When Ozegho Aliu looked around the room at the Black Joy Black Excellence Student Symposium held at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, she felt like she was in a safe space where she could be herself.
"It means the world to me because in a way, it makes me feel a bit more relieved," said Aliu, is a Grade 11 student Tecumseh Vista, which she explains as a "predominantly White" school. "Sometimes you feel like you're the only one in the whole world. And this kind of helps me feel like more at home."
Aliu was one of more than 500 students from schools in the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) gathered for the second annual Black Joy Black Excellence event.
"Black excellence is just being unapologetic for who you are and understanding that even in the face of barriers, we are proof that we are excellent, and we can face whatever," said Amira Steinhoff-Strode, a Grade 12 student at W. F. Herman Secondary School.
"It means a lot to me. I feel a lot of support," said Steinhoff-Strode, who also co-emceed the event with Riverside student Alaa Ebrahim. "We have a lot of elementary schools here, with children who will see us, and want to be that person. It's creating a great cycle of generational excellence."
The event featured many inspirational speakers, as well as featured events like a fashion show, slam poetry, dancing, boxing, art, tai chi and meditating. The symposium also showcased local Black-owned businesses and vendors.
"It's just amazing seeing all the little kids and even our age, we're so comfortable with everyone around us so we can just be ourselves," said Kaylo Elliott, a Grade 12 student at W. F. Herman Secondary School. "Here, everyone is letting loose, everyone's being free, just being themselves, having fun, and learning about themselves."
"Being at Herman, you know, we have a large Black population, and it feels like in our hallways, in our classes, we can be ourselves, but I can feel for those at schools that don't have as many Black people," said Elliott. "A place like this is just an amazing event for them, because they've never had something like this before in their life."
The event is planned by Black Student Advisory Committee with the support of the public school board.
"Black youth need to see representation in their schools and in their environment," said Clarese Carter, a Create Your Future advisor for County Schools in the GECDSB. "They need to be able to participate in identity affirming activities and educational experiences that help them formulate a plan for their future and help them figure out who they are."
"It's super important to have a whole day affirming Black identity for students in positive ways, to help them feel supported and inspired to take the next step towards their future," Carter said.
Jimmy Parsons, the Chair of the Zekelman School of Business at St. Clair College, said the College is proud to sponsor an event that is culturally relevant and affirming for students in Windsor-Essex.
"To get up there on the stage in front of 550 students who look like me, is pretty emotional – pretty powerful," said Parsons, who notes it's also a good opportunity to showcase local educational opportunities for students in the region.
"St. Clair College is here to create opportunities and futures for the youth in this area, and what better way to foster that relationship than to bring them into our house and show them we're a proud partner," said Parsons. "We have pathways for them and at this event, high school students got a firsthand look at how we can help pave the way."
Jalen Hamilton, a Grade 12 student at Kennedy Collegiate helped plan the fashion show at the event, showcasing many of his looks to his peers.
"It means a lot. It means the liberation, the upbringing of young, black youth to be surrounded by others that look like them, it's important," said Hamilton, who also attended the inaugural event.
"We get to socialize, converse, and really be able to be in an environment where we can unapologetically be ourselves while also just having so much fun."
