Preserve the Past, Empower the Present, Inspire the Future
– Black Legacy Collective
Board of Directors
Evelyn Bradley, P.E.I
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Evelyn Bradley moved to Epekwitk (P.E.I.) from the United States in 2020 and is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. She is currently completing a Master’s degree and brings a strong commitment to cultural competency, intersectionality, and addressing unconscious bias as foundational to inclusive workplaces.
Evelyn has held leadership and advisory roles including Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Kiona Technologies, Instructional Design Consultant for the Queer Doula Network, and co-founder of Brim Consulting, where she led professional services and training. Her work has established her as a trusted voice within the Charlottetown community.
Through her company, Bradley Consulting, Evelyn leads workshops, strategic planning, policy development, and mentorship initiatives that support organizations in building equitable and inclusive practices. She is also a regular contributor to CBC, where she hosts the DEI radio segment Just Ask and shares commentary on social justice and equity.
Learn more about Evelyn here.
Keisha Cuffie, Ontario
PRESIDENT
Keisha Cuffie (she/her/elle) is the founder of Black Legacy Collective, an Ottawa-based federally incorporated non-profit dedicated to showcasing the contributions of Black peoples in Canada from the 1600s to today. A best-selling author, curator, and educator, her work centres on preserving Black Canadian history through research, public programming, and accessible education.
She holds a degree in Political Science and Critical Race Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Curatorial Studies, and is completing a Master’s focused on Black Canadian History. Keisha has led and co-curated landmark public history initiatives, including co-curating the first Black history exhibit at Upper Canada Village and programming for the Canadian Museum of History’s Hands-On History series.
Keisha is the author of the bestselling D is for Dazzling / D pour diamant and The Time Keepers, with additional titles forthcoming. Her work has been featured by CBC, CTV, and other national media outlets.
Learn more about Keisha’s work here.
Stephanie Lalonde, Ontario & Quebec
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Stéphanie Lalonde (She/Her/Elle) is a bilingual educator and social impact advocate with a background in history, education, and human systems intervention. A former teacher, her Master’s training enables her to understand and guide meaningful organizational change through inclusive, people-centered approaches.
Currently working in community safety policy, Stéphanie collaborates with Black colleagues and partners to ensure Black voices are reflected in policies that affect their communities. Her work is grounded in equity, collaboration, and respect for lived experience.
A strong believer in literacy as a human right, Stéphanie has volunteered with programs supporting Black and Brown youth, helping them build critical skills for personal and educational empowerment.
She is dedicated to creating inclusive environments where every voice is heard and valued. Stéphanie believes that transformative change begins by listening to those with lived experience.
Lantana Dazang, Ontario
TREASURER
Lantana Dazang is a financial governance and compliance leader with over seven years of experience supporting financial institutions and fintechs in navigating complex regulatory and financial crime environments. Lantana holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Post–Graduate Diploma in International Business Management with Human Resource Management. Her expertise includes financial oversight, risk management, and the design of robust compliance frameworks that support organizational accountability and sustainability.
She has held senior roles at organizations including RBC and Veem Inc. and currently serves as Director of Operations at Mindscape Solutions. Lantana brings a strong operational and analytical lens to financial stewardship, bridging technical compliance with strategic organizational planning.
As Treasurer, Lantana is committed to transparent, ethical, and equitable financial governance. A long-standing volunteer with Capital Heritage Connexion, she contributes to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives and community-focused recruitment, grounding her leadership in accountability, community impact, and the advancement of Black excellence.
Daliso W. Mwanza, Alberta
SECRETARY
Daliso W. Mwanza (He/Him) is a Zambian/South African–born artist, anthropologist, and researcher whose work focuses on Black leisure, heritage, and digital storytelling. He holds an MA in Digital Arts and Humanities from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where his thesis, Black Prairie Leisure, examined how Black immigrants in Western Canada navigate rest and recreation across physical and digital spaces.
Daliso also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistic and Visual Anthropology from MacEwan University. His ethnographic practice includes the creation of two films, Hear My Words and Zikomo, which center Black artists in Edmonton and explore how power and language shape access to leisure and cultural expression in Canada.
An active artist and archival videographer, Daliso is a Society for Visual Anthropology/Lemelson Fellow and has led innovative digital projects, including a 360° VR mapping of Black leisure spaces in Alberta. Through his work with Black Legacy Collective, he brings a creative, community-rooted approach to documenting Black life, memory, and imagination.
