Newmarket NACCA leader says she is 'unstoppable' in advocacy for Black community

Jerisha Grant-Hall used $10 from her late mother to help start the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association and a scholarship fund; under her leadership NACCA opened the Iris Malcolm Library in 2022 and serves as a physical hub for the Black community in York Region.

Jerisha Grant-Hall is the executive director of the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association and a local advocate for the Black community. She used $10 that belonged to her late mother to help start NACCA and launch a scholarship fund for Black youth. Under her leadership, NACCA became a community hub and in 2022 opened the Iris Malcolm Library, described as the first African-centred library in York Region. Grant-Hall was named one of the top 100 accomplished Black women in Canada by 100ABCWomen. Key facts: - Jerisha Grant-Hall moved from Jamaica to Canada at 18 and was the first in her family to earn a university degree, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees at York University. - She used $10 from her late mother, Iris Malcolm, to start NACCA and a scholarship fund; a woman later replaced the $10 and Grant-Hall keeps that bill. - NACCA's headquarters at 449 Eagle St. includes the Iris Malcolm Library, opened in 2022, with Black-affirming books and reported as the first African-centred library in York Region. - NACCA is described as the only physical hub for the Black community in York Region and focuses on supporting Black youth and community well-being. - Grant-Hall researched her family history back to her great-great-grandfather Alexander Gordon and said her ancestors are Nigerian, and she noted the transatlantic slave trade affects how far family records can be traced. Summary: Grant-Hall frames her leadership in terms of family, personal and collective history and says her mission is the improvement and upliftment of the Black community. The organization has expanded services and created a dedicated space for culture and learning. Further public plans or next steps were not detailed in the article. Undetermined at this time.