Grace Mitchell says helping plan the African Diaspora Youth Conference was the highlight of her university experience. And she got to do it two years in a row.  

The psychology undergraduate worked alongside nine other students to plan activities for potential future University of Windsor students. 

“Seeing the high school students enjoy the activities we planned for them, making new friends, and talking about their plans and goals for post-secondary makes me feel like I'm making a positive impact in their lives,” says Mitchell. 

Her favourite part of the 2025 conference was the performances that each of the nine groups had to create that were related to the conference's theme, Leadership and Mentorship: Get on Board. 

“We try to organize the groups so that the students aren't staying with people that they know, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people. That was especially demonstrated during the group performances.” 

Volunteers speak at the African Diaspora Youth Conference, fostering connection, confidence, and community among youth participants. (Photo by UWindsor)

Detroit’s Tiara Hamilton came to the conference with 12 fellow students from the Grand Valley State University TRIO Upward Bound Detroit program.  

The 11th Grade Scholar says her conference experience taught her valuable lessons about life and people by connecting with and befriending people she might never have met otherwise. 

“I gained a deeper understanding of the cultural differences and similarities between us and the students from Windsor and Toronto, such as our shared taste in music,” says Hamilton. 

“I also learned important life lessons from the workshop speakers, including the importance of staying committed, persevering through challenges, and being mindful of what I allow into my mind. It gave me the confidence to step out of my shell and build new friendships.” 

Mitchell is already planning what the 2026 conference will look like.  

“It's so rewarding when the conference is all done and I start to look forward to next year's conference and how that will look.”