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Two members of the UNB community are being recognized as champions of cultural diversity by the New Brunswick Multicultural Council.

Agunbiade Seun Richards, a PhD candidate at UNB Saint John who founded Door2Door Pickup Couriers, and Mary Ryan, an alumna and multiculturalism advocate, were both selected as Champions for Cultural Diversity 2020 by the council.

A natural entrepreneur, Mr. Richards was in the right place at the right time when he founded Door2Door in February 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, his small business grew quickly. The company became contracted for Amazon Prime and employs more than a dozen people – both locals and newcomers. Door2Door also provided free delivery to vulnerable people greatly affected by COVID. In addition to his busy work life, Mr. Richards is also a PhD candidate in interdisciplinary students on the Saint John campus, under the supervision of Dr. Rob Moir (faculty of business).

Ms. Ryan (BT’67, BEd’74, MEd’75), a lifelong educator, was surprised to learn many young children held strongly negative views about those of other cultures, races and religions. She spearheaded the introduction of multicultural education in the provincial school system in the 1970s and has been a transformative voice in changing how children are taught. Ms. Ryan developed the Junior Ambassador program for students to participate in community events that connected them to their unique heritage as citizens of the only federally incorporated country in the world to adopt the national Policy of Multiculturalism.

Congratulations to Mr. Richards and Ms. Ryan on this recognition.

Photo: Seun Richards, second from right, and the Door2Door leadership team. Credit: Seun Richards.