Inspiring journeys: Black Arts students nurture connections between high school and higher education
In the summer months, Dr. Pam Sugiman, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, expressed her desire and commitment to expand pathways to post-secondary education for Black youth. With the support of Dr. Melanie Knight, I reached out to local school boards and discovered the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement (external link) . The Centre, as part of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), advocates for systemic change within educational institutions and offers a variety of programs, initiatives, and engagement opportunities for Black students and families. Dr. Knight and I met with the Principal of the Centre, Jeffrey Canton, and discussed initiatives that we could collaborate on together. As it turned out, the Centre was planning the first TDSB Black Student Post-Secondary Engagement Symposium on November 15, 2023. This was an opportunity for post-secondary institutions to connect with Black students in the TDSB to share programs, interest groups, clubs, communities, and services that affirm the lived and historic experiences of Black students, support their sense of belonging in post-secondary spaces, and connect them to culturally relevant programs and resources. The event was held at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute.
Lindsey Marshall, Coordinator Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement (Acting); Siobhan Stewart; Alicia Pinnock; Tega Max-Gbinije; Jason Ramsey; Jeffrey Canton, Centrally Assigned Principal, Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement; Dr. Melanie Knight, Interim Associate Dean of Arts, Research & Graduate Studies; Ciboney Pennyman
We prepared materials and invited current students in the Faculty of Arts to participate. We wanted a diverse group of Black students who would share their experiences and connect with youth. The team we pulled together did just that. I also want to thank the team for sharing key insights and career avenues of their programs. It made all the difference! As for our student leaders that evening, Ciboney Pennyman, is an incredible young woman with extensive extra-curricular experience including working for Campus Recruitment, Vice-President of the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Course Union and a member of SASSH (Society of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities). Jason Ramsey is also a member of SASSH and has actively participated in planning programming for Arts students. Alicia Pinnock has been involved with the Black Student Advisory Committee for the Faculty of Arts for multiple years and recently served as a Research Assistant supporting a number of projects underway for Black students in the Arts. Finally, Tega Max-Gbinije serves on the Black Student Advisory Committee representing Arts in the TMU community at large. All four are senior student leaders hailing from the departments of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Sociology, Economics, and Politics and Governance.
Their participation in this event was crucial as it was important for high school students to be able to connect directly with Black-identified students currently studying in the Faculty of Arts. When asked why they participated in this event as leaders, Ciboney Pennyman reflected:
I am passionate about all things related to the Black experience . . . I love that today's students can see that they deserve to be at these schools. While representation is the bare minimum, it has a stronger impact in predominantly white spaces… the symposium really showed me that there are Black people at these schools (regardless of how behind the scenes they are). I'm glad I got to interact with these young Black students, particularly at these high schools that seem to really support them having a community. These students were passionate and excited about what the future will hold for them and I'm glad I got to be part of it. To see how hopeful they were was refreshing.
As a first-generation Black student myself, seeing this event take place brought both feelings of excitement and also feelings of sadness. I was excited to see concrete actions being taken that acknowledge the unique challenges that Black-identified students face when navigating higher education. I was excited to see high school students relax and feel at ease when speaking with our team at the event. While I am happy to see that school boards are working more closely with higher education institutions to facilitate stronger partnerships and ultimately better transitions and outcomes for Black-identified students, I cannot help but feel sad for those who have fallen through the cracks or experienced barriers throughout their educational journey that could have been preventable or better supported. I sincerely want to acknowledge the great work and leadership of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement on a job well done and setting the tone for what authentic recruitment in our community looks like.
In reflecting on their own experiences, we asked our student leaders whether this symposium would have been beneficial as they began to map out their education plans. Alicia Pinnock shared:
When I was in high school, we had recruiters come to the school, but I don't remember feeling included. I was lucky if I saw a Black face on their recruitment material. If I had seen recruiters like us, showing me that I would feel a sense of community, I definitely think that I would have felt a stronger inclination to make that next step to post-secondary. Something I realize in my experience is the effect that community has on one's journey. Having that support at a much earlier stage would have been incredibly valuable.
As the event came to a close, we asked a parent of a secondary school student attending the Symposium to share her reflections on the event. Her daughter is in grade 10 but is already taking steps to plan her journey beyond high school. She commented:
It is really important for my daughter to be able to see higher education as a place where she can thrive. I did not go to university, but I wanted her to see that she could and talk to people that looked like her who have walked the path. Leaving this evening, I feel peace as a parent but I also feel that wherever she decides to go, she will have the right people and support in place to ensure her success there.
Reading the reflections of current Black students in the Faculty of Arts affirms for me that these types of events are healing and a step in the right direction. I feel proud to have participated in the inaugural Post-Secondary Engagement Symposium hosted by the TDSB’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and I know that our students also felt a sense of fulfillment from being able to share and reflect on their own lived experiences.