Turbocharging Young Leaders into a Future of Excellent Leadership

By Feleshia Chandler Photography contributed

Marcel Desmond

In the Fall of 2019, 100 young leaders received tickets to attend A Conversation with Obama featuring former US President, Barack Obama. Held on November 13, the event was part of Nova Scotia Co-Operative Council’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Business and community leaders across Atlantic Canada including among others, Stewart McKelvey, Business is Jammin’ and The Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute used this opportunity to recognize Nova Scotia’s emerging leaders through the Future Leaders Initiative. BIJ and DBDLI put a call out for youth to apply for the tickets. Over 246 applications were received from leaders from all over Nova Scotia, ranging in age from 16-30. All of them were vying for a coveted opportunity to hear from the first Black President of the United States. As part of the initiative, applicants were tasked with responding to a variety of questions, like how they demonstrated leadership in their community, what social justice issues mattered to them, and what they would ask President Obama if given the chance. After a review of all the applications, BIJ and DBDLI were faced with the tough job of selecting the 100 young leaders who would receive the tickets. Three of those selected were Marcel Desmond from Antigonish; Tyeshia Angel Jordan from Truro, and Robert Downey from North Preston. They describe the once in a lifetime experience, and what it has meant for them and their futures. Marcel Desmond is a grade 12 student from the community of Upper Big Tracadie. He is an advocate for equitable education for African Nova Scotian youth, and works with community programs to help advance that goal. Marcel’s drive is rooted in his own experiences with the education system, where he witnessed ongoing systemic inequities for people who looked like him. “It’s important that we eradicate these inequities for the next generation,” he said. Marcel who also lobbies education stakeholders about how they can support equitable education for African Nova Scotian youth describes his experience at the Obama event as a reminder of the strength that he and other Black youth have. He felt honored to be one of those selected to see the President in person. For him, the event was surreal. “It was very inspiring to hear such rich information, gained through wisdom and experience.” Like Marcel, Tyeshia Angel Jordan was in awe of the President. When she found out she was chosen to attend the event, she felt grateful to be included among so many talented young people. Tyeshia is from a small Black community known as ‘The Island’. She is starting her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree at Dalhousie University. Her passion is giving back to communities, and she demonstrates that in her work helping to run a youth group for African Nova

Robert Downey Scotians. As an African dancer, a public speaker, and a tireless volunteer, Tyeshia has also participated in numerous cultural, advocacy, and volunteer events that promote and celebrate Black culture. “Mr. Obama was very inspiring and he gave me a lot of hope for the future.” She said. “His encouraging words to the youth were very uplifting. I have gained a new outlook. The experience showed me that people of African descent are capable of any and everything, despite the obstacles.” Robert Downey couldn’t control his emotions when he received news that he had been selected to receive a free ticket to attend the event. “I was caught off guard a bit. I felt excited, a little nervous, and happy all at the same time.” Now 29 years old, Robert made himself a name as a teenager through the numerous contributions he made to his community, including countless hours of volunteer work at the North Preston Community Centre. In April 2019, Robert was presented with the HRM Volunteer Award by Mayor Mike Savage and MLA David Hendsbee. He now co-hosts the Quarter Past 4 podcast with a few close friends and works with the Strive to Reach Association. Over the past two years, the Association has distributed more than 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to kids. They also host the Crowning Royalty event, bringing parents and kids together for an evening of fun, dancing, photography, and video making. Unfortunately, the group has had to cease operations due to

Tyeshia Jordan the pandemic, but that would not deter Robert from continuing to support his community. He decided to take action to help the most vulnerable by providing COVID-19 related education and door signage to over 150 seniors. In part, the signs read: “During the Covid-19 shutdown, please, no visitors. This household has high risk people.” Robert’s inspiration comes from supportive family like his mother, Diane Downey. “But the chance to be under the same roof as Barack Obama was very exhilarating. To see a man of his stature and the things he has accomplished come to Halifax and give such great insight was captivating and motivating,” he said. Before the sold-out A Conversation with Obama event, the Future 100 youth were guests of honor at a networking reception hosted by Colour, a digital media agency in Halifax. The team opened the doors of their office to ‘provide a real VIP experience’, as one of the organizers put it. “I would say the Future 100 networking session was just as impactful as the conversation with President Barack Obama,” Marcel recalls. “The energy in the room was so powerful and inspiring. It was empowering to be in the same room as 99 other people with like minds.” As if those events were not incredible enough, a cultural showcase partly sponsored by the province of Nova Scotia and curated by the Black Cultural Centre, Develop Nova Scotia, and the Black Business Initiative, was held before President Obama’s speech. A segment of DRUM (telling the story of the arrival, settlement and struggles of Canada’s four founding cultures) was performed through the lens of the Indigenous experience, as well as performances by other community talent. These three young people still carry the momentum of that day with them. And through experiences like those, they have found the will and determination to follow their dreams and give something back to their communities. “I will continue to be active in my community and try my best to be a role model to youth, as so many other people have been to me,” said Tyeshia. Marcel will be attending Saint Francis Xavier University next year to obtain a BA in Public Policy and Governance. He hopes to one day pursue a career in political and constitutional law and policy. Tyeshia will continue her education for a degree in cell biology and plans to eventually go into the science research field. As Robert takes care of his family during the pandemic, he is hopeful that he will soon be able to return to the work he loves. “I am hoping that the experience from this isolation teaches us all to work on ourselves and value our time,” he says. “Growth is important, and there are endless opportunities around us for it to happen. We just need to utilize what we have to get what we need.”