Blackout Podcast

Uche is an energetic individual. Always striving to be better.In this episode, we talk about how he juggles banking, modelling and acting.Check him out @datguyjoel

JayTheKidd is a name that’s rapidly rising in the Nova Scotian hip-hop scene. With a vision to inspire the new generation and make an impact as both an artist and a person through his music, he sets his sights high. He aspires to become the face of the new era in Nova Scotia Hip-Hop, recognizing the untapped talent within his vibrant community and aiming to lead the charge.JayTheKidd’s talent has not gone unnoticed, with appearances on CTV Morning Live, where he’s been featured in multiple segments and interviewed. His music has found a home on Virgin Radio, and his story has graced the pages of prominent provincial and local press outlets, including dozens of articles on Saltwire, NG News, Pictou Advocate, 94.1 The Breeze, Elevator Magazine and Maritime EDIT; to name a few.With over half a million streams on just five songs, JayTheKidd has solidified his position as an emerging artist within the hip-hop landscape. He’s had the privilege of sharing the stage with esteemed artists like NLE Choppa, Classified, JRDN and Quake Matthews, with exciting future collaborations in the pipeline, including the latter three. Beyond his artistry, JayTheKidd has taken on the roles of producer, promoter, and manager, achieving a remarkable feat by selling out the Glasgow Square Theatre for his very first headlining show in just five days.In July, JayTheKidd made waves with the release of the lead single for his upcoming project, ‘Better Late Than Never,’ titled ‘Watch The Ride,’ complete with a captivating music video. While the project has faced unforeseen health-related delays, anticipation for its release remains high.

Yuhe Guo came to Halifax as a Chinese international student.An office lady who makes friends with clients.A model who never wears high-heels off the runway.A bartender who hates drinking.Find out more @yuhe_solimodels

Fantanesh Attomsa is the Founder of Blue Nile Massage & Wellness, which exists as a holistic health practice with a vision to create therapeutic and inclusive spaces within our communities.Her practice is on a mission to elevate the health of our communities through holistic therapies and accessible self-care education. As a compassionate leader with over 15 years combined in the health and social service field, it is her passion to empower others along their wellness journey.She aims to increase representation for black women well-preneurs by creating community wellness programming, facilitating community wellness workshops and providing mentorship to entrepreneurs.Fantanesh has been nominated for RBC's "Woman Of Influence", as well as Halifax Chamber of Commerce's "Small Business Of The Year" - and is a proud mother of 3.Check her out @fantanesh.attomsa

Amelia Cornick is a Canadian actor based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has recently played a lead role in Ron Foley MacDonald's latest feature film 'Love and Doom' (winning Best Screenplay and nominated for Best Ensemble Cast at the MBTF Awards in the UK) as well as his previous feature film 'Sleepwatching' which aired last fall on Eastlink TV. She has previously played recurring characters on Bell TV show 'Real Wrestling' and Eastlink TV show 'The Motherload', as well as a police officer on the Bell TV true crime show 'Halifax Homicide', which became a number one show on their network.She has had the joy of playing in twenty-three short films over the past few years, including 'Blue Nude', a Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design production which was featured in FIN (Atlantic International) & NFFTY film festivals; and 'Flesh of my Flesh', a Goblin Den Productions short film which was a semi-finalist in the 15 Second Horror Film Challenge. She also appeared in the 48 Hour Film Project with Goblin Den Productions 'Alter Ego', which won six awards.Originally from Labrador, Amelia performed in a number of local theatre productions and attended the Royal Conservatory Music Speech Arts and Drama Youth Program. After moving to Nova Scotia to study at King's-Edgehill School with a music & theatrical arts scholarship, she furthered her training in acting with various coaches, workshops, and classes; and studied acting at Dalhousie's Fountain School of Performing Arts (earning a 4.3 GPA in both of her acting courses); alongside continuing to act and perform in local theatre productions, before choosing to pursue a career in film and television in 2020.

