This is the first in a monthly series of articles celebrating Brock’s rich history of community engagement and enduring commitment to the mutual exchange of knowledge and resources within the Niagara community and beyond. To read other stories in the series, visit The Brock News.

Being a Badger means being part of a community — and Brock’s Black Student Success Centre (BSSC) is creating opportunities for everyone in Niagara to thrive.

Founded in 2023, the Centre supports the University’s Black students and staff, assists local Black community members with the transition from high school to university and provides development opportunities for post-academic success.

“Transitioning to post-secondary may look a lot different for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students who may not have several generations of folks that did it before them,” BSSC Manager Monique Beauregard said. “Seeing themselves reflected in their community puts students on a trajectory for success and we’re showing them they aren’t alone in the process.”

Facilitating intentional connections inspired the launch of the BSSC’s Future Black Leaders (FBL) initiative this year.

With Learning Services and other Brock partners, FBL provides tailored supports for Black and other equity-deserving secondary students and a one-year mentorship program between first year and upper-year Brock students.

Learning Skills Specialist, Access and Inclusion Sali Moieldin (MA ’23) knows first-hand how these supports help students in their academic journey. Meeting Black professionals who visited her own high school in St. Catharines even motivated her to now administer similar school visits in the region.

“All it takes is that one connection,” Moieldin said, pointing to research that those with at least one campus connection are most likely to complete their degree. “The mentor holds a lot of knowledge the mentee will benefit from whether it’s tutoring, career guidance or where to get free food or personal support.”

Tiffany Muhindi, a fourth-year Political Science student, is a BSSC Peer Assistant and Mentor with the FBL program. Hailing from Kenya, Muhindi wanted to be a mentor to “address a critical need for representation and support for Black students in spaces where they may feel underrepresented or unsupported.”

“Mentorship is powerful because it offers both practical advice and emotional support — something that can be especially important for navigating systemic barriers or adjusting to new environments, like university,” said Muhindi, also the student Co-Chair, President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity and Decolonization. “The program also helps build a strong sense of community, which can be empowering, allowing students to connect with others who share similar experiences.”

Incoming Brock students were joined by local secondary students to volunteer their time with Food 4 Kids Niagara during the Pathways to Success: Future Black Leaders Orientation this summer.

To kick-start the mentor-mentee relationship, the BSSC and Student Life and Success hosted Pathways to Success: Future Black Leaders Orientation this summer as part of the LEAP program. Provided to equity-deserving students free-of-charge through the support of the Ontario Post-Secondary Access and Inclusion Program, the day served as a social orientation to the University and saw students volunteer their time with Food for Kids Niagara. It culminated with a barbecue attended by dozens of Black-identifying people across campus.

“It was exciting to bring faculty, staff and student leaders that care about students and their success together in a way that is inclusive to their unique identities, interests and needs,” said Leadership Development Co-ordinator Travis Greene (BA ’19). “Additionally, the very reason Brock exists is because the community saw a need for post-secondary education — so it’s also important to show students the reciprocal value in building connections and giving back as soon as they step onto campus.”

To help address equity and educational gaps for youth in the Niagara community, the BSCC also collaborates with local charity Future Black Female (FBF) in executing programming like the Financial IQ program. The initiative provides free, youth-focused financial education, such as understanding paycheques, taxation and financial planning, for those aged 16 to 26 in Niagara. The project is sponsored by the Niagara Community Foundation and executed by the FBF in collaboration with the BSSC and the Royal Bank of Canada.

“This is especially important for youth who may face systemic barriers to financial education and economic opportunities,” said Ijeoma Michael, Girls and Women’s Projects Lead at FBF. “The knowledge gained in the program can help participants break the cycle of financial insecurity and create long-term economic stability.”

She also said Brock’s BSSC is a “crucial collaborative partner in fostering inclusive growth and providing opportunities for youth to succeed beyond the classroom” through tabling events and in-person workshops that extend the reach of the charity’s programming.

By intentionally committed to maintaining touchpoints along students’ personal, academic and career paths, the BSSC is transforming those who once received support into the next generation of leaders in their communities.

“The experience with FBL has connected me to something larger than myself, allowing me to leave a legacy of support and empowerment that transcends my individual journey,” said Muhindi. “It’s been a constant reminder that growth is cyclical: as I guide others, I too am being shaped, learning new insights that I can carry forward in my own life.”