The new board members of the Africville Genealogy Society are sharing their vision for the historic Black community after being elected last fall.

The members plan to hold a meeting to introduce themselves and hear directly from descendants and former residents as they work to bring people in the community together.

“We have a great team,” said president Randon Wright, who made unity a priority when he ran for the position.

He’s supported by newly elected colleagues that include former Africville resident Beatrice Wilkins. Her family was one of about 80 who lived in the north-end Halifax community before it was demolished in the 1960s to make way for construction of the MacKay Bridge.

“Younger people are going to keep the society going,” said Wilkins, who also served on the previous board and is encouraged by the new direction. “They’re smart and they’re in tune with what we came from.”

Wilkins said she wants the new board to have a closer working relationship with the Africville Museum.

Another area the board hopes to make progress on is improved access to the National Historic Site.

The lack of public transit to the area has been a controversy for years.

“It’s dangerous for people to come and walk through that road with all those big trucks going back and forth,” said Wilkins, who provides tours of the site.

Family reunion planning, reparations among early discussions

Early plans are underway for the annual family reunion that takes place every summer.

Additional projects such as a push for reparations for descendants and former residents is not being ruled out by the group.

“That discussion is still happening because the people of Africville were wrongly removed from their land. They were not given adequate compensation,” Wright said.

Board priorities will be guided by community members and sharing their pride of Africville will be a constant part of their work, he said.

Previous board invited to upcoming meeting

The new members hope to share more about the history and what they’re doing today through social media.

“We are a distinctive part of Nova Scotia and I think the world needs to know that,” said Giselle Cunningham, another new member.

“I just want to help to grow the picnic and help to bring our residents back together in unity,” said Tanya Clayton, the board’s secretary.

Wright said there have been some challenges getting information and documents from the previous board.

Those members will be invited to the wider community meeting when it’s scheduled, he said.

“It’s our family, it’s our community. We love these people, right now we’re working to come together,” Wright said.

Shawn Mantley, who told CBC News he took over from previous president Irvine Carvery last October, said he did not recognize the vote that ousted the board members and had nothing more to add.

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