Stephanie Folahan is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a rich history in the field of accounting and finance. As the CEO of Premier Accounting and Tax, Stephanie has made it her life's work to provide essential financial services to both individuals and small businesses. With a true passion for helping clients manage their financial affairs, Stephanie's expertise, experience, and unwavering commitment set her apart as a leader in her industry.Stephanie brings to the table nearly two decades of professional accounting and financial experience, making her a seasoned expert in the field. Her journey in finance began with a diploma in Accounting and Payroll, obtained during her college years. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for her impressive career.Early in her career, Stephanie spent five years as a Tax Preparation Specialist at H&R Block, honing her skills in the intricate world of tax preparation. This experience allowed her to develop an intimate understanding of tax regulations, which continues to serve as a valuable asset in her work today.Following her tenure at H&R Block, Stephanie transitioned to a role as a Senior Accountant at ABK Biomedical, where she spent another five years. This role broadened her expertise and proficiency, offering exposure to advanced financial principles and practices. Her work at ABK Biomedical further solidified her understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and enabled her to master essential financial software tools like MS Excel, QuickBooks, and Sage50.Stephanie's professional journey is underpinned by her unyielding dedication to assisting individuals and small businesses with their financial needs. Whether it involves taxes, accounting, or bookkeeping, Stephanie is devoted to providing timely, efficient, and supportive solutions to her clients. Her friendly, understanding demeanor and professional approach reassure clients that Premier Accounting & Tax Inc. is the ideal place to address their financial and accounting requirements.Outside of her professional endeavors, Stephanie is a loving mother of three and a devoted wife. Her ability to balance the demands of her career with her family responsibilities demonstrates her remarkable commitment to both her loved ones and her clients. Stephanie's passion for helping individuals and small companies with their financial affairs, combined with her extensive experience, makes her a respected and trusted figure in the world of accounting and taxation.

Krista Collier-Jarvis (nek’m/she/her) is a PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University and an Assistant Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University, both of which are in the Departments of English. She graduated with a BA (honours) from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2013 and a Master of Arts from Dalhousie University in 2016.She describes her work as a process of watching zombie films and trying to say smart things about them. She’s a member of the Mi’kmaq Nation, and her culture influences much of her research. In addition to studying and teaching Indigenous literature and film, she incorporates Indigenous knowledge approaches in much of her research and seeks to elevate Indigenous voices.In late 2014, she joined inesS, a pole and circus studio located in downtown Halifax. She started with aerial silks but fell in love with pole dancing. She started competing in pole art and pole doubles beginning in 2017 and holds three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in competition.After winning a bronze medal in pole doubles at nationals, she and her pole partner, Jill, were offered positions on Team Canada to compete at Worlds. However, between the pandemic and the kind of time and energy required to compete on the world stage, they never did compete at that level. She now teaches and performs at inesS. You can find her performing annually at such events as Fringe and Nocturne or you can sign up to take one of her classes.When she’s not studying or hanging out at inesS, she can be found paddleboarding, photographing, or hanging out with her husband, her dog, and her three cats at her home near Peggy’s Cove.Find out more @mikmawmutiny

Chiedza (Shona for light/dawn) was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to Halifax 12 years ago. She has been working in the non-profit sector for several years, supporting communities and organizations through project management, research, data management, evaluation, communications, grant administration and advocacy.She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Strategy Implementation Professional (SIP) with a master’s degree in international development studies from St. Mary’s University and is passionate about addressing complex socioeconomic challenges through sustainable development and innovation, as well as using her experience and expertise to support organizational growth and sustainability.Chiedza is also passionate about the Arts, from music to film and drama, and has been a Spoken Word Artist for several years, using her pieces, some deeply personal, to inspire, challenge, and heal.Outside of work, Chiedza is a wife and mother to two beautiful children. She finds great joy in motherhood and purpose in raising her children. She is a Christian and credits God with enabling her to be a “professional juggler” of work, marriage, motherhood, community, family, and everything else in between.

