Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) - from the fourth of seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa - is a collective voice based on the Afrocentric principles of respect and integrity to eliminate systemic barriers and empower the African Nova Scotian community to reach its full potential. The initiative is supported by some of Nova Scotia's most influential leaders from the African Nova Scotian community and the Greater Halifax Partnership.

1. Empowering the African Nova Scotian community to reach its full potential

2. 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.

4. Tangible results and success

6. Energy

7. Advocacy

8. Research

10. Afro centric philosophy

11. Cohesion

12. Coordination

13. Synergy

14. Research

15. Policy development

16. Advocacy

18. Resource monitoring

21. Program/project development

22. Stimulus for communities overall economic growth

23. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

24. 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.

25. 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

27. Black Business Initiative (BBI)

28. Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), and

29. African Canadian Services Division

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

31. Existing statistics state that African Nova Scotian community members:

32. Earn less than average citizens of the province

33. Participate in the labour force less

34. Experience higher levels of unemployment, illiteracy and incarceration than the average citizen

35. Have higher rates of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes

37. Higher unemployment

38. Lower income

39. Poorer health outcomes

40. Poorer justice outcomes

42. 94% per cent of African Nova Scotians are 64 years of age or younger

46. 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.

47. Recommendations

48. 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.

49. Action

51. 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.

52. Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones, Co-chair Burnely Jones & Associates Joan Jones Nova Scotia Legal Aid Calvin Gough African Canadian Services Division Irvine Carvery Africville Genealogy Society Dr. Wayne Adams Adams Consulting & Management Group Dr. Les Oliver Black Cultural Centre Cynthia Dorrington, Co-Chair Greater Halifax Partnership Director Yvonne Atwell Community Justice Society Reverend Rhonda Britton Cornwallis St. Baptist Church Reverend Wayne Desmond Cherry Brook United Baptist Church Gordon Doe/Rustum Southwell Black Business Initiative 14 REFERENCE GROUP Reference Group was drawn from community, public and private sector to advise and guide process

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

55. Developed a Terms of Reference

56. Seconded staff from Department of Education (3 months) to assist with the development of the initiative

57. Completed baseline research of reports and services provided for the African Nova Scotian community

59. Agreed to an internal operation structure that would focus on research, advocacy and policy needs of the African Nova Scotian community

61. 17

63. INTEGRATED, UNIFIED APPROACH TO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

64. BUILDING BLOCKS FOR BUILDING CAPACITY

66. Feb & Mar - Regional Education Planning Sessions

67. Feb , Mar, May & September – Justice and Corrections Network Sessions

68. Mar , April & September – Youth & Employment Network Session

70. Cape Breton Service Providers Network

71. Capital District Health Authority

72. Digby Family Services Association

73. Black Employment Partnership – Provincial Committee

74. Black Business Initiative

75. Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children

76. Black Cultural Centre

77. East Preston Recreation Centre/ East Preston Ratepayers/Preston Area Board of Trade/Preston Trails Association

78. Nova Scotia Regional Development Association (Executive Director)

79. NDP Caucus

80. Liberal CaucusOngoing Community and Stakeholder Relations and Presentations throughout the Year Building the Governance Model for the Organization

81. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NETWORK SESSIONS 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

83. Increase the number of court support workers

84. Expand curriculum for community legal advocate training

85. Develop policy re: issue of sentencing inequities

86. Ensure access to legal information

87. Train 30 Corrections Officers over the next two years to work in Corrections Facilitates

88. Extend the existing crime prevention models being delivered by the Community Justice Society into other African Nova Scotian communities across the province

90. Evaluate and improve present Life skills and transition to employment programs

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

92. Create a strategy for hiring, and retention

93. Evaluate existing best practices in equity hiring programs. Devise a strategy for these programs to be rolled out province wide.

95. Create a mechanism to measure, what success looks like in the African Nova Scotia community with respect to education

96. Increase support for and education of parents

98. 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

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

101. Created the Bylaws

102. Hosted Ujamaa Dialogue Lounge

103. July 2010

104. August 2010

105. October 2010

109. Implementing a stakeholder relations plan to advance the funding to the three levels of government

110. Issued Call for Expression of Interests for Ujamaa Council Members

112. UJAMAA COUNCIL March 30th - Transition role and responsibilities from Interim Council to Ujamaa Council Priority Agenda Item Securing funding to operationalize Ujamaa

113. Economic Data for the African Nova Scotian Community

114. AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN COMMUNITY PROFILES Source: Nova Scotia Community Counts

120. Distribution of the Black and Total Population by Education - No certificate diploma or degree Nova Scotia Census 2006 50% Nova Scotia 40% Visible minority: Black 30% 20% 10% 0% 15 to 24 years 25 to 54 years 55 and over

122. Percentage of Population (15+) with Employment Income, Nova Scotia Census 2006 Total - Population 74.0% 71.6% Visible minority: Black 70.4% 72.0% 70.0% 68.0% 66.3% 65.9% 65.9% 66.0% 64.0% 61.4% 62.0% 60.0% 58.0% 56.0% Total - Sex Male Female