The Black Beauty Culture Association
The Black Beauty Culture Association
Who We Are
Who We Are
The Black Beauty Culture Association is a nonprofit organization based out of East Preston, Nova Scotia. Our goal is to empower black communities in Canada through training courses and community events that promote black beauty culture.
As a community-oriented collective, we strive to fight for a more inclusive beauty industry that recognizes and celebrates the cultural significance of hair to the black community.
Mission and Vision Statement
Mission and Vision Statement
Scripture Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified
Vision
Vision
Canada is known historically as the promise land to the Black refugee and Loyalist escaping from the brutality of slavery.
The vision of the Black Beauty Culture Association is to infuse equity, inclusion and equality in the beauty industry through education, employment and entrepreneurship, along with celebration and awareness of Canada’s dynamic and distinct Black Beauty Heritage.
Mission
Mission
The Black Beauty Culture Association’s will work to PROMOTE, PRESERVE AND PROTECT all aspects of Black Beauty Culture in Nova Scotia
Biography (Executives)
Biography (Executives)
DONALDA MACISAAC Vice President/Co Chair is a vocal, proactive community volunteer and passionate advocate with various organizations relative to health care, Education, Mental Health, Seniors Youth and other initiatives.
Past Co Chair of the Cobequid Community Health Board, Co Founder Of the Diversity and Health Care Bursary funded by the QE2 Foundation, QE2 Community Volunteer connected to the Bursary
A Patient Family Advisor on the Provincial Council for Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Independent Phlebotomy Committee, CSA Technical Committee for blood and other blood components , HSO Vendor Accreditation Committee, Member of the Board of Directors for CARP ,CARP Health Committee Office Manager at CIOE 97.5Fm Community Radio
Samantha Dixon Slawter President/Chair
Samantha Dixon Slawter President/Chair
Samantha Dixon Slawter is the owner of Styles by SD. With more than 35 years of experience, she has gained the trust of many peers in the industry and she has been continually recognized as a leader and supporter of many businesses in Dartmouth and throughout Nova Scotia.
Samantha is dedicated to training salon owners on how to properly care for black hair. She also educates her community about the cultural significance of black hair and black beauty in Nova Scotia. In business since 1992, Samantha has been serving clients at 162 Portland Street for more than a decade now.
Samantha has a degree in International Development from Dalhousie University. She is also the first African-Nova Scotian to receive a Red Seal Certification as a hairstylist from the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. What's more, she is the winner of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission’s 2020 Gloria Fisher Business Person of the Year Award.
Since day one, Samantha has been using her business as a platform to support and educate people. She has created "Cultural Fusion/Cross-cultural Beauty", a beauty course designed to celebrate and educate people about black hair and black beauty. She also founded the Crown of Beauty Institute, an organization that provides a 3-phase program entitled "Black Beauty Culture Hair Innovator". This program aims to educate people about the history of black hair and beauty, as well as teach them how to properly maintain, treat, and style African-Nova Scotian hair. Due to its growing demand, Samantha has applied to the province to open a private career college with a focus on Black and textured hair.
Community education is important to Samantha. She joined other advocates and founded Black Beauty Culture Association. This year, Samantha conducted free lectures throughout HRM through Halifax Public Libraries: The Hair-Story of Nova Scotia – What’s your hair-story?.
For Samantha, she wants to educate as many people as possible. She said, "Few people understand how deep and rich the story of Black Hair truly is in our province. It includes Viola Desmond but also includes lesser-known names like Lena Blanche Halfkenny Lucas, who is a legend in Amherst, NS and owned a salon around 1905 and made her own wigs.”
Association Profile
Association Profile
The first mandate of the Black Beauty Culture Association is to challenge and seek change in legislation related to the beauty industry and the Cosmetology Act of Nova Scotia. It is in the best interest of the public, the Black community and the beauty industry for the government to legitimize the Black Beauty Culture Association in order to encourage the growth of certified and licensed Black Beauty professionals; to encourage accessibility to professional Beauty services and products, training in the Beauty Field relative to Black Hair and growth of Black Beauty Industry and Black beauty businesses.
The Black Beauty Culture Association seeks to begin a training program “The Viola Desmond Project” that will infuse our culture into the Beauty industry, to encourage and train participants to become professionally trained, entrepreneurial, and become part of our growing economy through the beauty industry. Beauty Education related to the Black consumer and Black Beauty professional is next to nil in Canada.
The Black Beauty culture Association main focus is to discover what can be done to encourage Black professionalism and entrepreneurship in any industry for our youth. Notably and historically the Beauty industry is an ideal avenue for our youth and adults to gain employable skills and wealth. The Beauty Industry touches all aspects of everyday life.
The Black Beauty Culture Association seeks an opportunity to become the organization to challenge the oppressive, suppressive, repressive and regressive practices of the Cosmetology Laws, the autocrats that run them and to encourage inclusivity, equality and equity for all in the beauty industry, especially the Black consumer, Black Business owner and the Black Beauty professional across our country.