Former lawyer Sarah Birch is a Halifax-based content creator who is best known for her loud laugh and her many adventures.She talks openly about seeking therapy to help her parent, and about living with ADHD. She runs her own English/French translation business and loves to be outdoors in her free time.Find out more @littlesarahbirch

BASYL is a Palestinian artist, based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.Achieving breakthrough success with his debut release “No Pants Till February” in February of 2022. Since then, BASYL has accumulated over 700,000 streams, primarily through major Spotify playlists such as Mellow Bars, Northern Bars, and Hip Hop Central.In his first year, BASYL has performed on multiple stages in Nova Scotia. Showcasing in the Hopscotch 2022 Festival, alongside headliners such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, Scratch Bastid, and TOBi, and opening up for Alchemist in 2023.His song Conversations was also featured on Virgin Radio Halifax’s Top 40 slot in November 2022.Check him out @baselsabri

Nailah Moon (She/They/We) is a MAD writer, community worker and artist active in Mi'ma'ki.They are a Black futurist who uses mixed mediums to explore themes of immigration, alienation and Afrofuturism focusing on the beauty and power found within the African diaspora.They are often seen running through cities armed with a book and headphones.Keep up with their eccentric life @nailahmoonkipuktuk

Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Julien grew up in a household filled with musical influences.At the age of five, Julien began playing the drums, shortly after that he started writing and recording raps. It wasn’t long before the home studio that Julien created became the neighbourhood recording studio. Being able to create a space, and provide resources, knowledge, and access to equipment was what Julien enjoyed the most. Today Julien does just that through artist management and development, live music production, and public speaking.Julien served as an active member on the board of The African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA) from 2020-2023. During this time on the board of ANSMA, he curated panels and showcases and fundraised to fuel the organization's mission. While engaged in his volunteer work, Julien stepped in as Interim Investment Program Manager at Music Nova Scotia in 2022. In this role, he provided information to those pursuing a career in the music industry, in addition to overseeing the distribution of public funds allocated to each of Music Nova Scotia’s Investment Programs, and much more.Julien is currently the Programming Committee Chair at ADVANCE Canada’s Music Business Collective and also serves on the East Coast Music Association’s African Canadian Music Committee.In 2023, Julien was hired as ANSMA’s first Executive Director in the organization's history. In this position, Julien aims to serve the African Nova Scotian/Black community with greater emphasis on youth and career development in music. Following Julien’s time working at Music Nova Scotia, he embarked on a path to start his own music business consulting and management company. Through his company, Julien offers artist management, facilitation, public speaking, grant writing, promotion, project management, live music production planning, and will soon be adding royalty and publishing collection services.Check him out @matwawanajulien

Robert is dedicated to spearheading a cultural renaissance on a global scale, emphasizing the essence of African creativity and ingenuity.His mission revolves around cultivating a robust community and fostering dynamic creative collaborations with visionary artists who share a profound appreciation for Africa's promising future. Through his endeavours, he aspires to pioneer a transformative revolution that celebrates and amplifies the unparalleled creative spirit emanating from the African continent.Check him out @[email protected]_

Fikayo Kayode (she/her) is a 21-year-old creative artist from Nigeria. After spending a couple of years in the Philippines, she moved to Canada in 2018 for her undergraduate degree and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Acadia University.She enjoys reading anything from realistic fiction novels to academic pieces on topics like race, womanhood, and current or past politics and started reading at a very young age. Fikayo developed an affinity towards writing at 14 and would start with short stories and poems. She started to put her craft out there in 2020 when she launched her podcast, “OkayThoughts”. Since then, Fikayo has performed at spoken word events, created a social media platform for her writing and her podcast, and is currently working on a blog.Slowly but surely, Fikayo is building confidence in sharing and honing her craft as a writer and spoken word artist and allowing her work to speak to her, and for her. She is doing this by taking up more opportunities to share her writing and putting pen on paper whenever she feels inspired to.Find out more @fikayo_k

