African Heritage Month
Facilitator Tracey Dorrington-skinner with Truro program since December
TRURO, N.S. - For Tracey Dorrington-skinner it was an ideal fit - the opportunity to join the Mentorship Plus Strategy program in Truro to help connect - and share the wisdom of - African Nova Scotian seniors/retirees with young folks in their communities.
“I was really pleased to find out that we were going to utilize the skills of some of our seniors in a way that gives back to the community for growth,” she said. “Most African Nova Scotian communities are in transition, so to speak, and in that place where they’re ready to turn a corner. So this was a very timely project.”
Dorrington-skinner has been serving as the African Nova Scotian Community Engagement facilitator since last December and is pleased with the scope and direction of her work.
“It’s going well; I think we’re at a good spot right now where we have a better picture of the whole project and of going forward,” she said. “We’re all playing a different role to meet the needs and be able to roll it all out. I’m meeting retirees and youngsters who are looking for work, are underemployed, are not employed or those looking to change careers.”
Communications consultant Terri Mingo said the Mentoring Plus Strategy uses an intergenerational approach to connect knowledgeable seniors with individuals in need of mentorship to help them succeed in their lives, careers and entrepreneurship.
“The idea of elder knowledge helping those less experienced is not new, but what is new about the strategy is that it is being developed to help those from all walks of life,” she said.
Dorrington-skinner said there a number of people around Truro wanting to reach out and have input into the success of the program for those willing to embrace a new way to learn.
“It’s about seeing what is missing, where are the gaps, and how can we fill those gaps?”
Speaking during African Heritage Month, Dorrington-skinner offered a connection between Black heritage and the work she is doing now.
“Coming off the heels of the Black Lives Matter movement, I think it’s a good time to celebrate some of the success we’ve had. One of the things I don’t think we take the opportunity to do, because we’re always fighting, is to celebrate our successes,” she said. “So, I think, this is not only a time to celebrate our successes but to recognize those individuals who laid that groundwork for us to be able to do this work.”
Participation and engagement in African Heritage Month offers an opportunity to recognize individuals who work quietly on their own to help their neighbours.
“Let them know some people notice that and want to say thank you,” she said.
“We’ve been having conversations, so it’s time now to learn and act,” she added of the month’s motto to 'learn, share and act.’
"A lot of places have laid the groundwork, the terms of references. They’ve laid good foundational work to begin to implement some of the stuff we’ve learned out of the Black Lives Matter movement. We have a voice from those who have the firsthand experience, so now we must use that voice and be able to educate.”