Our guest for this months Feature Friday is Vanessa Hartley! Vanessa Hartley is an 8th-generation Black Loyalist descendant, born and raised in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her work and volunteer efforts demonstrate a deep commitment to Black history, Community Engagement, and Environmental Justice within her home province. Hartley began her career at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in 2019, serving as Program Coordinator and Visitor Experience Supervisor, where she developed a love for Black hist...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Alfred Burgesson! Alfred Burgesson is an entrepreneur committed to driving inclusive innovation, economic growth, and social impact. Recognized as a 30 Under 30 Innovator and Top 50 CEO by Atlantic Business Magazine, a Changemaker by Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, and the recipient of the Public Policy Forum 2025 Emerging Leader Award. He is the Founder & CEO of Tribe Network, a thriving community for racialized entrepreneurs and innovators,...
May 30, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is DeRico Symonds! DeRico Symonds is a 8th generation African Nova Scotian currently employed with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute as the Director of Engagement and Justice Initiatives. DeRico Symonds is the founder and President of Ignite Consulting, as well as a founding member of two non-profit organizations, ACCE (Arts, Culture, Community, Economics) and GC902 (Game Changers 902), a social justice advocacy group based in Halifax. DeRico ha...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Daneesha Provo! Daneesha’s journey has been all about growth, purpose, and impact, and she is excited to see where it takes her next. Right now, Daneesha is taking some time away from basketball to focus on family, enjoy life, and really be present in this chapter. After years of dedicating herself to the game, playing at the highest levels, traveling the world, and pushing through the ups and downs, she’s embracing a new balance. One of her b...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday, as well as first guest of season 2, is Angelina Simmonds! From North Preston, Angelina spent much of her early life as an athlete including basketball and competitive swimming. Competing provincially and nationally, and holding records in Nova Scotia. Driven to uplift women and girls through empowerment and confidence-building, Angelina founded Black Girls Pillow Talk (BGPT) in 2023 to create nurturing and encouraging spaces for young Black girls to sha...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Season 2 of Feature Friday is brought to you by the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative administered by the Black Business Initiative. In this episode, hosts Aaliyah Arab-Smith and Trevor Silver dive into the vision and mission of Feature Friday, share what’s in store for the new season, and let you know how to get involved. They’ll also update you on what they’ve personally been up to this year! For years, Feature Friday has been a platform dedicated to amplifying voices, sharing e...
Jan 31, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Join us for this bonus episode brought to you by the Youth Climate Action Fund, where the ONE team of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Ambassadors—Josh Paris, Sarah Yehayes, and Leah Khisa—share their experiences in raising awareness about climate change within African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia. Their goal is to engage you in a dialogue around 'green jobs', a crucial step to help close the employment gap for Black individuals and African Nova Scotians aged 1...
Dec 31, 2024•40 min
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Ashley Hill! Ashley Hill is an African Nova Scotian woman, creator and social entrepreneur. With over 10 years of combined experience working in corporate and non-profit industries, she has led strategy, fundraising, donor engagement, community outreach, student engagement, program evaluation and program development. She's inspired to serve Black students as they shape their way forward to being young trailblazers, and to be a guide to changemakers wh...
Dec 27, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 12
This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise. To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361. Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Chaz Samuel! Chaz Samuel was born and raised on the island of Antigua. He moved to Halifax in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor’s of Commerce at Saint Mary’s Universit...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Lindell Smith is a lifelong resident of the North End Halifax, and a proud father. Co-founder of Center Line Studio, a non-profit recording studio for youth who want to express themselves through art and music. In 2016, Lindell was elected as City Councillor for District 8 Halifax Peninsula North. Lindell has been a member at large on The Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), which is a provincial advisory council that provides advice and guidance to the Minister of Education and Early C...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise. To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361. Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Chika Chiekwe! Chika Chiekwe is a partner at Cox & Palmer in Halifax. Chika was born and raised in Nova Scotia, growing up in Cole Harbour. Her family is o...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise. To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361. Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Dr. Cinera Cartwright! Dr. Cartwright obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University with a double major in biology and psychology. She attend...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise. To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361. Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Keonté Beals! Keonté Beals is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, performer, author, and entrepreneur from North Preston, Nova Scotia. In 2021, Keonté sel...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Aquakultre! Aquakultre is the artistic voice of Lance Sampson — an uncommonly versatile singer, rapper, composer and storyteller from Halifax, NS. Since winning the 2018 CBC Searchlight competition, Aquakultre has released two Polaris-nominated albums and a multitude of genre-diverse, multi-media collaborations, establishing him as a significant musical and cultural presence. The live show is a warm-hearted party where all are welcomed by Aquakultre’s...
Jun 28, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Guyleigh Johnson! Guyleigh Johnson is an Author, Artist, Advocate, Facilitator and Filmmaker from the vibrant community of Dartmouth North. Carrying the essence of her roots, she stands at the forefront of social change using her art and voice to amplify. A hard-working, solution-oriented professional with 10+ years of experience and knowledge in community engagement, arts facilitation and project management using a client-centred framework. She has a...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Gary Beals! Gary Beals is a Juno nominated artist celebrated for his soulful voice and captivating performances. Born and raised in Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia, Gary's journey in music began at a young age, singing in local church choirs and talent competitions. His breakthrough came on the inaugural season of "Canadian Idol" in 2003, where his magnetic voice propelled him into the spotlight, establishing him as one of the show's standout contestants, s...
Apr 26, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Our guest for this month’s Feature Friday is Ross Simmonds! Born and raised in Preston, Ross Simmonds is the founder & CEO of Foundation, a global marketing agency that provides services to organizations all over the world ranging from some of the fastest-growing startups to global SaaS brands. Ross was named one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs and one of the top marketers in the world by BuzzSumo and SEMRush. Ross is also a well sought out public speaker, an angel investor, and the author ...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 58 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Nickaya Parris! Born in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and raised in the Community of Uniacke Square, Nickaya Parris is a recognized role model within the African Nova Scotian community, who she pays major homage to as they have crowned her with resiliency and plasticity while showing her the importance of self-discipline and hard work. Nickaya allows her passion for nutrition, healthcare, and underserved communities to lead her daily....
Feb 23, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Meet Aaliyah Arab-Smith and Trevor Silver, our hosts for the Feature Friday podcast. This episode they take the time to introduce themselves and talk about their journeys. They also discuss what to expect in future episodes, and how to participate in our gift card draws. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share to participate in our giftcard giveaway of two $50 e-gift cards made possible through our ongoing collaboration with ShiftKey Labs! Like and comment (could be your #OneWordCheckOut or tag...
Jan 26, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 1
ANS Lab's Feature Friday is now a podcast! The goal of our long-standing Feature Friday initiative has always been to give you a platform to share your experiences, expertise, and passions. This platform hosts holistic conversations promoting stellar ANS community members and true allies, placing a focus on the fantastic work being done in the community to help close the employment gap for Blacks and ANS between the ages of 18-35. We inspire our audience by exploring your personal stories, what ...
Jan 25, 2024•41 sec
