During a hybrid (in-person and zoom) ceremony today at Government House in St. John’s, the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission presented the 2021 Human Rights Award to John Isiswe Mweemba.
The Human Rights Award is presented annually in celebration of International Human Rights Day. It recognizes an individual who has made and/or continues to make a meaningful contribution to advancing and furthering human rights in Newfoundland and Labrador.
John received an original painting by Grenfell Visual Arts student, Kerenhappuch J. Gandu.
John Isiswe Mweemba is a 22-year-old, fourth-year political science and law and society double major student at Memorial University. John was born in Zambia but spent his childhood living in England for 12 years before moving to Newfoundland and Labrador where he has resided ever since. John started his activist journey as a reserved and shy individual before transforming into the anti-racism advocate he is today.
John joined the political science department at MUN in 2018 which inspired him to step up in his community before taking his work to a new level. His inspiration stemmed from MUN professor Dr. Christina Doonan who built the foundation for his beginnings. For most of John’s life, he spent his time being in a marginalized BIPOC community. This led to his desire to advocate.
Anti-racism and anti-black racism have been central to John’s life however it was not until the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020 that was the catalyst for John’s action. At MUN there was no space for black students to come together so John decided to join with other black students to form the Black Student’s Association MUN (BSA MUN) in 2020/21. John was the President and founder of what is now a vibrant community at MUN as well as a safe space for black students at large.
The BSA MUN has networked via social media, met with Senator Ravalia, made viral videos about black history, and hosted events for black history month for all to learn. John and his team have paved the road for this booming institution which is recognized provincially. This work led to John being recognized for the 2021 David Kirkland Leadership Award presented at MUN.
This campaign was the start of his work as he has further expanded this year by becoming democratically elected as the MUNSU Director of Advocacy in which he represents all students at MUN. As a Director of Advocacy, he has been able to raise awareness of anti-racism in national spaces through the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). His work this past year led to him being elected as the Chairperson of the CFS Black National Caucus. John is the first person from Atlantic Canada to occupy this role.
John dedicates a lot of his time toward initiatives that center on anti-racism and human rights. Two organizations that he works with are the Human Rights Commission (Community Justice Connect Program) plus the Black Voice Collective ANC group. From a young age, despite being shy, John has an innate desire to give back to his community. The intrinsic value of this work has been passed down through his doctor and nurse parents. John is concluding his undergraduate degree but will carry on his work through these institutions.
Also at today’s ceremony, Glenn Roil and the late Delilah Miriam Saunders were named Human Rights Champions. The Human Rights Commission grants this recognition to someone who has made a meaningful, contribution to human rights in Newfoundland and Labrador. The recipient is generally chosen by members of the Selection Committee. This year it was awarded to two recipients.
Glenn Roil is a global mental health advocate. His mission is to de-stigmatize mental illness and mental health and make sure everyone who requires access and treatment receives the programs and services that they need. Glen has been very open about his own mental health struggles and was the public face for mental health with the Provincial Government’s anti-stigma campaign on mental illness and addictions called “Understanding Changes Everything,” which was launched at the Premier’s Summit on Health Care.
Glenn has sat or currently sits on a number of boards and committees, including the Global Mental Health Peer Network, Canadian Mental Health Association National, Department of Health and Community Services, Eastern Health Regional Health Authority, Community Coalition for Mental Health, CHANNAL NL and PTSD Buddies.
He volunteers his time with various organizations including the Community Sector Council NL’s Vibrant Communities to engage on another social justice issue of poverty reduction for people who are dealing and living in poverty in the province of NL. He also volunteers with the Janeway Foundation Telethon, the Downstairs St. John’s Santa Claus Parade and the Rogers Rogers Moyse Christmas Community Dinner.
Glenn has spoken publicly on his own incredible mental health story on various media outlets in Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada and around the world. Some of the media outlets have been VOCM Radio, CBC TV and Radio, NTV News, The Telegram, CBC’s The National, Global TV, Huffington Post and Own It Podcast. He has spoken at various media health conferences and fundraisers including the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health for All, Peer Support Canada, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Not Myself Today, and the Dani Kitchen Party for Suicide Prevention.
He has been profiled with the St. John’s Board of Trade publication for an event on workplace mental health, he is an Ambassador for the Stigma Zero Company and his biggest accomplishment to date is having his own mental health story and his national mental health advocacy profiled and published in two different American Bioethics Medical Journals called Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, which is affiliated with John Hopkins University. He has also done mental health education and training that includes mental health first aid, suicide intervention and knowledge translation with the Canadian Mental Health Association National and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
The late Delilah Miriam Saunders was a strong independent Inuk woman. Before passing away at the age of 29 on September 7, 2021 she was an activist for indigenous women and girls. Her journey as an activist started when her sister, Loretta Saunders was murdered in Halifax in February 2014. Deliliah received an Amnesty International Award for continuing her mission to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She worked with the Congress of Indigenous People to help form policy. When she had acute liver failure and was denied a liver transplant, Deliliah raised awareness and advocated for changes to liver transplant policies in Canada. Deliliah’s experience and voice brought international attention and support. She advocated for land rights and land protection.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission thanks all those who nominated individuals for the 2021 Human Rights Award. The Selection Committee’s task was challenging in deciding this year’s Human Rights Award and Human Rights Champion recipients.
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Learn more
For more information on the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, please visit www.thinkhumanrights.ca.
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Media contact
Carey Majid, Executive Director
Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission
709-729-4184
careymajid@gov.nl.ca