Alisha Brown-Fagan

Alisha, hailing from East Preston, Nova Scotia, proudly identifies as a seventh-generation African Nova Scotian. Her heritage can be traced back to the Jamaican Maroons who established themselves as early settlers in the Province of Nova Scotia in 1796.

She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminology and Psychology from St. Thomas University in 2009. Later, Alisha completed the Indigenous Blacks and Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, graduating in the Class of 2012. During her time at Dalhousie, she was an active member and, at one point, the Vice-President (Communications) of the Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association.

In 2013, after being called to the Nova Scotia bar, Alisha dedicated 8 ½ years to practicing family and child protection law with Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Her legal career took an impactful turn when she assumed the role of Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives. During her two-year tenure, Alisha led the Land Titles Initiative, which aimed to help residents in five historic African Nova Scotian communities secure clear titles to land passed down by their ancestors. Additionally, she led various other initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and inequities within government policies, legislation, programs, and services. Recently, Alisha returned to Nova Scotia Legal Aid as a Legal Project Manager within the Executive Office.

Alisha’s commitment to advocacy extends beyond her legal career. She has served as the President of the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She is an active member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, contributing her expertise to the Racial Equity Committee, Nominating Committee, and Ruck Report Implementation Task Force. Alisha also serves on the Board of Directors for the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia and is involved in Dalhousie University’s Alumni Association Board and Senate Honorary Degrees Committee.