Robert SeymourSeymour Wright is a queer African Nova Scotian social worker and sociologist whose 36-year career spans education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence. He recently completed terms as the founding Executive Director of both the Peoples’ Counselling Clinic (Nov. 2017 – March 2024) and the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) (Fall 2021 – March 2024). He now continues with the Peoples’ Counselling Clinic as Director Emeritus, Consultant, and Therapist, while also serving in an acting role with ANSJI. Robert’s identity and work are grounded in his integrated, activist spirituality.

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An early practitioner of what is now known as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work, Robert developed a model for understanding and practicing cultural competence that continues to serve as a valuable framework for practitioners and organizations.

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He also pioneered the introduction of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs), a specialized forensic clinical pre-sentence report for people of African descent. This groundbreaking work has received national attention, and in August 2021, the Government of Canada funded him to expand the implementation of IRCAs nationwide.

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A more comprehensive biography of Robert can be found here.