Guest Speakers: Rustum Southwell, Sharon Davis-Mudoch, & Sylvia Parris-Drummond

Topic: Unfunded: How Black Communities and Organizations are at a Funding Disadvantage

Date and Time: February 23rd from 9:00 – 10:00 am.

In honour of African Heritage Month we are hosting an Open Forum panel discussion with a focus on funding inequities faced by black communities and organizations in Nova Scotia. A recent report from Carleton University and the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities called “Unfunded” found that public and private foundations in Canada are underfunding Black-serving and Black-led community organizations. Building from this research, panelists will discuss their experience and perspectives and how they can be better supported.

Moderated by Stephanie Clarke and Annika Voltan, co-chairs of the NS Nonprofit COVID-19 Coalition, the goal of this session is to increase awareness and understanding of the funding inequities facing Black-serving and Black-led community organizations so that we can work together to advocate for change.

This is one in the series of Open Forums, hosted by the Nova Scotia Nonprofit COVID-19 Coalition, to offer Nova Scotia’s nonprofit and voluntary organizations and nonprofit social enterprises targeted information and insight into COVID-19 related issues and opportunities.

This Virtual Forum is open to anyone who is interested.

Guest Speakers

Liban Abokor

Executive Director, Youth LEAPS

Liban Abokor is the Executive Director of Youth LEAPS a Toronto-based non-profit organization that supports Black youth to improve their education and employment outcomes. Liban was a founding member of Ontario's first-ever Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities which helped enhance Ontario's Youth Action Plan, establish the Youth Opportunity Fund and Black Youth Action Plan.

He's an active volunteer within the philanthropic sector as a Board member for various foundations including the Laidlaw Foundation where he chaired their Granting Committee and the Catherine Donelly Foundation. Most recently, Liban co-authored the groundbreaking research report Unfunded: Black Communities Overlooked by Canadian Philanthropy and is a member of the Working Group to establish the Foundation for Black Communities.

Sharon Davis-Murdoch

Co-President of the Health Association of African Canadians

Sharon Davis-Murdoch is a social justice champion. Retired from the Nova Scotia Public Service, Sharon’s political science background and public policy experience informs her work in community. Among her public policy accomplishments was the development of the first Provincial Guidelines for Culturally Competent Primary Health Care in Canada.

Sharon received Premier’s Awards of Excellence in 2007 and 2015. In 2018, Sharon received the Inspiration Award from the Dalhousie School of Public Administration awarded to public servants who have demonstrated a superior dedication and commitment to mentoring, coaching and inspiring students and public servants over the course of their careers.

Sharon now works at the community level and is a founding member and the Co-President of the Health Association of African Canadians. Additional to that role, she now serves as Co-Manager to the Association of Black Social Workers and Health Association of African Canadians, COVID-19 Response and Impact Team. She is also an Advisor to the Halifax Immigrant Partnership and Secretary of the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Board.

President of Shamardavon Consulting, Sharon was appointed and served as Commissioner on the Independent Commission on Effective Electoral Representation of Acadian and African Nova Scotians. She was also a presenter and writer for the 2018 Women in Leadership Campaign School and is author of the “Knowing your Community” Pamphlet for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. In October, 2020 Sharon was selected as one of the Black Women Leaders for the Black Women in Leadership: Sharing and Shaping Our Journey online conference.

Sharon is a proud member of the Dartmouth Community and an even prouder Nana of two grandbaby boys.

Sylvia Parris-Drummond

Chief Executive Officer, Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute

Ms. Parris-Drummond, who identifies as a proud African Nova Scotian woman is the CEO of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute. Her work in education and the community is rooted in core Africentric Principles. Sylvia holds a number of graduate degrees including a Masters of Arts in Life Long Learning – Africentricity (MSVU) and a Masters of Education – Curriculum (St. Mary’s University).

Known for getting things done in a thoughtful, respectful and engaging way, she continues to be actively involved across a broad range of community initiatives and organizations. Sylvia passionately acknowledges the importance of community voice and agency and believes we are the change we are waiting for.

Rustum Southwell

Chief Executive Officer, Black Business Initiative

Rustum Southwell has a true entrepreneurial mind, business acumen, passion and spirit to drive a successful business. Having successfully owned and managed various franchises in the food industry for a number of years, Rustum switched gears and took his years of experience and acquired competencies to oversee an organization whose main purpose is to develop and enhance Black-owned businesses in Nova Scotia. As the first and founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI) for 17 years, Rustum’s vision, tireless efforts, dogged determination and persistence has made the BBI a well-respected organization and a leader in developing an entrepreneurial culture that is helping to drive the economic vibrancy in Nova Scotia. He is an able and innovative administrator with significant expertise in strategic planning, business and entrepreneurial development and corporate governance. Rustum understands and champions the importance of employing entrepreneurial participation in community economic development strategies.