40 years: Still fighting for justice!

Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers

On September 26 and 27, 2019, the Association of Black Social Workers honoured their history and hopes for the future during their 40th anniversary conference in Halifax.

The conference featured an array of exciting keynote speakers: Robyn Maynard, author of Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada From Slavery to the Present; Kimberly Papillon, judicial professor and lecturer on neuroscience and fair decision-making in law, medicine, education and business; Dr. Tanya Sharpe, a social work educator who currently holds an endowed chair in Social Work in the Global Community at the University of Toronto; Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, founding member of ABSW and Senator for Nova Scotia; and Dalhousie professor Michelle Williams, director of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative at the Schulich School of Law.

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard

Photo contributed by NSABSW

The sessions and events at this year’s conference were wide-ranging in topic and scope. Themes explored by presenters and participants included social change and social justice, culturally responsive approaches, mental health and addictions, education, child welfare, family preservation, anti-Black racism, reparations, spirituality, and the needs and concerns of African Nova Scotian youth.

Kimberley Papillon

Photo contributed by NSABSW

ABSW is a volunteer charitable organization that consists of Black social workers, human service workers and other helping professionals throughout the province. The organization was founded in 1979 by four women, in response to concerns they had about the state of social services being provided to African Nova Scotians, especially the placement of Black and mixed-race children in foster care.

Dr. Tanya Sharpe

Photo contributed by NSABSW

These four women who founded the organization in our province – Althea Tolliver, Maxene Prevost Shepard, Frances Mills-Clements and Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard – were all community minded, socially conscious, political advocates who realized that their collective effort and voice were needed to address the concerns they witnessed in their community.

Robyn Maynard

Photo contributed by NSABSW

Although there have been many positive changes in policy and practice in Nova Scotia during the last 40 years, there is still work to be done.

To learn more about the ongoing work of the Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers, visit nsabsw.ca. Photos contributed by NSABSW.