54Lights

At the time this episode was first broadcast, the country of Canada was celebrating its 152nd birthday - July 1st, 2019. It seemed only fitting that an episode dedicated to agencies in Canada, that work to welcome new citizens, be aired on this day.

54Lights spoke with employees from the ICC and 6Degrees for our latest instalment. We explore some of Canada's programs that work to welcome new citizens to this diverse and inclusive country.
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The Precious Gems Project is a community driven charity whose mission it is to raise funds to help send underprivileged children to camp. 54Lights sat down with the driving force behind the movement…founder Aileen Hill. Her passion is infectious and inspiring. Our conversation gave great insight to her unrelenting will…one that pushes the limits of what’s possible for entire communities.
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Randy Osei is the founder of what used to be a sports agency but has now evolved into a budding community conscious enterprise. Rozaay Management Inc was launched in 2015 and has been growing at a rapid pace since inception. 54Lights sat down with Randy to talk about his business, his sense of community and the Book and Sneaker Drive that he's championed to help bring education and play to Ghana.
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Petra Adrienne has travelled the world teaching English to students in the classroom and the boardroom. She's brought her culture, personality and vibrance to every place she goes. 54Lights sat down with her to get a glimpse of the world through the eyes of this proud and accomplished woman.
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In the summer of 2018, UOIT (University of Ontario Institute of Technology) took the somewhat unconventional decision of naming Christa Eniojukan as the head coach of its women’s basketball program. To be clear, it’s not unconventional because she’s unqualified....quite the opposite. Her resume is stacked. She’s far and away the right person for the job. The fact that she’s a woman is what makes an immensely interesting story, even more intriguing. I sat down with Christa to talk about her career, her perspective and, off course, basketball.
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At first glance, Grace Eleyae appears to be in the hair business. Her brand is soaring...and as it continues to rise, 54Lights felt compelled to take a closer look. We caught up with Grace to talk about her emerging empire. Along the way, we discovered that while she trades in hair, her brand is all about confidence.
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Building Blocks is a 54Lights series focused on people starting and cultivating businesses or projects. For our first focus on these trailblazers, we sat down with Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson, the co-founder of a movement called "Empowered In My Skin". While it's only been around a few years, the project is growing fast and is a great forum for women (and men) of all stripes.

Alongside her husband, a fellow entrepreneur/restaurateur, we discussed her life, motivations and future aspirations.
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54 Lights recently sat down for an All Access interview with Dr. Nothabo Ncube. We spoke about her life, struggles and family. A particularly inspiring discussion on how Dr. Ncube turned tragedy into triumph...all the while being driven by her bond with her mother.

Along the way, we delve into conversations on culture and living life in different countries. For colour and direction, we spoke with UK based playwright/poet Ntombi Zodwa Nyoni (notable author of Boi Boi is Dead) and renown Australia based author/activist/political commentator Sisonke Msimang (notable author of Always Another Country and featured in another extended discussion on 54Lights).

Both women have extraordinary backgrounds and lend their poignant voices to a colourful perspective on the backdrop of an insightful conversation with the good doctor.

Episode 1.54.."Where I’m From" stands as the first official episode of 54Lights. Our focus is the remarkable journey of Sisonke Msimang...who is a prolific writer and activist. She recently published her memoir, Always Another Country, which is enjoying its international release. Our discussion gave us some interesting insights; ranging from culture and immigration to candid reflections on her life.
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Welcome to 54Lights! Our first episode, We Are 54!, is an introduction to this project. 54Lights offers an alternative to mainstream depictions of Africa and its people. It is a celebration of people and culture. And while it often features Africans it is not exclusively for (or about) Africans.

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