Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Guyleigh Johnson! Guyleigh Johnson is an Author, Artist, Advocate, Facilitator and Filmmaker from the vibrant community of Dartmouth North. Carrying the essence of her roots, she stands at the forefront of social change using her art and voice to amplify.

A hard-working, solution-oriented professional with 10+ years of experience and knowledge in community engagement, arts facilitation and project management using a client-centred framework. She has a passion for collaboration and community development implemented through an Afrocentric lens of collective care, responsibility and value. With strong communication and relationship building skills she has been facilitating workshops over the last ten years within organizations, schools and businesses for youth ranging from age ten to thirty.

Partnering with many organizations locally and nationally to develop and design programs, initiatives and workshops. As an artist and advocate many of the workshops/programs are centred around exploring the power of storytelling from a personal perspective geared towards inner healing and creating space for self. She is very intentional in curating spaces where people can feel seen and supported.

We were delighted to host the talented Guyleigh Johnson for our Feature Friday this month!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Guyleigh

1:55 - Guyleigh’s passion for community

4:15 - What inspired Guyleigh to become a writer

13:05 - Guyleigh’s writing process

20:10 - Guyleigh’s advice for facilitating

22:45 - How Guyleigh translates her skills from reading and writing into everyday life

24:15 - Revisiting Guyleigh’s books

31:10 - What does Guyleigh define as art?

33:00 - How does Guyleigh build her skillset?

39:50 - Turning failures into successes