Danielle James, Ontario
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Danielle James is a community educator, doula, and advocate with over 20 years of experience in equity, wellness, and education. Her journey began at Queen’s University in 2000, where she worked with the inaugural University Advisor on Equity. She holds a BA in Classical Studies and a diploma in Applied Museum Studies from Algonquin College.
Danielle has worked in heritage institutions like the Canadian Museum of Nature and Library and Archives Canada. As a certified birth and postpartum doula, she supported over 200 families in Ottawa between 2012 and 2020, with training in trauma-informed care, traditional healing, and peer mental health support.
She serves on The Ottawa Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee and works at the Legacy of Hope Foundation, developing curricula on Indigenous history and healing. Danielle also leads learning and engagement efforts in Black maternal health with the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network, promoting inclusive, community-rooted education nationwide.
Graham Nickerson, New Brunswick
VICE-PRESIDENT
Graham Nickerson (he/lui) holds an MScEng and an MA and is currently pursuing his PhD with a research focus on Black Atlantic Canada. His interdisciplinary background spans engineering, community engagement, and workforce consulting, informing a research-driven and data-informed approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Graham has led and contributed to public history and inclusion initiatives, including the Hidden History Geotour and the Canadian Atlas of Social Inclusion with the City of Fredericton. He has also served as a Research Assistant for the Universities Studying Slavery Conference and as a Black History Subject Matter Expert for the New Brunswick Department of Education.
Through his work with Black Legacy Collective, Graham is committed to embedding Black Canadian history into the national narrative and supporting inclusive, historically grounded practices across sectors.
Helen Muleme, Ontario
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Helen Muleme (she/her/elle) is a registered nurse and a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare. Since entering the nursing profession in 2016, she has combined clinical practice with a strong commitment to advancing equitable and culturally responsive care.
She holds a Bachelor of Science from Western University, a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba, and completed her Registered Nurse training at Algonquin College. Helen’s lived and professional experiences have highlighted critical gaps in diversity training within healthcare systems, informing her advocacy and leadership beyond the clinical setting.
Helen is a dedicated community leader, activist, and volunteer. She played a key role in launching the 2020 initiative that led to the permanent Black History Exhibit at Upper Canada Village, which opened in 2024, and currently serves as Chair of Community Engagement with Black Legacy Collective. A strong champion of STEAM education, she encourages Black youth to embrace their heritage and potential, guided by the belief that “we cannot be who we cannot see.”
BLC Executive Team
Keisha Cuffie
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RESEARCH LEAD – CANADA
Keisha (She/Her/Elle) is the founder of Black Legacy Collective, a federally incorporated non-profit dedicated to showcasing the contributions of Black peoples in Canada from the 1600s to today. As a best-selling author, curator, and educator, she merges literature, heritage, and education to amplify underrepresented histories.
She holds a degree in Political Science and Critical Race Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Curatorial Studies. She is currently completing a Master’s with a focus in Black Canadian History. Her work is deeply grounded in equity and inclusion. Keisha has been featured by CBC, CTV, CHUO 89.1FM, and more.
In 2025, Keisha became the first external person to curate a program for the Canadian Museum of History’s interactive Hands-On History series in the Canadian History Hall, featuring touchable objects and highlighting a few of the lesser-known Black histories throughout Canada. From 2022-2024, she co–curated the first Black history exhibit at Upper Canada Village and led its inaugural Emancipation Day celebration. Her first book, D is for dazzling/D pour diamant, became a bestseller. Her second, The Time Keepers, is a time-traveling historical fiction, with more titles forthcoming from Dundurn Press and Orca Publishing.
Learn more about Keisha’s work here.
Graham Nickerson
VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH LEAD – ATLANTIC REGION
Graham Nickerson (He/Lui) is the co-founder of Black Legacy Collective and holds a MScEng and an MA and is currently undertaking his PhD in New Brunswick, focusing on Black Atlantic Canada. His interdisciplinary background spans marine science, community engagement, and workforce consulting, allowing him to approach diversity, equity, and inclusion from both technical and social perspectives.
As Community Inclusion Liaison for the City of Fredericton, he led initiatives like the Hidden History Geotour and the Canadian Atlas of Social Inclusion, amplifying underrepresented stories. He has also contributed as a Research Assistant for the Universities Studying Slavery Conference and served as a Black History Subject Matter Expert for the New Brunswick Department of Education.
