When a swimming cap designed for natural Black hair was initially banned at the Tokyo Olympics, Talia Jermyn knew she wanted to research the topic further.

She discovered these types of institutional barriers not only reinforce racial disparities in elite swimming participation, but they also have serious implications far beyond the podium.

“It was another one of those seemingly small incidents that are much more insidious and represent a bigger issue,” the fourth-year Kinesiology student said. “Swimming is a crucial life skill and there is research showing a strong inverse relationship between Black competitive swimming rates and Black drowning rates, which is extremely alarming.”

She said a lack of inclusive swimwear is just one example of many institutional barriers to swimming participation for Black people — from recreation to competition — and how it can impact water safety, drowning rates and visible representation in the sport.

“I found that is a highly complex, intersectional and sociocultural issue that eclipses being ‘just’ a sport or recreation issue, it is a life-or-death matter,” Jermyn said. “What institutions can do to be actively anti-racist, support Black swimmers and address the disproportionate rates of drowning is the next step.”

Jermyn presented her research, which was supervised by Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Rob Millington, in a session titled “No Cap: Calling out Institutional Whiteness and Misogynoir in Sport” at the inaugural Future Black Leaders Conference last month.

Executive Director of Student Life and Success Jenn Skelding (left), Black Student Success Centre Manager Monique Beauregard and Learning Skills Specialist, Access and Inclusion Sali Moieldin at the Future Black Leaders Conference on March 29. (Photo courtesy of third-year student Nyria Thurston)

The conference was the first of its kind at Brock, bringing more than 100 attendees together to network and celebrate the achievements of Black scholars. An initiative of Student Life and Success (SLS), including the Black Student Success Centre (BSSC), Learning Services and Student Life, it was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Connection Grant, funded by the Government of Canada.

“When I think of Brock University, I think of community, and this is what the Future Black Leaders Conference embodied,” said BSSC Manager Monique Beauregard. “I am beyond proud of the turnout and the way everyone shared, learned and grew together.”

Jermyn said it was affirming to not only celebrate Black success and scholarship at the conference, but pride in identity as well.

“It’s really important to be in a space where you can see yourself in the whole group; it was something I’ve never experienced before,” she said. “With my research focused on hair discrimination, I particularly loved seeing the variety of natural hairstyles — like twists, braids, curls and locs — together in an academic setting.”

Temilade Adesina is a Applied Disability Studies master’s student specializing in Leadership, Diversity, Community and Culture. She said the conference provided an encouraging space to mobilize others for future change.

Under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Applied Disability Studies Laura Mullins, Adesina’s research highlights the lived experiences of disabled students who withdrew from post-secondary studies due to the impact of unmet needs on their overall mental well-being.

Child and Youth Studies graduate Patrick Segawa (MA ’24) presented a session on strategic leadership at the Future Black Leaders Conference on March 29. (Photo courtesy of third-year student Nyria Thurston)

While she has always been passionate about advocacy for underserved groups, her own experience navigating academia after sustaining a spinal cord injury further motivates her to push for progress.

“I believe change begins with every one of us and whether you belong to the disability community or not, we are all one society and should be able to stand against systemic and structural barriers — living in a world of inclusion means living in a better community overall,” she said.

Brock graduates, such as Patrick Segawa (MA ’24), also provided students with actionable steps for advancing personal and career success at the conference.

With a background in public health, Segawa left Uganda to come to Brock and round out his education in the child and youth field. After completing his master’s degree, he worked at fast food establishments and grocery stores before working his way up the ladder within the Niagara Region.

Within a few years of graduating, he is now a Service System and Performance Management Advisor where he builds capacity and evaluates the effectiveness and integrity of program delivery for the Region’s homeless service system.

The key to that success, he said, was to treat every career and networking opportunity as a stepping stone that would “strategically position” himself for future leadership, ensuring he sought out mentors along the way.

“Be proactively curious and willing to go beyond what is comfortable,” he said. “There aren’t always visible networks of Black people in leadership, but if there is no representation, seek to be the change you want to see.”

Beauregard said momentum from the conference is still building, as the BSSC also prepares for the next intake of students to its Future Black Leaders Mentorship program. Those interested in becoming a mentee or mentor can fill out an application form to be considered for the 2025-26 academic year.