About New Roots

New Roots Community Land Trust is an African Nova Scotian-led non-profit organization.

Our mission is to secure the economic and cultural legacy of the North End African Nova Scotian Community. 

Our vision is to own and steward strategically selected parcels and real estate assets within the North End of Halifax and beyond. 

Our board is majority-led by African Nova Scotian community members. We are supported by technical experts in various fields.

Board Members

  • Treno Morton

    Executive Director

  • Melinda Daye

    Vice Chair

  • Kjeld Mizpah (KJ) Conyers-Steede

    Treasurer

  • Josh Creighton

    Secretary

  • Tray Clayton

    Community Engagement Coordinator

Treno Morton

Executive Director

Treno Morton is a distinguished graduate of Queen's University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree with honors in Geography and Planning. His academic achievements also include a certificate in Urban Planning Studies and a minor in Global Development Studies. Growing up in Uniacke Square, a predominately Black residential public housing community in North end Halifax, he’s no stranger to gentrification. 

Treno's always been guided by his personal experiences and extensive education, Treno is deeply committed to fostering inclusive communities while tackling the persistent challenges presented by gentrification. Currently, Treno holds the esteemed position of Community Engagement Specialist at Inspiring Communities, a highly regarded nonprofit organization. 

Drawing upon his expertise, he collaborates closely with various local community groups, nonprofit organizations, and municipal government entities, providing invaluable guidance and strategic advice. With a profound understanding of the intricacies inherent in these relationships, Treno skillfully navigates complex community dynamics and contributes to the successful implementation of sustainable development initiatives.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Treno actively serves on the Africville Heritage Trust Board (AHTB), CBC’s African Nova Scotian community advisory board and the African Descendants Advisory Committee for the City of Halifax. These roles exemplify his deep commitment to preserving the heritage of the Africville community and advocating for the advancement of the African descendant community within the region.  

Furthermore, Treno assumes the role of Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Fumes Rolling Papers Inc., an innovative Black-owned enterprise that proudly represents a local product sold in the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC). Established in 2020 by Treno and his two brothers, this venture reestablishes Black ownership within the cannabis industry, symbolizing their unwavering dedication to promoting equitable participation and economic empowerment.

Driven by a combination of academic acumen, practical experience, and an unwavering commitment to social progress, Treno Morton is poised to make a lasting impact on the fields of urban planning and community development. His unwavering dedication to cultivating inclusive communities, as demonstrated by his work at Inspiring Communities, his involvement with the AHTB, and his entrepreneurial pursuits, showcases a multifaceted approach to effecting positive change.  

Through his recent appointment to the African Descendants Advisory Committee, Treno actively contributes to the pursuit of equity and representation within his community. Moreover, as Treno pursues his Master's degree in Planning at Dalhousie University, he continues to expand his knowledge and expertise, further solidifying his position as a dynamic leader in his field.

Melinda Daye

“With a continued sense of service and leadership, I will continue to bring forward a sense of integrity, respect, and pride in all that I endeavor to do.”

Melinda Daye is a lifelong resident of north-end Halifax. She grew up and went to school in the north end, lived on Creighton and Maynard Street where she still resides today. She is especially happy to serve with others on the New Roots Community Land Trust Board, representing the north end of Halifax.

She married and raised two sons, and now lovingly has grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Melinda is thankful for a serving heart, serving in various capacities within the church as a youth and choir leader, as Sunday School Superintendent, and currently as Deacon. Her strongest passion is demonstrated for those less fortunate, the children, women, and overall community.

She has thirty-six years of experience as a teacher and principal in the Halifax Regional School Board. During that time, she was also a community advocate, where she demonstrated leadership, management, integrity, and compassion for all people.

For many years, Melinda served to enhance the quality of education for north-end residents on the Inner City Education Committee and most recently on an initiative of Police and Community called Uptown Drug Strategy, where they were instrumental in helping to save young men ages 18-25 from a life of crime and violence.

