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Veronica Marsman strengthens communities through leadership and advocacy

Veronica Marsman (BA’79, BSW’83, MSW’93), a 2026 Dal alumni Aurum Award recipient, is a community leader dedicated to advancing opportunity for African Nova Scotians and Black communities across the province. As Executive Director of Akoma Holdings Ltd., she is helping shape the future of the largest parcel of Black-owned land in Nova Scotia.

Posted: June 9, 2026

:Stephanie Paterson

Watch Veronica's Aurum Award video

Veronica Marsman’s (BA’79, BSW’83, MSW’93) work is grounded in community, advocacy and lived experience.

From her early career in social work to leadership roles shaping policy and development, she has focused on creating opportunity and addressing systemic barriers. At , that work continues through a vision of building a thriving, self-sustaining community rooted in equity and long-term growth.

How did your Ʒ story begin?

I grew up in Beechville, Nova Scotia, a small Black community just outside of Halifax. When I was a teenager growing up in foster care, one of my social workers said to me, “Veronica, you need to go to university.” Having someone in my life to encourage me meant a lot, so I studied hard to ensure I could go to university. I didn’t have someone in my life to guide me when it came to choosing a university. Faced with such a big decision on my own, I chose Ʒ because it was close to home.

An archival photo of two children smiling outdoors.
Watch the video: Aurum Award winner, Veronica Marsman.

You hold a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from Ʒ. What led you down this educational path?

I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a social worker. I spent most of my childhood in the foster care system, and social workers were always present in my life — but there was never a social worker who looked like me, and I wanted to change that.

After completing my Bachelor of Arts (BA), I intended to start my Master of Social Work (MSW), but I needed two years of work experience. As I was working, Ʒ introduced the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, which was now a prerequisite for an MSW. I was committed to pursuing my education to the fullest, so I returned to school to complete my BSW in 1983.

During my master’s, I worked as a social worker in child welfare with the Department of Community Services. I worked closely with many white parents who were caring for Black children and didn’t know how to respond to their child’s unique needs. I started the SEARCH (Support, Education and Appreciation of Race, Culture and Heritage) Program to help white parents better understand how to care for their Black children. The success of the program (which still exists today) reassured me that I could create real systemic change.

How did your experience working with the Department of Community Services (DCS) influence your advocacy work?

My career with DCS began when I was pursuing my BA degree. I worked in several different programs — including group homes, child welfare and employment support. After completing my master’s, I moved into management positions and eventually became the operations manager for the region.

My time working in programs helped me realize the disadvantages people and communities face daily. My colleagues and I worked tirelessly to find solutions that would enhance people’s lives and address these disadvantages by reviewing outdated policies and advocating for them to be rewritten.

As a social worker, I’ve always considered myself an advocate for others, but my career in DCS fueled my desire to use my skills and expertise to help people and communities. 

How did your interest in working directly with business owners develop?

My interest is in supporting development that brings prosperity to the African Nova Scotian community — including individuals, families and business owners. It is a fact that Black people have been disadvantaged so, I try to bring my social work skills to everything that I do. I feel very strongly that the skills I’ve developed as a social worker, such as communication, problem-solving and resilience, are beneficial to business owners. I love working directly with members of our community, especially young people, to help them develop those skills themselves and find success.

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As the Executive Director of Akoma Holdings Inc., what is your long-term vision for the land?

To be the executive director is inspiring, uplifting and incredibly exciting! I often think about how we are managing 320 acres, the largest parcel of Black-owned land in Nova Scotia, and the long-term plan to build a community. We consider Membertou in Cape Breton (Unama’ki), as the model for what we would like to achieve.

We believe that people should not have to leave their community to access essentials like groceries and supplies or to participate in recreation. Our plans for the property, in addition to homes, include a sports centre, a long-term care partnership with Northwood (currently underway), and a new Black business hub. We want Akoma to have all the amenities on the property and create a vibrant and prosperous community. 

Watch the video for 2026 Aurum Award recipient, Veronica Marsman.

Ʒ Aurum Awards

The Aurum Awards are Ʒ’s flagship alumni awards program, honouring community-minded innovators and visionaries who are making a difference around the world.

Meet all 2026 recipients
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