Hundreds of future Lancers gathered at the University of Windsor for the African Diaspora Youth Conference May 7 and 8 (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
Hundreds of future Lancers gathered at the University of Windsor May 7 and 8 for the 24th annual African Diaspora Youth Conference.
Secondary students of African descent from Windsor, Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, Guelph and Georgian Bay got to experience the UWindsor campus first-hand, participating in a variety of activities, workshops and keynotes across two days.
Organizer and professor in the Faculty of Education, Dr. Andrew Allen, explained that the conference has grown from just 43 students from one school in its first year to more than 350 by 2019.
Allen welcomed this year’s conference attendees on Thursday evening alongside associate vice-president student experience Dr. Shetina Jones, followed by a keynote from Windsor writer and performing artist Leslie McCurdy.
The evening ended with each group of students showcasing a live music, dance or arts performance for their peers.
To kick off the second day of activities, attendees were welcomed by acting provost and vice-president academic, Dr. Cheryl Collier and president Dr. J.J. McMurtry, followed by a keynote from Oluwatosin Akinbinu, executive director of Black Kids in Action, a local organization dedicated to creating safe and supportive spaces for Black children.
For Praid Gworlekaju, a Grade 12 student planning to study psychology and neuroscience at UWindsor this September, the keynotes hit home.
“The highlight has been the speakers that we have had so far talking about their experiences and how I shouldn’t let what I think might be my disadvantage be my disadvantage,” she said.
Natalie Ellsworth, a Grade 12 student heading into human kinetics at UWindsor, said the keynotes were equally powerful. “Their messages were really empowering and gave a lot of perspective and new insight on how to look at things.”
Ellsworth also cited the experience of seeing other student groups perform as a highlight in addition to getting to know new people and make connections across regions.
“I’ve gotten to meet a bunch of new people from Toronto and Guelph and Windsor,” she said. “It’s been great to get to meet people I wouldn’t have in my day-to-day and connect.”
The day continued with workshops, information on student awards and financial aid, Black student support and a panel where attendees could hear from current students.
Each faculty also organized a demonstration to show attendees what activities in their discipline look like, from mock trials in Law to stress tests in Human Kinetics.
“The kids think university is all lecture,” said Allen. “We wanted them to demonstrate or for them to see what we do instead of just telling them.”
Demystifying the university experience, especially for first-generation students, is key to the conference.
“We’ve convinced a lot of kids who would have not normally have gone to university to go,” Allen said. “It’s a first-person experience for them, sitting in the seats, going to the cafeteria.”
He also stressed the importance of helping to change pre-conceived ideas of what a professor looks like.
“If you ask any of these kids for a picture of a professor, they wouldn’t necessarily have a picture of someone who looks like me no matter what their background,” said Allen.
Teachers who accompanied students for the conference had the chance to participate in teacher-specific workshops for professional development.
Some of those teachers have themselves participated as students in the conference in its decades-long tenure.
“We have a vice-principal from Guelph who came to the conference as a student and then became a vice-principal and brought her students; technically, we are now Diaspora grandparents,” Allen said.
“One of our workshop presenters was a Walkerville student, came to UWindsor, organized the conference for two or three years and then went on to her PhD. We’ve seen the student organizers go on to professional degrees and graduate degrees. It’s not just about the high school students but also about developing our University students.”
Allen stressed that the conference is predominantly student-organized, with faculty and staff there to support but with Ignite work-study students and volunteers leading the way.
One former student organizer is UWindsor alumna Natalie Browning-Morgan (BA ’13, BA ’14), now a graduation coach for Black, African and Caribbean students with the Greater Essex Country District School Board.
Browning-Morgan, who has been involved with the conference for 20 years starting as a student organizer during her time as a Lancer, brought a group of Grade 12s to this year’s conference.
"It creates a powerful space for learning, representation and connection,” she said of the conference. “It empowers students to see themselves reflected in leadership, excellence and history while encouraging meaningful conversations about identity, culture, advocacy and community.”
“For educators, it provides valuable insight, resources and perspectives that strengthen our ability to support and uplift Black youth both inside and outside the classroom. Experiences like this inspire confidence, belonging, and future leadership within our school communities.”
Developmental psychology major Grace Mitchell is a returning student organizer this year. “To be one of the conference organizers is very rewarding and fun,” she said.
“I enjoy seeing different faces every year and familiar faces as well. I’m hearing people say that they're having so much fun learning about the school, meeting new people, enjoying the food and the dancing they did yesterday. They’re excited for what’s to come.”
For Allen, seeing the confidence of student organizers grow over their experience in the role is rewarding.
“When they joined just a few years ago, they didn’t speak up in meetings, and now they’re running a conference with all the confidence in the world,” he said.
Myrdgelie Augustin, a UWindsor social work student, cited the conference as instrumental in building critical skills.
“You gain hands-on experience interacting with people,” she said.
“It’s a really important skill to have, especially if you’re someone who wasn’t always involved and was maybe reserved. It’s helping me to grow skills in problem-solving too. It’s a great experience through Ignite work study, and if anyone wants to do it next year, I would recommend it.”
All grade 12 students who attend the conference and go on to enroll at the University of Windsor receive a $1,000 Diaspora Admission Scholarship.
As Allen put it, “this conference, it’s changing lives.”