Palm Tree Kitchen is inspired by the vibrancy of Caribbean culture, colours, and fresh, flavour-packed island ingredients.As Halifax’s only rum bar, Palm Tree Kitchen is bringing a splash of the Caribbean to Quinpool Road. Offering sandwiches and handhelds by day, and small plates by night.Palm Tree Kitchen is a small place that brings big island love. Need a vacation? Come and feel the island vibes.Owner: Demetrius Ferguson @bigmeech6Bar Manager: Andrew Keyes @mezcalkeyes Check them out @_palmtree.kitchen

Lumen Lux is a multifaceted performer who fell in love with the arts at a young age. Beginning her fire journey in 2016, Lumen progressed from spinning fire to eating fire to breathing it. Their many talents also include hooping, flow arts, gogo and burlesque.Lumen Lux has performed at festivals such as Evolve Music Festival, Fire and Water Cultural Festival, Nocturne, Future Forest, Fredericton Pride and many other events throughout Atlantic CanadaThey have done collaborations with many other artists and also work with performing organizations such as Serpentine Studios and Luminosity Circus and has recently started producing her own burlesque and drag shows under the alias Lumen Lux ProductionsFind out more @lumenlux_@lumenluxproductions_

MichNat Fashion is an Afrocentric fashion brand and the epitome of bespoke and customised fashion.One of the main goals of Michnat Fashion is to help our clients stay true to their identity by reflecting this in their fashion styles. All garments are carefully constructed with strategic cut-outs to emphasize the natural curves and this great attention to detail makes us stand out and distinct.The brand was founded in 2020 by Funmi Odeniyi to share her passion for fashion with the world and also use this to promote diversity. Her hard work and unique designs have earned her some recognition and awards since inception.Funmi is a wife and mother of 4 beautiful kids, She also volunteers as the Treasurer of two organisations - Craft Nova Scotia and The Africadian Empowerment Academy. She helps impact the community by collaborating with organisations such as Halifax Central Library and other organizations to offer free sewing classes to the youths and any adults interested in improving their skills.Learn more @michnatfashion

Having lost her parents at only 15 years of age and subsequently placed into foster care, Patricia refused to let her past hinder her future.As a Creative Director and visual storyteller, she firmly believes that everyone has a compelling story to tell. Elevating voices, whether for individuals or for business brands, is where her passion lies and what drove her to start her creative agency. She works to advocate for increased representation of the BIPOC community within the arts.Now, she is doing projects beyond the Canadian border. She loves to reminisce on the extraordinary experiences, people, places, struggles & successes that have made her who she is today.Check her out @patriciachareka.jck

Yasmine Wasfy is a fashion/textiles designer who graduated from NSCAD University in Halifax in 2019.Yasmine developed the concept behind Ange while working with handprinted/ painted silks for her graduation project that hit the runway at her university’s gala in 2018. The project was based on hand-painted sheer white silks and elegant duchess satins.Yasmine worked as a bridal consultant and this helped her get closer to realise the huge demand for modern, unique and light features in bridal gowns. This led to her going back to her painted white silks and creating something out of them. From that moment, Ange was born!Find out more @yasmine.h.wasfy @angemariage

Serving punchlines delivered timely with rizz and a phenomenal flow, F$rgo is a songwriter, rapper and singer From Ekiti state Nigeria. Born and brought up in the streets of Agege, Lagos state.Check him out @fsrgoo

Luke 2.0, an out-of-the-box thinker with an unorthodox style and sense of humour, adds a touch of personality to each piece of work.With a decade of knowledge from cartooning, animation,  illustration,  video editing, graphic art, and logo design; Luke will not hesitate to stop until your expectations are exceeded!From years of self-education as well as learning skills from film school and working as a tattoo apprentice, Luke has worked on various projects such as cover art and animated music videos for rappers in the Halifax scene, logos for small businesses, podcasters from LA and many more!Providing a friendly open mind, a strong attention to detail and the ability to take on challenging projects; Luke with bring forth what it takes to help your vision come to life!Check him out @luke_2.o_

