On Wednesday May 22, over 230 students from 21 schools came together at the Catholic Education Centre (CEC) for the Toronto Catholic District School Board's (TCDSB) inaugural Black Student Association (BSA) Symposium.
Together in the boardroom, students and their teachers spent the morning session being inspired and uplifted by guest speakers Marcia Brown, Jelani "J-Wyze" Nias, and TCDSB's Associate Director of Corporate Services, Derek Boyce.
The afternoon was spent mixing and mingling with students from other schools as participants split their time between attending student-lead workshops and visiting the Marketplace set up in the second floor Atrium which showcased Black-owned businesses such as A Different Booklist, Afrobeats Snacks, and 21 Century Interactive Sports and Entertainment.
BSA student leaders from Father Henry Carr, Father John Redmond, St. John Paul II, and St. Basil-the-Great Secondary schools ran the engaging workshops that highlighted Black excellence and shared ways on how to dismantle anti-Black racism.
The event culminated back in the boardroom with a Soulful Liturgy lead by Pastor Q Wilson and Justin Bacchus. A sincere thanks to everyone who made this inaugural event possible!
