Long time Fernwood NRG staff member honoured for his work in the education of children and youth in Victoria
›› Mila Czemerys
This past February, Sean Solberg received an award from the Victoria African and Caribbean Cultural Society as a part of Black History Month. He was honoured with the Proud of My History Recognition Award for Education. These awards are designed to honour distinguished residents of Victoria and surrounding cities who are a model for our community or who have made significant contributions to the social, political, religious, intellectual, and economic development of the Black community in Victoria.
Solberg has worked with Fernwood NRG’s child care program for 10 years as of September 2015. He is very busy working with the Boys and Girls Club at a care home for at risk teens, the City of Saanich’s teen drop-in centre at Commonwealth, and with youth at Gordon Head Rec Centre as well. Sean has devoted his life to being a positive male role model for children and youth.
Sean was born in Seattle, Washington and moved to Richmond, B.C. when he was 5. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. Both his parents passed away in his early teen years. His grandmother was there for him but at an early age he was more or less on his own, doing his own thing. “I did a lot of stupid things. There wasn’t really anybody there who could guide me. That is part of the reason why I do what I do,” shared Sean. “I want to keep kids from going down the same path I did.”
“It was an honour for me to receive this award. I wish I could share it with everyone I work with,” he says. “It is amazing to have this recognition by community. It shows that people realise what you do is important.”
