Pronouns: he/him/his
Current Town: Burlington
Years in VT: 6
Industry: Racial Equity Consulting
Business name: nuwave Equity Corporation
Business contact: info@nuwaveco.com
Tell us a bit about your background before arriving in VT.
Born and raised in Montreal, last of 7 kids. I went to college in Maine, finished in Worcester, MA.
What do you enjoy about being a business owner in VT?
Working as a community, the accessibility to folks and the level of connectivity across the state.
What are some challenges that you’ve faced as a business owner living in VT? How have you worked to overcome the challenges?
My work centers around creating more equitable habits and practices for racialized folks, it’s difficult to get financial commitment from organizations for that work where 90%+ percent of the population identifies as White.
How have you worked to overcome the challenges?
By continuously bringing awareness and education to the value of this kind of work, as well as centering the conversation around the financial impacts it has on organizations.
What opportunities do you see for your industry in the future?
This is a rapidly growing industry. People are prioritizing more and more wellness, in their personal and professional lives, and developing and sustaining equity in an organization is critical to achieving that objective
In what ways could the community or state of VT support BIPOC businesses?
Continue to support, promote, and encourage this kind of work. This state is the second Whitest state in the country, the state should be committing themselves to changing that by creating widespread and interconnected initiatives that focus on attracting, retaining, and developing marginalized communities.
What do you wish others knew about living in VT that you’ve discovered?
This place is known for its outdoor lifestyle, but the best kept secret here is the quality of the people that you’ll find.
Are there other things you’d like to share with the Vermont BIPOC community?
Please attend the Black Experience [on] June 18th, the most holistic celebration of the thriving and diverse Black communities across Vermont, and part of the larger Juneteenth weekend celebration.
Why are you a member of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network?
You don’t just stumble on racialized folks here, you have to build that community with intentionality. The VTPoC Network allows me to find folks and connect with folks with similar lived experiences and backgrounds. It is part of how I’ve built community in this place.