January – March) Prepared drafting funding proposal for two-year operations Implementing a stakeholder relations plan to advance the funding to

the three levels of government Issued Call for Expression of Interests for Ujamaa Council Members March 31, 2011 – Transition Interim Council role and responsibilities to

Ujamaa Council

Joan Jones

Lillian Searl

Malik Adams

Roberta Morrison

Dr. Wayne Adams

Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones, Chair

Carm Robertson

Darlene Lawrence

Evan Williams

George Gray

Irvine Carvery

28

UJAMAA COUNCIL - 2011

UJAMAA COUNCIL

• March 30th - Transition role and responsibilities from Interim Council to Ujamaa Council

• Priority Agenda Item– Securing funding to operationalize Ujamaa

Economic Data for the

African Nova Scotian

Community

AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN COMMUNITY PROFILES

Source: Nova Scotia Community Counts

Community

2006 Population -

African Origin2006 Population -

Black

2006 Population

Total

% African Origin /

Total

2006 Median Personal

Income

2006 Median Family

IncomeEmployment

RatePreston 908 1632 2360 38.5% $19,553 $45,821 51.6%

Halifax Needham 1172 2162 19821 5.9% $23,398 $51,669 63.8%North Dartmouth 464 887 18354 2.5% $25,899 $54,994 61.3%East Dartmouth 450 934 22240 2.0% $32,147 $71,770 65.5%

Timberlea 164 359 9089 1.8% $33,177 $70,289 76.8%Waverley 37 38 2364 1.6% $38,263 $87,873 68.6%

Hammonds Plains 158 542 10295 1.5% $39,281 $95,076 76.7%South Dartmouth 321 753 24741 1.3% $29,464 $63,380 60.7%

South Sackville 340 599 27502 1.2% $28,593 $65,864 69.3%North Sackville 45 60 4985 0.9% $35,412 $73,035 75.7%Halifax Citadel 132 340 19114 0.7% $27,471 $91,861 61.4%

Halifax Chebucto 112 535 18509 0.6% $26,876 $74,675 65.2%

Other Large Communities

2006 Population -

African Origin2006 Population -

Black

2006 Population

Total

% African Origin /

Total

2006 Median Personal

Income

2006 Median Family

IncomeEmployment

RateSpryfield 411 685 10582 3.9% $22,541 $46,789 56.6%

Cole Harbour 558 1138 25934 2.2% $32,549 $75,499 72.2%Fairview 262 428 14478 1.8% $24,832 $53,145 57.7%

Clayton Park 340 741 30911 1.1% $30,666 $68,928 65.9%HRM 6885 13265 372855 1.8% $28,526 $66,867 65.7%

Guysborough 61 232 1909 3.2% $18,959 $41,459 46.6%Shelburn 93 193 3603 2.6% $18,855 $42,836 51.9%

Digby 67 125 3832 1.7% $20,078 $41,298 51.7%Yarmouth 126 297 8204 1.5% $19,376 $41,579 49.9%

Weymouth 26 130 2559 1.0% $18,876 $39,936 48.7%Amherst 109 123 13147 0.8% $22,186 $48,864 55.9%

Antigonish 30 91 4982 0.6% $22,039 $58,066 54.3%Nova Scotia 9805 19225 903090 1.1% $24,030 $55,412 58%

Victoria

Cape Breton

Richmond

Inverness

Antigonish

Guysborough

Pictou

Cumberland

Colchester

Halifax

Hants

Kings

Lunenburg

Annapolis

Queens

Digby

Yarmouth

Shelburne

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000

Distribution of Black and African Nova Scotian Population by County(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

2006 Population - African Origin 2006 Population - Other Black

Total Population: 19,225

Under 15 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

Age Distribution of African-Origin, Black and Total Population of Nova Scotia, 2006

(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

African Origin Other Black Nova Scotia

Total Male Female0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

Unemployment Rates, Nova Scotia, 2006(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

African-Origin Black Nova Scotia

Total Male Female0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

Unemployment Rates, Halifax, 2006(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

African-Origin Black Halifax

No certi

ficate

, diploma or d

egree

High sc

hool certi

ficate

or equiva

lent

Apprentice

ship or t

rades c

ertifica

te or d

iploma

College

, CEG

EP or o

ther n

on-unive

rsity

certi

ficate

or diploma

Universi

ty ce

rtifica

te or d

iploma below th

e bachelor le

vel

Universi

ty ce

rtifica

te or d

egree

0.0%5.0%

10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%

Educational Attainment of African-Origin, Black and Nova Scotia Popu-lation (15+), 2006

(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

Nova Scotia Black African

Distribution of the Black and Total Population byEducation - No certificate diploma or degree

Nova Scotia Census 2006

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15 to 24 years 25 to 54 years 55 and over

Nova Scotia

Visible minority: Black

Total Male Female0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

63.10%67.40%

59.30%

69%72%

65%62.90%

68.10%

58.20%

Participation Rates (15+ Years) for Black, African-Origin and Nova Scotia Population, 2006

(Source: Statistics Canada Census)

Black African-Origin Nova Scotia

Percentage of Population (15+) with Employment Income, Nova Scotia Census 2006

66.3%

71.6%

61.4%

65.9%

70.4%

65.9%

56.0%

58.0%

60.0%

62.0%

64.0%

66.0%

68.0%

70.0%

72.0%

74.0%

Total - Sex Male Female

Total - Population

Visible minority: Black