September 25, 2025 | Rodd Charlottetown, Charlottetown, PEI
Co-hosted by ARAISA & IRSA PEI, At Home in the Atlantic brought together service providers, researchers, and community leaders to explore belonging, integration, and staying power in Atlantic Canada. Participants heard from engaging keynote speakers, participated in interactive breakout sessions, and connected through meaningful conversations.
Check out the facilitators’ resources below to learn more about the themes discussed during the conference.
Building Belonging in Organizations and Communities
Facilitator: Willow Anderson
This interactive, evidence-based session explored belonging, why it matters, and what fosters a strong sense of belonging for immigrants in both communities and organizations. Participants engaged with new research, case studies, and small-group reflection activities to better understand the social fabric that supports retention—and the essential role communication plays in building belonging.
Telling the Mission Well: Media Training & Strategic Storytelling for Impact
Facilitator: Sochi Azuh
This skills-based workshop helped leaders in immigrant-serving organizations build confidence and clarity in public and media-facing communications. Through real-world scenarios and hands-on practice, participants learned how to craft key messages, prepare for media interviews, and use storytelling to amplify their organization’s impact. Sochi also shared a storytelling worksheet to help you continue crafting and refining your organizational narrative.
Employment as a Foundation for Retention and Belonging
Facilitator: Thauana Morais
This session focused on the critical connection between employment and newcomer retention in Atlantic Canada. Drawing on regional data that identifies employment as a key factor influencing newcomers’ decision to stay or leave, Thauana explored how employment can serve as a foundation for long-term stability and belonging.
With a focus on entrepreneurship as a pathway for growth and integration, participants discussed promising practices, shared experiences, and reflected on how systems and communities can better support newcomer-led economic opportunities.
Immigration and Economic Growth Strategies for Small Provinces in an Integrated National Labour Market
Presenter: Dr. Herbert Emery
This presentation examined the economic realities of immigration in Atlantic Canada, exploring key questions. The session explored reasons behind the low retention rate of immigrants in the region, the challenges faced by small provinces due to lower intakes of immigrants, and the lower intakes of immigrants in Atlantic Canada. Dr. Emery shared valuable insights and data on how small provinces can strengthen their economies, foster community belonging, and enhance the long-term retention—or “stay power”—of newcomers.
This interactive session introduced a practical tool—the Shared Purpose & Pressures Map—to help leaders move beyond organizational silos and design bold, collaborative strategies. Participants mapped the forces reshaping the newcomer-serving sector, identified a shared purpose greater than any single organization, and uncovered leverage points for collective action.
Cong Chen is an educator, lifelong learner, and committed community leader in Nova Scotia. As an immigrant, Cong has integrated seamlessly into the community, actively volunteered for 14 local organizations. With 10+ years of experience in the international education field, he holds several international instructor certificates and a Master of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University, where he received a Senate Award of Distinction. Currently, Cong serves as the Community Safety Education Coordinator at Halifax Regional Municipality, leading the municipal community safety training program. Cong has been honoured with several awards, including the 2024 Most Inspiring Immigrant in Atlantic Canada, the NS Provincial Volunteer Award, the Halifax Volunteer Award, and the Young Impact Leaders Award. Cong’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and supporting newcomer integration continues to make a profound impact in the community.
Herb Emery
Herb Emery has been the Vaughan Chair in Regional Economics at the University of New Brunswick since 2016. Prior to 2016, Herb was a Professor in Economics and Research Director for The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. From 2010-2015, he served as managing editor of Canadian Public Policy/Analyze de politiques, Canada’s foremost journal examining economic and social policy.
Julie Pellissier-Lush
Julie Pellissier-Lush is a Mi’kmaw storyteller, best-selling author, and the first Indigenous Poet Laureate for Prince Edward Island. A photographer, actor, drummer, and cultural teacher, Julie shares the vibrant stories of the Mi’kmaq through her books, poetry, and performances. She co-scripted the acclaimed play Mi’kmaq Legends, which has brought Indigenous traditions to life on Island stages for over a decade. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and inspired by the courage of youth, Julie is a proud knowledge keeper whose work bridges generations. Her dedication has earned her numerous honors, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Senators 150 Medal. Born in Summerside and raised across Canada, Julie now lives near Charlottetown with her husband Rick, their five children, and granddaughter Miah—her daily sources of strength and joy.
Lisa Villeneuve
Lisa Villeneuve (she/her) is a strategy designer, coach and facilitator based in Wolfville NS. She brings 25+ years of senior leadership experience working across sectors on strategic policy, planning and partnerships. She is inspired by the power of trust to liberate thinking, unleash innovation and fuel mission impact. For 15 years, Lisa held senior positions in the Ontario provincial government and United Way of Greater Toronto. Since 2012, she has provided consulting services, coaching and teaching to nonprofit and charitable organizations across Canada. She holds degrees in Psychology and Social Work, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation. She has held faculty roles at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Schulich Executive Education Centre and the Canadian Organizational Development Institute. She is a certified leadership coach with the International Coach Federation and the World Association of Business Coaches. She is an active community volunteer with NS Health, the Valley Regional Enterprise Network and LAILO Farm Animal Sanctuary.
Sochi Azuh
Sochi Azuh is a communications strategist, storytelling coach, and host of the Lead with Storytelling podcast. He helps mission-driven leaders craft compelling, human-centered narratives that drive connection, clarity, and change. With over a decade of experience in branding, communications, and facilitation, Sochi works at the intersection of purpose, audience, and voice.
Thauana Morais
Thauana Morais is an entrepreneur (awoman edtech) and community builder passionate about fostering inclusive, sustainable futures. Having worked in Hangzhou (2015-2020), the tech capital of China, she was exposed to bleeding-edge technologies and innovative businesses daily. In the last few years, she shifted her focus to empowering female and gender-diverse entrepreneurs, mentoring and teaching professionals in both Brazil and Canada. She leads programs that empower over 100 early-stage diverse entrepreneurs through YWCA Halifax’s platform. Thauana is a volunteer Mentor through CEED and Futurpreneur and has represented Canada at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW 68-69) and G20 Young Entrepreneurship Alliance (2024).
Willow J. Anderson, PhD
Willow J. Anderson, PhD (she/her) is an equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging consultant who has experience looking at immigration and settlement through the lenses of SPO employee, ESL volunteer, Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) coordinator, researcher, advocate, friend, family member, and consultant. She did her Masters in Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford, and completed a doctorate in intercultural communication at the University of New Mexico; her dissertation focused on the cultural adaptation experiences of immigrants to rural parts of Newfoundland. Since founding Social Fabric Institute nine years ago, Willow and her colleagues have been putting their skills to work for clients throughout Canada, helping organizations feel more confident and ready to move the needle on equity, diversity, and inclusion (without the stress of always having to be perfect at it). Willow has delivered equity—and inclusion-focused research, addresses, and training for over 900 people across Canada. Amongst those clients have been a number of Local Immigration Partnerships and settlement organizations. Willow currently lives in the Halifax area with her child and partner and feels so lucky to work, live, and learn in – and from – Mi’kma’ki. Please see her full bio at https://socialfabricinstitute.ca/meet-willow
Any questions? Contact Victoria Pike, Program Support Assistant at vpike@araisa.ca
