Rooted in Legacy, Leading with Clarity
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A Message from NACCA’s New Executive Director, Jerisha Grant-Hall
Greetings Community,
When I founded the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) in 2018, I did so with a fire in my spirit and a deep sense of responsibility to my ancestors, my community and the generations to come. We began as a small, determined group of people who knew that our community deserved more than mere visibility, we deserved generational wellness.
Over the years, I have watched us come together and take on initiatives with purpose and intention. From our early advocacy for representation to our current work in mental health, education, food security and cultural celebrations, we have shown what is possible when Black communities lead.
I step into the role of Executive Director of NACCA with profound gratitude, humility and renewed purpose: to expand the vision that has guided us from day one — a vision rooted in values I hold dearly:
As the daughter of Iris Malcolm and a child from a small village called Ceton Crescent in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica, I carry with me the strength and wisdom of those who came before me. My great-grandfather was a tailor. My grandfather, a cobbler and farmer. My great-grandmother, Rachel Brimmer, was a family matriarch whose leadership shaped generations. Their spirit guides me still. Asé
I have seen how our work has transformed lives. I have witnessed our community come alive in the eyes of a young girl dancing proudly on our stage, in the confidence of a student who receives a scholarship to support their postsecondary education and in the smile of elders who see the value of our work.
Now, as Executive Director, I hold this responsibility with care and clarity. I am committed to stewarding our growth, nurturing our partnerships and building systems that sustain and scale our impact. Always rooted in Ubuntu and always guided by the Nguzo Saba principles that call us to unity, self-determination and collective leadership.
Our work is not easy, but it is necessary. I believe in this community with all my being. I believe in the brilliance of our youth, the wisdom of our elders and the transformative power of Black-led, Black-serving spaces.
This new chapter is not just a personal milestone. It’s a collective invitation to deepen our relationships, expand our impact and continue building a future where Black families not only survive, but flourish.
To every volunteer, partner, youth, elder and supporter who has walked with us: thank you. Let us continue to build — and lift as we climb.
In solidarity and love,
Jerisha Grant-Hall
Executive Director
NACCA
When I founded the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) in 2018, I did so with a fire in my spirit and a deep sense of responsibility to my ancestors, my community and the generations to come. We began as a small, determined group of people who knew that our community deserved more than mere visibility, we deserved generational wellness.
Over the years, I have watched us come together and take on initiatives with purpose and intention. From our early advocacy for representation to our current work in mental health, education, food security and cultural celebrations, we have shown what is possible when Black communities lead.
I step into the role of Executive Director of NACCA with profound gratitude, humility and renewed purpose: to expand the vision that has guided us from day one — a vision rooted in values I hold dearly:
- Empowerment through education
- Culturally relevant programs that affirm identity
- Trauma-informed, healing-centred community development
- Intergenerational leadership grounded in Ubuntu and the Nguzo Saba principles
As the daughter of Iris Malcolm and a child from a small village called Ceton Crescent in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica, I carry with me the strength and wisdom of those who came before me. My great-grandfather was a tailor. My grandfather, a cobbler and farmer. My great-grandmother, Rachel Brimmer, was a family matriarch whose leadership shaped generations. Their spirit guides me still. Asé
I have seen how our work has transformed lives. I have witnessed our community come alive in the eyes of a young girl dancing proudly on our stage, in the confidence of a student who receives a scholarship to support their postsecondary education and in the smile of elders who see the value of our work.
Now, as Executive Director, I hold this responsibility with care and clarity. I am committed to stewarding our growth, nurturing our partnerships and building systems that sustain and scale our impact. Always rooted in Ubuntu and always guided by the Nguzo Saba principles that call us to unity, self-determination and collective leadership.
Our work is not easy, but it is necessary. I believe in this community with all my being. I believe in the brilliance of our youth, the wisdom of our elders and the transformative power of Black-led, Black-serving spaces.
This new chapter is not just a personal milestone. It’s a collective invitation to deepen our relationships, expand our impact and continue building a future where Black families not only survive, but flourish.
To every volunteer, partner, youth, elder and supporter who has walked with us: thank you. Let us continue to build — and lift as we climb.
In solidarity and love,
Jerisha Grant-Hall
Executive Director
NACCA