Nami is a South Asian entrepreneur with ADHD who moved to Canada from Oman at the age of 18. She always enjoyed a balance of creativity and analytics and was able to make the most of it by starting her own social media marketing business, namely, DreamTalk Creative. DreamTalk helps small-to-medium-sized businesses make the most of their social media presence by creating content that efficiently articulates their brand and developing strategies that attract future customers.As a deeply creative child who lived with undiagnosed ADHD, Nami spent a good chunk of her childhood and teenage years playing the piano, reading books, journaling and observing the world around her. After getting diagnosed as an adult, she shared her experiences of living with ADHD on Tiktok (@namisayshello). She built a community of like-minded people who engaged in conversations about invisible disabilities, shared resources and coping strategies, discussed the inefficiencies of ADHD treatment in Canada and more.Find out more @namisayshello

Ibe Ananaba, born in Belgium and raised in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller. He graduated with Distinction from the Institute of Management and Technology, specializing in Painting. Ibe explores cultural and socio-political themes and their influences on contemporary living in his art using traditional and unconventional mediums.In addition to his studio art practice, he is involved in various creative roles such as Fashion Illustrator, Designer, Muralist, Art Director, Calligraphist, and Cartoonist. He also dedicates his time to empowering the youth through art mentorship.Ibe's artistic achievements have gained recognition, including being listed in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. His work has been exhibited internationally, from Nigeria and South Africa to the USA, London, Israel, and Canada. He has won awards in his art practice, including the 1st Prize Winner of the Art Masters Contest at Art Vancouver 2019.Academically, Ibe's art serves as case studies for project theses by several scholars in different universities in Nigeria. His artwork has been featured in notable publications like "Fashion: A Second Language," "Watercolor Artists Magazine," "Masters of Watercolors," "The Villager - How Africans Consume Brands," "Fashion Illustration Africa - A New Generation," and "Artist of Nigeria." These publications showcase his diverse skills and contributions to the world of art.Check him out @ibeananaba

Pamela is the owner and seamstress behind Stone Sewn, a small business that provides customsewing services and textile products in Halifax.She creates playful, colourful designs inspired by nature, architecture and family connections intrinsic to used fabrics.After completing her undergrad at NSCAD University, she began sewing for local businesses andtaking on commission work. Pamela’s passion for thrifting and upcycling (and saving every fabric scrap) led her to create environmentally friendly textiles with little waste.It was this interest that motivated her to become an entrepreneur and keep extra material out of landfills.You can follow Pamela on Instagram or Facebook at @stonesewn.

Blanche Israël is a multilingual Moroccan-Canadian cultural strategist and musician.Originally from Montreal, Blanche moved to Nova Scotia in 2020 and quickly integrated into the music community here. As a funding specialist, she has helped artists and arts organizations raise over $10 million in grants and donations since 2015.As a cellist, she has performed and recorded with artists including Jeremy Dutcher (JUNO Winner 2019), James Baley, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Mo Kenney, The Town Heroes, The Public Service, Rankin MacInnis and the Broken Reeds, and more.Find out more @blancheis

Benjamin is a Vietnamese Canadian Filmmaker/Cinematographer/Photographer working in the NS film industry and abroad. He believes in sharing the truth on the creative industries.Community and learning are the main drives to his goals to make it in the game, working hard relentlessly is just part of the formula. He shares more that’s below the surface compared to what people see. Check him out @benjbdwards

Damini Awoyiga is a 16-year-old high school student.She is an activist, spoken word poet and Halifax’s Youth Poet Laureate.Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club.Learn more @damini.awoyiga

Omotola Oyefodunrin is a Nigerian digital artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.His artistic disciplines include concept art, illustration, Background Design, Graphic design and Video editing.Omotola's art style is defined mostly by vivid colours with inspiration drawn from life, entertainment, experiences and a God-given imagination.He believes his best version is yet to come and he wants to unlock that version, firstly by getting closer to God and secondly by collaborating with other artists so that they can all tell their own stories and to that effect, he is currently in development of several projects to be released soon.Omotola is currently accepting commissions.Find out more @artoftolagram