In 2012, she was elected to a four-year term on the Halifax Regional School Board as the African Nova Scotian Representative. In 2013, Minister of Education Karen Casey appointed her to the position of Chair of the Halifax Regional School Board. In November 2015, her fellow members showed confidence and appreciation for her leadership by electing her to continue as Chair of the Board. During her term as Chair, she was instrumental in leadership on Student Appeal hearings.

In May 2015, Melinda appeared in response to the Auditor General’s report before the Public Accounts Committee in the House of Assembly. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia School Board Association (NSSBA), allowing her to provide leadership on the Nova Scotia Schools Leadership Advisory Committee, composed of all the Chairs and Superintendents from across the province.

She has held the positions of Executive Director (two terms) and later President of the Black Educators Association (BEA).

Her career of serving began many years ago as a playground leader, youth leader, Sunday school teacher, YWCA volunteer, and Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Tester.

Melinda is a founding member and served as secretary to the Black Learners Advisory Committee (BLAC) and the Council on African Canadian Education (CACE). The BLAC Report on Education Redressing Inequity - Empowering Black Learners was published in December 1994

She is a founding member of Concerned Citizens Against Drugs (CCAD) in 1989, where she served alongside the late Joan Jones in securing office space and medical resources on Gottingen Street. This was the first of its kind in the province, with not only office space but also beds for those dealing with addiction. 

Melinda is currently a Board Director serving the Halifax Community Investment Fund (HCIF), established in 2007 as an endowment by the HRM as part of its Harbour Solutions Project. The ultimate goal of HCIF is to build capability in the community through financial support to individuals and organizations and the development of programs. The fund assists students from north-end Halifax with bursaries and seniors over 65 with writing wills.

She also serves on the North Central Community Council (NCCC), which aims to bring people together to make good things happen, and is involved with Waves of Compassion - an interfaith council helping to make HRM a more compassionate city.

In June 2016, Melinda was honored to be recognized as one of many recipients in the Dr. W. P. Oliver Wall of Fame at the Black Cultural Center in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

In 2017, she was appointed for a six-year term to the Acadia University Board of Governors, where she also serves as Chair of the Academic Resource Committee.

 

Vice-Chair

Kjeld Mizpah (KJ) Conyers-Steede

Kjeld Mizpah (KJ) is a seasoned systems thinker with an impressive track record in social innovation. He brings a strong focus on areas such as community-centric strategic planning, human-centered design, organizational culture, and governance reviews, as well as expertise in the realm of organizational change management. Throughout his career, KJ has been at the forefront of community projects, leading and collaborating on initiatives that tackle the most complex and pressing issues within our society. His expertise lies in the realm of public policy programming, strategic planning and lobbying, where he excels in crafting solutions for what he refers to as the “big hairy” policy challenges. KJ’s approach is characterized by a commitment to human-centered strategies and a forward-thinking perspective, often employing the lens of strategic foresight to break free from conventional cause-and-effect governance.

In his role as a facilitator, KJ has a unique ability to foster collaboration and establish critical psychological safety, which proves essential in dismantling barriers to community-centric policy and program development. KJ has assisted businesses, organizations, and government departments in tackling their most formidable challenges. His goal is always to ensure that the results of any endeavor carry a community-centric perspective.

Treasurer

Josh Creighton

Josh was raised in Halifax's North End, a community that shaped his perspective and passion for local impact. At The Halifax Chamber of Commerce, he plays a pivotal role as the Corporate Partnership Specialist, fostering strategic alliances that drive meaningful change across the city.

In his downtime, you'll find Josh in his kitchen experimenting with flavors, nose-deep in a good book, or on the mat, channeling his inner zen through jujitsu

Secretary

Tray Clayton

Community Engagement Coordinator

Tray graduated from Saint Mary's University with a major in Criminology and a minor in Social Justice, He is also a founding member of GameChangers902, which made a positive impact on youth in the African Nova Scotian community. His advocacy has been recognized with the Peace Medal from the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, Dr.Burnley Allan "Rocky" Jones Award.

In May, he was the recipient of the first Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award, one of the most substantial student awards in the history of Saint Mary's University.

“In the future, I look forward to law school and becoming a lawyer to show our youth that it is possible and that they can do it too.”