Recap - Effective Programming for African Nova Scotian Families

 Hi ANSM readers!

My name is Jordyn, I am ANSM's new intern this semester. On January 31st, I had the opportunity to sit in on an Elder's Circle with Reverend Dr. Joyce Ross to discuss the topic of “Effective Programming for African Nova Scotian Families”, for African Heritage Month at Mount Saint Vincent University!

Roughly 30 guests gathered in a circle in the MSVU Peace Room with food and drinks for the event, which was led by the university’s Black Student Support Office. We listened to Rev. Dr. Ross as she discussed her personal experiences growing up in her community in East Preston, and how she grew up to advocate for children in her community who were attending school without having accessed early childhood education. To address this barrier, she started East Preston Daycare in 1974, funded by seniors in the community for whom the daycare would serve by providing care to their grandchildren. They built the physical space for the daycare with family members, and started providing education to the children in their community.

Reverend Dr. Ross described programming with children to teach about Black members of the community by putting photos up on the wall of East Preston residents as they made achievements, starting with the first Black student to attend MSVU. The daycare took children on day trips to make experiences in the community accessible to them. They emphasized the importance of reading and literacy with children, using books and stories that are meaningful and suited to the learning needs of the children. She built on their interests and expanded upon what they knew, advocating for their capabilities to be taken seriously and valued by the schools that they would later enter.

In 1993, Dr. Ross opened the East Preston Family Resource Center, in order to serve the families of the children attending the daycare. To promote literacy and community connectedness, the center ran a program to have seniors read to the children in the daycare. They also provided pre- and post-natal services, parenting support, and worked with youth in the community as well. Ross emphasized in the Circle that she wanted her program to be holistic, and focus on the whole child. To do this, family wellbeing and community connection was at the center of her mission.

One of the books referenced

What I took from Dr. Ross' discussion about her life and work experiences, and the questions that ensued from all of us as participants, was the importance of holistic approaches when providing programming for young people. Ross' Family Resource Center created opportunities for intergenerational exchanges and gave family members the resources to bring the daycare's values home to their children. Children and families attending the program were encouraged and given access to visit meaningful places in their community and learn about people close to them. Dr. Ross claimed that children were considered part of the East Preston Daycare and Family Resource Center before they were born through prenatal programs, and as children while attending the program. Many stayed connected afterward (many stayed involved as youth and later pursued a career with the programs). This is some of the evidence of the highly successful and influential work of Dr. Joyce Ross.

In my work with ANSM, I hope that NovaMuseEd resources can be inspiring not only to educators, but also reach families and other community programs that work with children alike. It was a pleasure to learn about East Preston's legacy (of nearly 50 years) for holistic teaching and creating opportunities for the African Nova Scotian community and their children. Rev. Dr. Ross is now retired but stays closely involved and I was lucky to learn about programming from her.

Don't forget to check out other events at MSVU to celebrate African Heritage Month!