Originally from the Maritimes, Shawna Garrett has held registrarial and enrolment management positions at Acadia University, NSCAD University, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, and Mount Allison University.She has also worked as a superintendent, principal, and dean at international schools in Japan and China. Shawna holds degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island and Acadia University and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in educational studies through Nova Scotia’s inter-university doctoral program.She has been the President and CEO of EduNova for just over a year and a half and was on the organization’s founding board in 2004. She is passionate about helping international students study and stay in Nova Scotia.

Badisun is currently represented by Soli Management based out of Halifax.After completing her first runway shows last summer, Badi’s love for fashion heightened and inspired her to start her line "Chaotic Luxury" in 2023.Badi is coming out with new items in the summer for “Chaotic Luxury”.Badi continues to create content on her social media platforms and is exploring new ways to collaborate with the art community.Find out more @badi_sun_

Jimmy P Torres is born Chilean, Canadian by choice, who moved to Nova Scotia 14 years ago.Jimmy is a sound engineer who works doing films and photography. He has been a published photographer in many international magazines and is always open to new ideas, concepts and challenges.Jimmy loves chasing the light in a creative way.Check him out @jimmyptorres

Mary Beth Piper is a metal artist who recently returned home to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Piper works mainly in sterling silver with freshwater pearls and semi-precious gems, as well as reclaimed materials such as copper and wood.They are interested in making unique jewellery that explores humanity’s place within the natural world and the constructed nature of identity.Piper’s work has been exhibited at the New Brunswick Government House and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.They attended NBCCD and graduated with a diploma in jewellery and metal arts in 2018, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2011. Piper’s artistic career blossomed from an existential crisis regarding a political theory thesis and their love for making odd little things, and they’ve happily managed to merge both those loves into their practice today.Find out more @mb.piper

Kevin Hartford is a writer/director based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.He is a two-time alumnus of the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP’s) FILM 5 program and twice received their nomination to Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program for his feature film To the Moon, which will go to camera in 2023 with support from Telefilm’s Production Program.His shorts Charlie’s P.O.C. and Disco Apocalypse aired on the third and sixth seasons of CBC’s Reel East Coast and streamed on CBC Gem.Check him out @noirgang

Praise, a model, dancer and influencer currently living in Halifax N.SShe is currently studying psychology and hopes to focus on modelling, acting and entertainment full-time after school.She teaches dancing on the side as well and dances from time to time.Find out more @akogunpraise

Henry Colin is a writer/director based out of Kjipuktuk/Halifax. He is a passionate filmmaker and an all-around cinephile.Henry has directed a number of award-winning short films, including "Passage" and "In the Cold". Henry has also directed the award-winning feature film "I Am Not A Hero".In 2023 Henry completed principal photography on his sophomore feature "Lost in Time"; a science-fiction chamber piece expected to hit festivals in 2024. Check him out @henrycolinfilmmaker 

Tia Upshaw is a serial entrepreneur, mother of 3, nominee for Business Leader of the Year 2022 & 2023 Halifax Chamber of Commerce, nominee for RBC Woman of Influence 2021,2022 & 2023 and founder & CEO of Blk Women in Excellence. She is a mentor with Rise & Scotia Bank women's mentorship initiative in partnership with the Forum.She also is a well-known motivational speaker, entrepreneurship content creator ( Afrocentric lens) & facilitator with success stories attached to her facilitations. Find out more @blkwomeninexcellence

Lingjie was born in China, Shanghai and lived in Japan for 8 and a half years. She started working in the hospitality industry at an American dive bar in Tokyo.She moved to Canada and met the owners of DearFriend Matt Boyle and Jeff van Horn through the NSCC hospitality program and started working as a server.Having worked with and learned from so many amazing bartenders in Halifax, Lingjie got introduced to the cocktail world which opened her horizons. Due to her Chinese and Japanese background, she wants to bring more Chinese & Japanese cultural ingredients and creativity into the drinks she makes.The Chinese liquor “baijiu”, is an amazing spirit, with a long history, and culture as well as different aromas and special flavours. Check out Lingjie @lingjie_0708 

