Expression. Belonging. Resistance.

As the theme of the recent Level Up: Black Secondary Student Symposium, those words also reflect the shared experience of building a community that empowers Black student leadership, agency and collective growth.

The third iteration of Level Up welcomed students from 17 District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) high schools to a daylong event at Brock University on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Hosted by Brock’s Human Rights and Equity Office (HRE) in collaboration with the Black Student Success Centre (BSSC) and the local school board, the symposium provided a space for students to have critical and celebratory conversations about their experiences and accomplishments while taking control of their educational journeys.

“Students see themselves reflected in the program and the people leading it, which affirms that their stories, voices and futures matter — not only here at Brock, but in every learning space they enter,” said Alana Lowe, Associate Director of EDI Education and Outreach in HRE.

Throughout the day, students explored topics such as Afrocentric art and cultural expression, 2SLGBTQIA+ belonging and identity, Black student leadership and advocacy, goal setting and personal growth, and hip hop as a tool for resistance and liberation. Community organizations, student volunteers and local artists also participated, reflecting Brock’s ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion and collaboration with Black communities across Niagara.

The event marked a full circle moment for Brock students Jéda Anderson and Judy Osman, who co-hosted a workshop this year after being past participants themselves.

By sharing the challenges and successes they encountered while creating the Black Affinity Club at Eden High School, they hoped to inspire other students to create similar spaces within their own schools and communities.

“When you have a community of people that look like you and have gone through the same experiences as you, you can support and encourage one another as you work through things together,” said Anderson, a first-year Psychology student. “Most of us have never been part of conferences or spaces that were just for us as Black people, so I knew I wanted to create something for future students to help them do big things in their lives.”

Osman, a first-year Critical Criminology student, said she felt self-conscious growing up in predominantly white spaces, often fearing that her feelings of isolation and a lack of belonging would permeate throughout her life.

“It can be difficult to talk about the microaggressions and racism that we’ve faced, so we wanted to talk to students about addressing and acknowledging those experiences and creating safe spaces for others to open up about it too,” she said. “Bonding over culture and other things as part of the club made me feel like I belonged somewhere, and I want to give other little girls who feel isolated and alone that same sense of community, to feel like they finally belong.”

The symposium also welcomed educators and equity staff advisors to participate in a professional learning session on navigating difficult conversations and supporting Black student success.

“Building those relationships and being able to work together with educators on an ongoing basis allows us to further support students in more strategic ways by addressing unique elements of the Black student experience in Niagara schools,” Lowe said.

BSSC Manager Monique Beauregard said providing sustained opportunities to champion Black student leadership and educational success through early leadership initiatives has lasting impacts for participants and facilitators alike.

“Affirming programming and events validate identity and boost student success because students have a model of the possibilities that can exist for their own academic and personal performance in the future,” she said.

Second-year Nursing student and BSSC Ambassador Ademide Abogunrin,

who also supported Level Up this year after previously engaging with the event in high school, has seen first-hand what it means for Black students to feel recognized and empowered.

“Watching them step onto campus, connect with mentors and begin to imagine themselves in University reminds me of my time as a high schooler,” she said. “These experiences don’t just build confidence; they help shape a sense of belonging that follows students into their future success.”

For more information about the Level Up: Black Secondary Student Symposium, contact Alana Lowe at [email protected]