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Black Wellness Co-operative Nova Scotia
REDEFINING BLACK HEALTH AND WELLNESS
By Minnie Karanja
It is always great when we connect with people who truly understand our motivations, but it is even greater when they also share our lived experiences. “It’s like a breath of fresh air,” says Joy Chiekwe, a founding member of the Black Wellness Co-operative (BWC). The only words to express how she feels about being surrounded by other Black health and wellness experts that share her experience as a Black person in a predominantly non-Black, Indigenous, people(s) of colour (BIPOC) health and wellness industry. The Black Wellness Co-operative Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that is essentially a conglomerate of Black health and wellness experts who are passionate about supporting each other and sharing their expertise, knowledge, and training with their community. The co-operative provides free health and wellness services to Black and underrepresented populations in Nova Scotia. An accomplished clinical exercise physiologist with the Nova Scotia Health Authority where she runs and oversees exercise programs for cancer survivors around the Maritimes, and consults with physicians on how to use exercise as a form of medicine to manage and prevent chronic diseases, Chiekwe longed to connect with other Black professionals in her field. “It was my personal goal to connect and network with Black health and wellness experts in Nova Scotia and showcase them to the rest of the region,” said Chiekwe. Guided by the belief that wholesome personal health encompasses both mental and physical health, the cooperative provides a wide range of services including mental fitness, yoga, circus training, massage, and personal training. Since opening its doors this year in July, they have organized outdoor physical fitness boot camps and continue to offer online Afro-centric yoga and meditation series three times a week in partnership with the Health Association of African Canadians.
It is not surprising that the co-operative is also a safe place where people are allowed to be vulnerable as well as a place to network and build relationships. The need for the Black community to connect with each other and show solidarity has never been greater than in this unprecedented year. Major world events have had a negative impact on the mental health of individuals, particularly those from underrepresented communities. The Black Lives Matter Movement fueled by the murder of George Floyd in the US ignited critical discussions and activist demonstrations about racism across Canada. The mental health of Black and Indigenous communities has been greatly affected as they reflect on the institutional social injustices suffered. Moreover, the global COVID-19 pandemic is uncovering existing health gaps and inequalities among Canada’s Black and underrepresented communities. These issues have no doubt taken a toll on these communities’ mental health and initiatives such as those of the BWC provide valuable support to communities.
Driven by the spirit of solidarity and recognition of the value BWC brings to the community, support from individuals and business owners from BIPOC and non-BIPOC communities has been overwhelmingly positive. BWC’s fitness boot camps have been well attended with local businesses participating by providing giveaways to inspire and motivate.
REDEFINING BLACK HEALTH AND WELLNESS
While being an active member of the fitness industry and working in a clinical setting, I quickly noticed the lack “ of representation in both fields. I wanted to understand the experiences of other Black health professionals... ” The coming together of the dream team With a mission so great, you may be wondering how it all came together. Well, it all goes back to wonderful words of wisdom in the African maxim that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. Although Chiekwe is an accomplished health expert, she wanted to connect with and amplify the skills of others in her industry. Herself, like many other Black people in Nova Scotia who find themselves isolated in workspaces where Black people are underrepresented, yearned to connect with people that looked like her. Other Black professionals who daily have to navigate their careers through largely non-BIPOC spaces and who have a shared desire to make a positive impact in their communities. “While being an active member of the fitness industry and working in a clinical setting, I quickly noticed the lack of representation in both fields. I wanted to understand the experiences of other Black health professionals,” explained Chiekwe. The objective of creating the BWC was two-fold; to create a safe space for Black health and fitness experts to network, learn and grow together and to provide an opportunity for them to have an impact in their community through sharing their expertise with underrepresented communities who would not otherwise have access to them or their knowledge due to financial or other socially constructed barriers.
Chiekwe invested her time researching within the health and wellness industry to find a core group of professionals that had a common mindset and willingness to redefine how health and wellness are constructed within the Black community. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April, Chiekwe did not sit back to wait out the storm but marched right on, conducting Instagram live interviews with peers in her industry. BWC, now made up of four founding members, is growing and making a huge impact on communities in Nova Scotia. Over the last couple of months, the Black community has come out strongly to demand and show solidarity for initiatives that are developed by Black people for Black people. In short, “Nothing for us, without us!” Today, one event at a time, BWC is re-imagining health and wellness for the Black community in Nova Scotia.
Meet the team
Korede Akindoju is a physiotherapist at the Nova scotia rehabilitation centre and part of the BWC. He understands first-hand the existing barriers to health care for the Black population. According to him, Black people do not necessarily feel supported by the healthcare system and this affects their health outcomes. This speaks to the health gap that BWC strives to fill. “The rapport between a Black patient and a Black healthcare provider leads to better health outcomes because of the shared lived experiences,” explains Korede. Korede envisions the centre as a safe hub where people will feel welcome and united. Melanie Clarke (above, second from right) is a diversity and inclusion consultant who until recently was head coach, programmer, and chief heart officer at blended athletics. For her, being part of the BWC combines her passions of working with Black people and other professionals in health, sport, and fitness fields. “I get to do what I love, with and for the people I love. I am constantly surrounded by people that inspire me, push me to be better, and care about my well-being as I care about theirs,” said Melanie. Melanie has also been voted as the temporary President of the BWC. Ashley Grant is a massage therapist with her own practice in Nova Scotia. She was motivated to join BWC by the vision of the cooperative to give the Black community access to health and wellness services that they would not normally have access to due to financial and other barriers. Ashley has found great value in connecting with fellow Black health and wellness professionals. “This has given me the opportunity to grow my network in the health and wellness community and definitely contribute to enhancing my practice through learning from my peers,” she said.