Moashella Shortte is a mother, educator, author, entrepreneur, and child and youth advocate.   She received her formal training at Mount Saint Vincent University, earned an Early Childhood Management Certificate at St. Mary’s University and was granted a “Baccalauréat en sciences humaines” from “immigration et communautés culturelles”, in Montreal. She spent most of her formative working years at the East Preston Day Care and Family Resource Centre and ultimately became its Executive Director. In 2018, she co-founded Learning4YoungMinds, a company offering online and in-person workshops teaching empathy and socialization to young children; anti-racism training for educators and student support workers; and writing support for BIPOC youth. She currently serves on the ECE advisory committee and is filling the role of lead faculty for the Africentric Cohort of the ECE program at the Nova Scotia Community College. Moashella defines her mission as providing as many learners as possible with exceptional learning experiences that will help them build a strong, positive foundation for learning for life!Find out more @moashellamshortte

As a teenager, Chris had managed to narrow down his future to either becoming a Buddhist monk or running the race to be successful. For various reasons, he chose the latter, but he's always kept one foot in the world of subtle energy and strange events.As a roughneck, he studied alternative health modalities, and when his encounter with the fossil fuel industry motivated him to study renewable energy, he kept an eye out for hints about the kind of energy he studied in that context. These dual interests have all stayed active, recently leading to two books - one on the spiritual side of programming, and one a children's book on health.Chris has an ongoing interest in combining technology with spirituality and hopes to continue his exploration of the weird overlap between those fields in the years to come. He believes there is a lot we don't know about the world - and that learning more about it all is a great way to spend his finite time on the planet. His current research on time and quantum mechanics has really stretched his brain, and he hopes to use that flexibility to work on similar projects - he's interested in bioinformatics and music, but also open to whatever else comes across his path.Find out more about ChrisCheck out his GitHub

Wyndolyn Brown started Empowerment For Hope, a non-profit organization based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.Empowerment For Hope helps and supports girls, women and gender-diverse persons from other marginalized communities involved in sex trafficking or at risk of being involved, which in turn results in addiction and or homelessness.Find out more @empowermentforhope

Using a songwriting ability seldom found in musicians of his age group, 19-year-old Joe Hubley takes inspiration from Motown-soul, funk, and synth-pop artists to intricately craft a sound that is uniquely his own while paying a crafty homage to his musical predecessors. Hubley made waves coming up in Halifax's fruitful all-ages scene, becoming known for his incredibly enigmatic live shows and commanding stage presence.Coming off his first solo tour across Atlantic Canada in the Fall of 2022, Joe Hubley is preparing for the release of his latest single 'Post Up' - available on all streaming services on Friday, April 7th. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Em Bowden-Gil (Arc5ive), as well as production from Colleen Shaw and Braden Kamermans at Üthful Music in North-end Halifax.Check him out @hubleyjoe

Alyssa is a self-taught artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia.Currently immersed in painting with acrylics on birch gallery panels. Her works are inspired by everyday moments captured first with her camera and then with her paint brushes.Alyssa is captivated by bringing light and depth to her paintings while leaving behind visible brush strokes to maintain a painted look and feel.She sells original paintings and accepts commission work.Find out more @watercoloursmakemesmile

Blessing Owowa is the Creative Director and Owner of DB Pearlz Designs, an Afrocentric fashion brand with a unique selling point of blending the best of modern Western and African fashion cultures. DB Pearlz Designs specializes in apparel making (bespoke and ready-to-wear), accessories (bags, purses and headpieces), footwear and custom-fit tailoring services using quality African and Western fabrics.You can follow Blessing on her business social media handles (Facebook & Instagram: @dbpearlzdesigns) as well as her website: https://www.dbpearlzdesigns.com.

