Our Team
Melissa J. Nelson
Founder, Creative Director
Melissa J. Nelson is an archivist, educator, and community connector based in Toronto. Her work centres Black being and belonging in the Archives to support collective healing and liberation movements. Learn more about Melissa: https://melissajnelson.com/
Aaron T. Francis
Founding Member, Advisor
Aaron T. Francis is a community archivist, curator and the founder of Vintage Black Canada™. This archive seeks to document the history of the African Diaspora in Canada, with specific references to Aaron’s hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. Learn more about Aaron: https://www.balsillieschool.ca/
Désirée Rochat
Founding Member, Advisor
Désirée Rochat is a community educator and transdisciplinary scholar documenting and transmitting the archives of Black lives in Montreal. She is currently working in the Department of History at Concordia University. Learn more about Désirée: https://storytelling.concordia.ca/
Dr. Elizabeth Shaffer
Founding Member, Advisor
Dr. Elizabeth Shaffer investigates the intersections of race, gender, digital infrastructures and technologies. Elizabeth is an Assistant Professor at the School of Information at the University of British Columbia. Learn more about Elizabeth: https://ischool.ubc.ca/