Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Nickaya Parris! Born in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and raised in the Community of Uniacke Square, Nickaya Parris is a recognized role model within the African Nova Scotian community, who she pays major homage to as they have crowned her with resiliency and plasticity while showing her the importance of self-discipline and hard work. Nickaya allows her passion for nutrition, healthcare, and underserved communities to lead her daily.

Currently working at the Population Public Health level as a Food Security Policy Analyst for the Provincial Government of NS, Nickaya is also a Registered Dietitian (RD) and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) Degree in Nutrition and Food Science and a Certificate in Food Security from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH) Nutrition & Dietetics with a Clinical Nutrition Specialization from the University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

It is an honor to host Nickaya as this is a full circle moment as Nickaya was the original "hostess with the mostess" for our "Feature Friday."

Show notes:

00:00 - Introducing Nickaya Parris

6:00 - Nickaya’s vocalness and how she uses her outgoing personality to her advantage

17:20 - Importance of family structure and support

23:30 - Nickaya’s different perspectives of growing up

34:24 - Interpreting culture from an ANS perspective

43:00 - Touching on historic ANS communities

55:20 - Finding self guidance from within

1:02:00 - Being a role model in the community

1:07:00 - What is Nickaya up to currently?

1:20:25 - One word check out!

Follow ANS Lab on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/anslab/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ansyouthlab/?fref=tag

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ans-social-innovation-youth-lab-909b961b3/

Follow One North End on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/one_north_end/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OneNorthEnd

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/onenorthend/