Trent University Durham GTA students, faculty, and staff have taken initiative to shed light on cultural history on campus this Black History Month. The Trent African, Black, and Caribbean Students Club have presented events that have been celebrated by our community.

“It is empowering for students of colour to be placed in positions of leadership to organize events for Black History Month,” says Shanique Pearson, president of the Trent African, Black, and Caribbean Students Club.  “In this way, we get to determine how our unique stories are told and prioritize the Afrocentric voice and experience. Time and time again, I witness students coming away from these programs feeling validated and energized to increase African, Black, and Caribbean representation on campus. I am excited to see the transformative impact that the “Lift Every Voice” celebration will have on the student body and throughout the greater community.”

The club organized a visit from Whitby minister of Parliament, Celina Caesar-Chavannes earlier in February, who shared her experience in business and politics with an intimate group of staff and students. The highly anticipated cultural night “Lift Every Voice”, held February 25,  celebrated Afro-Caribbean culture with food, music, dancing, and vendors. The month has also included a Professional Mentorship Panel, a joint-initiative featuring Black women in the community working in fields of social justice. Staff and students participated in professional development opportunities with webinars discussing barriers in academia, organized by Trent Durham GTA faculty. Events continued on February 27 when the Trent Durham community welcomed renowned Caribbean Canadian author and poet M. NourbeSe Philip for a poetry reading and night celebrating this distinguished figure in Canadian literature.