Ishraq Malik has always wanted to make a positive impact in the community. The Medical Sciences graduand has been recognized as an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) Changemaker of the Month by Brock’s Office of Human Rights and Equity (HRE) for her contributions to EDI on campus.

While her goal felt just out of reach when she was younger, Malik’s time at Brock has taught her anyone can make a difference.

She has spent the last two years working for Brock’s Student Justice Centre (SJC), where she created workshops, advocated for female peers and hosted events focused on empowering women and destigmatizing taboo topics.

Among the activities Malik is most proud of organizing for SJC is the Muslim Vendor Fest that showcased the rich diversity of the Muslim community on Wednesday, April 3 in the Rankin Family Pavilion.

“The vendor fair was a chance to highlight Muslim culture for those who really don’t know much about us beyond media portrayals,” says Malik. “It was also a space for students away from home to gather and feel at home.”

Malik successfully recruited 18 vendors from Niagara and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area who offered a variety of artisan crafts, clothing, jewelry, halal cuisine and specialty goods.

Brock students look at jewelry during the Muslim Vendor Fest in April.

“During the event, many students and community members came up to me to share how excited they were to be able to buy traditional clothing like hijabs and abayas on campus,” she says. “Students also had the chance to sample Arab perfumes. This was a special experience because usually we must buy these things online.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Malik from getting involved during her first year, a friend encouraged her to make connections on campus.

“I really have my good friend and Concurrent Education graduand, Ayesha Masood, to thank for helping me to build a community here,” she says. “Where I saw gaps, she encouraged me to get involved in SJC and BUSU clubs.”

Interested in women’s rights and increasing the visibility of people of colour on campus, Malik is co-president of the South Asian Women’s Society (SAWS).

“I think there is a connectiveness between women’s rights and being a brown woman,” she says. “When SAWS emerged a couple of years ago, it was because we wanted to empower South Asian women and provide them with a safe space to express themselves, learn and feel a sense of community at Brock.”

Seeking a hands-on program in healthcare, Malik is now continuing her Brock education in the accelerated concurrent Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing program.

EDI Changemakers are students, staff or faculty at Brock who have made a significant contribution to EDI on campus. Changemakers can be nominated for:

• leading a social justice initiative
• introducing a new lens or outlook that supports EDI
• advocating for changes to processes or procedures
• engaging in EDI research that has or will make an impact in the school community or in the Niagara region
• strengthening allyship
• actively removing barriers or contributing to underserved communities

All EDI Changemaker contributions must fall in line with Brock’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

Submissions for upcoming EDI Changemakers of the Month must include the nominee’s name and a brief description of their contribution to EDI in the Brock community. Submissions can be sent to humanrights@brocku.ca with the subject line: Changemaker of the Month nomination.