Robert Wright

Background

Robert is an individual with broad experience in several sectors: Health, Education, Community Service and Justice. He completed both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Since September of 2010, he has been a full-time PhD student at Dalhousie University's Sociology and Social Anthropology Department and a recipient of the James Robinson Johnston Graduate Scholarship.

Robert has spent most of his career working with families and children experiencing multiple problems. He has served in notable positions as Race Relations Coordinator of the former Dartmouth District School Board; a Correctional Mental Health Specialist at the Washington State Penitentiary; the Executive Director of a child welfare agency in Nova Scotia (specifically Family & Children's Services of Cumberland County); and from May 2007 until August of 2010 as the Executive Director of Nova Scotia’s Child and Youth Strategy.

Over the years, Robert has practiced, supervised, consulted, lectured and taught widely on a broad range of issues in a wide diversity of settings. He is a member of a large extended family with roots in two African Nova Scotian Communities, and is the single father of two children and the uncle of many others.

Child and Youth Study

Robert began teaching as a sessional instructor in the Department of Child and Youth Study in the Fall of 2009. Since August of 2011, he has been a full-time Lecturer in the Department (a term position scheduled to end at the end of April 2012). Thus far he has taught/or is scheduled to teach the following courses:

CHYS 2211 - Research Methods in Child and Youth Study

CHYS 3320 - Youth Care: Theory and Issues

CHYS 4416 - Cultural Perspectives on Childhood and Adolescence

CHYS 4420 – Youth Care: Approaches and Programme Development

CHYS 4421 - Seminar in Child and Youth Research

Through his professional practice and civic activism, Robert’s work has been aimed at improving the delivery of health and human services to multi-problemed and racialized children, youth and families in Nova Scotia. He has served on numerous committees, commissions and projects over the years including: The North End Community Health Centre Board, Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society’s Racial Equity Committee, Nova Scotia Criminal Justice Association, Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Diversity Task Group, and Nova Scotia Advisory Committee on Judicial Appointments. In these and other roles he has been a significant contributor to practice and the grey literature in the field.

Robert’s current research is aimed at understanding the relevance of the Afrocentric discourse and practice in the lives of African Nova Scotians involved in the criminal justice system.

Select Contributions

Wright, R. S. (2011, February). Working with African Nova Scotians in Correctional Settings: Social and Cultural Aspects of Addiction, Crime and Rehabilitation. Presented to staff of the Nova Scotia District for Correctional Service of Canada.

Wright, R. S. (October, 2010). Poverty: personal, structural, political. Invited presentation at Building Wellbeing and Prosperity Together: Taking Action on Poverty Conference. Truro Nova Scotia.

Wright, R. S. (June 2010) Aspiring to Cultural Competence: The Why, What and How for Lawyers. Presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. Digby, Nova Scotia.

Wright, R. S. (2010) Keeping Sane as an African Canadian Working in White Institutions. Unpublished monograph. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Wright, R. S. (2009, September 24). Strategies for engaging Black youth. Presented at the 2009 International Association of Black Social Workers Conference: Linking Borders. Dartmouth, N.S.

Wright, R. S. (2008, September). Revisioning the Role of Alcohol in our Culture. Closing remarks provided at the 2008 FASD Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Wright, R. S. (2008, August 21). If You Can Read This . . . : Linking Literacy, Crime, Health and Injury Among Children and Youth. Presented at the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities. University of Prince Edward Island, Charlettown, PEI.

Wright, R.S. (2007, June 8). Runaways, truants and the knuckleheads who harbour them: eco-structural interventions with difficult teens. Presented at the Newfound Land Association of Social Workers Conference and AGM. St. John's, NFLD.

Bellemare, S. & Wright, R.S. (2007, Nov. 29) Drug Endangered Children. Presented at Pediatric Grand Rounds, IWK Health Centre.

Wright, R.S. (2005, June 2). Parenting Across the Lifespan. Presentation made at Early Intervention, New Brunswick.

Wright, R.S. (2005, April 1). Parenting Black Children: Promoting Positive Racial Identity. Presentation made at Annual North West Regional Parenting Conference, Washington State University.

Links to many of these activites and more information about Robert can be found on his website:

www.robertswright.ca