International Women’s Day Keynote – Halifax Municipality 2021
Women have demonstrated their resilience in a magnitude of ways, past and present. Black women’s survival in North America has and remains dependent on their ability to be resilient. What if we challenged this notion of resilience as it applies to racialized women? This talk will examine the complexities of navigating two pandemics: Covid-19 and anti-Black racism through the Black Lives Matters Movement, from the lens of a Black woman. (Keynote begins at 2:37)
Rajean Willis’ 4 Corners of Choosing to Challenge – IWD 2021
TEDxMSVU – “Tuning Into Your Inner Resilience”
Rajean highlights the resiliency of African Nova Scotian women and girls, and believes in creating spaces for the voices of African Nova Scotian people to be heard – to share their experiences of injustices but also their unique resilience. This is important for awareness and education but also as a step in the direction of healing and overall well-being individually and communally. Rajean Willis, is a proud Indigenous African Nova Scotian woman from Truro, NS with roots from East Preston, Africville and Shelburne. Currently, she is a clinical social worker with Correctional Services Canada, Community Mental Health Services. Some of Rajean’s most prideful and impactful work has been around researching and raising awareness around mental health, substance abuse and gambling within the ANS communities and communities of African descent in NS. Rajean’s community work is extensive with experience in community and program development, research, writing, mentorship, facilitation and therapeutic intervention. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Talk Show Series “Out of the Shadows” – Talk Show Producer and Host
Association of Black Social Workers’ 8 episode series in partnership with Eastlink TV developed out of the “Creating Awareness around Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Gambling related problems in the African Nova Scotian Communities” research project.
Kardiesha’s Sweet 16 Birthday Party – Interviewer and Host
Talk Show Series “Silent Voices of Gambling” – Talk Show Producer and Host
Association of Black Social Workers’ 6 episode series in partnership with Eastlink TV developed out of the Silent Voices of Gambling project funded by Gambling Awareness Nova Scotia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk-m6Pj2OP0
“Art as a Tool” – Project Director – Hired by the NS Association of Black Social Workers
“Exploring the Impacts of Culturally-Specific Community Driven Programs on the Life Journey of African Nova Scotians” – Master’s Thesis, Dalhousie University
“A Solid Foundation of Fighting for Justice” – Still Fighting for Change: Black Social Workers in Nova Scotia Chapter Book Edited by Wanda Thomas Bernard (Author Chapter 12)
“Reflections on the Ongoing Fight for Change”– Still Fighting for Change: Black Social Workers in Nova Scotia Chapter Book Edited by Wanda Thomas Bernard. Chapter Book (Co-Author with Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Chapter 19)
rajeanwillis.com 