Paollo13 is a Lebanese-Canadian rapper hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, known for his lyrical prowess and undeniable talent. Born and raised in the vibrant and multicultural community of Halifax, Paollo13 found inspiration in the rich diversity of his surroundings and used it as fuel to craft his own unique style of music.In 2022, Paollo13 released his highly anticipated debut studio album, "Stunted Growth," which was met with critical acclaim and cemented his place as a rising star in the Canadian hip-hop scene. The album, released by Black Buffalo Records, showcased Paollo13's impeccable flow and sharp lyricism, highlighting his ability to tackle complex themes with ease.Paollo13's talent and hard work have earned him several accolades throughout his career. He won the Hopscotch Festival's "Each One Teach One" competition, which recognizes emerging talent in the hip-hop community. He has also collaborated with renowned artists such as Ghettosocks, Aquakultre, Marv Won, Sonnyjim, and GMD Jets, further solidifying his status as a respected and sought-after artist.Despite his success, Paollo13 remains grounded and committed to using his platform to give back to his community. He is passionate about using his music to inspire and empower others, especially those from marginalized communities, and continues to work tirelessly to make a positive impact through his art.As Paollo13's star continues to rise, there is no doubt that he will continue to push the boundaries of hip-hop and inspire countless others with his music.Check him out @paollo13

Allie White, with RE/MAX NOVA, has qualified for the esteemed RE/MAX Platinum Club Award, which honours high-achieving real estate professionals for their service to buyers and/or sellers during the past year.Allie White has been serving her community as a real estate agent with RE/MAX NOVA for 1 year and 4 years as an agent. She has extensive experience in renovations, investment properties, and commercial real estate.Amongst Allie White's list of achievements, she earned a position in the top 20 at RE/MAX NOVA in 2022 and was awarded the 100% Club award in 2021.Learn more @allierealty

Ugochi is a skilled development strategist, with over a decade of experience in investment banking, business development, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.She is an intellectually curious professional who is self-motivated and persistently innovates ideas to create prime and viable solutions for businesses to succeed and stay ahead.Find out more on her LinkedIn @ughochiwest

Stak is an acclaimed producer/songwriter that grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Canada about 7 years ago.Because of his passion for music, Stak started writing his own songs and later found his love for beat-making. He is fondly known for his unconventional blend of Afrobeats and RnB as his choice of music and is the powerhouse to most of Arenye’s music.He is the current Director of Million Vibes, a media collective boasting the finest Afrobeats artists on the East Coast. Check him out @stak_01

A native of Andros, Bahamas, Danielle Gaitor, M.Sc. B.Sc., is a scientist, author, and creative.She hopes to inspire all youth to love themselves unapologetically and to stand firmly in who they are.Her debut book is dedicated to all black girls and boys around the world, teaching them about self-care and self-love. Look out for more from her coming in the near future!Learn more @danielle.gaitor

Kolade Kolawole-Boboye is the Co-founder & Brand Management of LDN Records INC, a Director and Alumni at Hope Blooms.Kolade sees himself as a lifelong learner that wants to build relationships with others through creative entrepreneurial collaborations.Kolade is a member of the Hope Blooms Board of Directors, a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Architecture Award for Outstanding Design in Greenhouse, successfully pitched to the CBC’s Dragons Den & a Recipient of CBC’s Dragons Den Top Pitches of all Time 2016, Hosted the 1st outdoor musical performance on spring garden in collaboration with Spring Garden Business Admin.Kolade is a creative, outgoing, dedicated individual who wants to build and expand his experience through creative work.Check him out @koladeboboye

Frantik is a songwriter/ recording artist based in Halifax Nova Scotia.With influences ranging from HipHop, RnB, bedroom pop and Jungle Frantik tells vivid stories about his experiences and the world around him.He hopes that his music can help others to be comfortable in their own skin and be the best that they can be. Check him out @frantikmusic