30-second bio: Johannah May Black

Name:

Johannah May Black

My pronouns:

she/her

Title:

Sexual Violence Prevention Educator

Department/Unit:

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office

Location:

Okanagan

Year I started working at UBC:

2021

Describe what you do at UBC in 10 words or less:

Create educational resources, develop curriculum, facilitate workshops, and run campaigns.

Tell us about the team you work with – what do they do?

At SVPRO Okanagan campus we provide a wide range of supports and services for people impacted by sexualized and gender-based violence. We have two support specialists, my colleagues Jannah Jais and Anna Stewart-zyw. The three of us work under our director, Shilo St. Cyr. My role is engage in sexualized violence prevention work by developing educational materials and training sessions.

What trait do you most admire in others?

The courage to speak truth to power and to stand up against systemic oppression.

What’s one personal experience you would encourage others to do/try?

I started roller-skating during the pandemic. It makes me feel I sense of joy and possibility that I remember from childhood.

Share an accomplishment that you are proud of from the past year

Last summer, I moved from Mi'kmaki (Nova Scotia) to Kelowna. I drove the entire way alone with my pet cat, Pineapple. It took us 10 days. My car doesn't have air conditioning and it was in the midst of the heat wave. To avoid the heat, I would wake up at 3AM every morning, drive until approx. 11AM and then stop for the "night." There was smoke in the sky from Thunder Bay ON onwards. I had to reroute twice because of fires but I made it!