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The Harambee Cultural Society Board members welcome you! Our volunteer board represents parents, community and our youth. The board includes a founding family member, parents of children ranging from toddlers to young adults, an adult who has attended since being a toddler, professionals; in the field of youth support, banking, project management, IT, education and business. Our long term plans are to ensure our programming supports the needs of our families and hope to provide yearlong opportunities for the essence of Harambee. We truly believe we are empowering our children.
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Me-Kon Hayes, Vice President, with her husband Issa are parents of five children. I started my family as a single mother through adopting our oldest son who is of African Heritage. Our second son is aboriginal. As foster parents for thirteen years, we enjoyed the busyness of a full household. I have been involved in guest speaking at British Columbia’s Ministry for Children and Family Development adoption orientation sessions. I am President of the B.C. Black History Awareness Society and on the board of the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island. Through my company Binkadi Human Services I provide support to persons with developmental disabilities and youth with extra support needs. I love the problem solving involved with my work and developing residential resources unique to the individuals I support. Our family loves everything about Harambee, the support, the spirit, the love. The only times my kids are not talking about Harambee are when we are there. We are very grateful to be part of the Harambee family.
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Trevor Tremblay, Treasurer, and his wife Susanne are parents to three great kids! Their two oldest are adopted from the USA and are loving siblings to the youngest bio child. Trevor is currently the VP, Finance for Interior Savings Credit Union while Susanne manages the home front including many homeschooling activities. Trevor & Susanne have been participating in Harambee Cultural Society’s (HCS) summer festival since 2009 and have benefited greatly by the supportive environment. Trevor is active as a Board member for his local church in Kelowna and recently completed 5 years of volunteer service with the Big Brothers in-school mentorship program. After a recent presentation on HCS’s strategic plan, Trevor was compelled to get involved by offering his support in the Treasurer role to help see the plan become a reality in supporting transracial families and children of African heritage.
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Marie Cage has a big, beautiful, blended family of 9! With 4 children adopted from the USA, a step daughter & 2 bio kiddos. She, her husband and family live on Vancouver Island and have been attending Harambee since 2007. Summer Camp to our family feels like coming home and we’ve been incredibly blessed to create such amazing life long friendships throughout the years. Marie works as a Legal Secretary and Conveyancing assistant. | |
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Parker Johnson was adopted from Savannah G.A. United States. Parker hosts a community platform called This is Table Talk, which invites diverse community members together to discuss relevant issues around racism & discrimination, social justice, and celebration of cultural backgrounds. Parker attended Harambee as a facilitator, and now sits on the board in support of this festival. Parker is the current Director of Community Engagement for a nonprofit organisation called The Existence Project - He continues to mentor fellow adopted youth through A Child’s Song.
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Mike Baker and his wife Kristina live in Salmon Arm and are the grateful parents to Genesis Baker, adopted from Florida. Mike works as the Chief Administrating Officer for the Village of Lytton and Kristina is a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in School District No. 83. We have been coming to Harambee Cultural Society since Genesis was 8 months old in 2016 and have been thankful for this community that has supported and educated us in ways that are too many to say. I am enjoying being able to give back to HCS by being a board member and spending time with old and new friends. | |
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Julian Walmsley lives in Vancouver B.C and has been coming to Harambee since 2015. His sons Max and Lehlo were born in Namibia and Lesotho respectively and Harambee quickly became the highlight of everyone’s year. Julian served on National and BC boards for the CNIB in both marketing and fundraising capacities. He remains a Vision Mate for CNIB today and a volunteer whenever else he is able. Professionally, Julian is a relationships manager.
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