Winnie Grant, BSW, MSW, M.Ed, RSW is a proud mother, (of two social workers) grandmother, partner, and long-standing community advocate whose work is grounded in an Africentric worldview and a deep commitment to social justice. A retired senior leader with the provincial government, Winnie guided transformative anti-Black racism initiatives that advanced policy reform, strengthened intergovernmental and community partnerships, and increased the representation and leadership of African Nova Scotian professionals across the organization. Her leadership also contributed to the creation of an Africentric Bachelor of Social Work program at Dalhousie University.
Winnie brings more than 32 years of experience as a licensed social worker and is an active member of both the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers and the Association of Black Social Workers. She continues to mentor social workers pursuing licensure and has proudly served as a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters for over five years.
As a Sessional Instructor at the Dalhousie School of Social Work, Winnie integrates her lived experiences, scholarship, and Africentric and Critical Race Analysis perspectives into the classroom, fostering critical consciousness and culturally grounded practice among emerging practitioners.
Winnie holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University. Her Master’s thesis, The Evolution of Afrikan Consciousness: The Effects of R.A.C.I.S.M. on Afrikans in the Diaspora, reflects her lifelong commitment to examining and challenging systemic racism. She later completed a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning at Mount Saint Vincent University, specializing in Africentric approaches to policy development and research.
Winnie has been widely recognized for her leadership and community impact. She is the recipient of several honours, including the Freda Vickery Award, the Ronald Stratford Award, and The King Charles III Coronation Medal. Across her career—as a leader, educator, mentor, and community voice—Winnie has worked tirelessly to disrupt systemic barriers and create pathways for meaningful, sustainable change for African Nova Scotians and people of African descent.