The roots of the Beyond Borders project reach back to 1995, sparked by the determined voice of a strong and determined child. Naomi Leslie-Drummond began advocating for the inclusion of Black history in the New Brunswick school system over thirty years ago, planting the seeds for a movement that would eventually transform provincial education. What began as a grassroots call for representation evolved into a formal partnership between educators and community leaders. Members of the REACH in NB board took on a vital role, consulting directly on curriculum development to ensure that local Black heritage was accurately and meaningfully represented. This collaborative effort culminated in a provincial milestone. Published by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and launched in November 2025, Beyond Borders was authored by Jennifer Dow, with essential contributions from Damon Levine and Joanne Owuor, and vibrant visuals by illustrator Chris Thomas. Throughout the writing process, the author remained guided by the memory of young Naomi’s heartfelt pleas for representation, ensuring that this first-ever Black history text written specifically for New Brunswick schools would finally answer that call for future generations.