With a Masters in Engineering, Graham brings technical expertise from roles in hydrographic survey management, software support engineering, and project management. Now a workforce consultant, he develops inclusive, data-informed strategies for organizational success.
He is deeply committed to historical inclusion and works with Black Legacy Collective to embed Black Canadian history into the national narrative.
Learn more about Graham’s work here.
Patrick Edet
CHIEF OF OPERATIONS – NATIONAL (CANADA-WIDE)
Patrick Edet (he/him) holds a Master of Entrepreneurship in Technology Innovation & Management and brings over 15 years of experience leading complex business and technology initiatives within large organizations. His background spans enterprise transformation, operational infrastructure modernization, data integration, and governance-led delivery, enabling him to translate strategy into effective operational systems.
With a strong foundation in project and change management, Patrick brings expertise in governance design, risk management, and Agile and hybrid delivery practices. A Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Change Agent, and Certified Scrum Master, he is recognized for providing clear, decision-ready insights that support accountability, compliance, and sustainable outcomes.
Patrick has served as a Senior Program Manager at Deloitte, where he led large-scale infrastructure and data modernization initiatives focused on system resilience, cybersecurity alignment, and secure cloud environments. He has also held senior project management roles at Innovapost and Canada Post, delivering national programs that improved operational efficiency, data transparency, and system integration.
Patrick is deeply committed to building strong, equitable organizational infrastructure and works with Black Legacy Collective to strengthen operations and governance.
Elizabeth Harding
CULTURAL HISTORY RESEARCHER – CANADA
Elizabeth Harding (She/Her/Elle) is a researcher, educator, and event organizer whose work bridges Canadian Studies, sociology, and heritage conservation. She holds Master of Arts in Canadian Studies from Carleton University, where her research explored the relationships between Indigenous peoples, Canadian settlers, and immigrants through critical interdisciplinary analysis.
As a Graduate Research Assistant to Professor Jerzy (Jurek) Elżanowski, Elizabeth has co-organized major academic gatherings, including Cartographies of Loss: The Afterlives of War, a four-day international conference, as well as the 16th and 17th Annual Graduate Student Heritage Conservation Symposiums. She has managed every stage of these events, from grant administration and payroll to logistics, communications, and artist programming, ensuring inclusive, accessible, and seamless operations.
Elizabeth’s academic work blends critical Canadian, sociological, and historical inquiry with applied research practice. She has co-authored course materials in heritage conservation, developed literature databases to support collaborative scholarship, and prepared evidence-based policy analyses on Canadian immigration. As a Teaching Assistant, she created dynamic, student-centered learning spaces that encouraged thoughtful discussion and academic growth.
A skilled communicator and organizer, Elizabeth brings expertise in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, SAP Concur, and research software including SPSS and NVivo. Her approach to research and collaboration is shaped by a commitment to accessibility, interdisciplinary, and community engagement, principles she continues to uphold in her professional pursuits.
Breanna Kubat
VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATIVE & POLICY ANALYSIS – CANADA
Breanna Kubat is a doctoral candidate in Canadian Studies at Carleton University, whose research explores the intersections of student organizing, institutional change, and public reckoning in higher education. Her dissertation, When the Statues Fell, offers a comparative analysis of activist movements at the University of Bristol (UK) and Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada), tracing how moments of historical confrontation shape institutional transformation.
Breanna’s research is supported by multiple national awards, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-D) and the Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement, which funded her ethnographic fieldwork in Bristol, UK. Her work has also been recognized with the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and numerous Carleton University fellowships and teaching excellence nominations.
A dedicated educator, Breanna has served as a Teaching Assistant across a wide range of interdisciplinary courses in Canadian Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Sociology, earning multiple Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards. She is also a Research Assistant on The Future of Canadian Studies project and the Ottawa Research Collaborative, contributing to critical dialogues on pedagogy, memory, and institutional accountability.
Breanna’s scholarly practice bridges critical Canadian Studies, sociology, and memory studies, emphasizing questions of legitimacy, decolonization, and social justice within academia. Her work has been presented at national and international conferences, including the Canadian Sociological Association, the Association of Canadian Studies in the United States, and the North American Conference on British Studies.
Beyond research and teaching, Breanna plays an active role in academic service as Co-Chair of the Canadian Studies Graduate Community, a CUPE 4600 Departmental Steward, and a reviewer for both the Canadian Journal of Undergraduate Research and the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal. Her academic and community leadership reflects an ongoing commitment to collaborative scholarship, equity, and transformative education.