In February, nearly 70 Black secondary students gathered in the Quinte Region for Braver Conversations - A Black Youth Event. This community youth event was planned and delivered by members of the QLIP Anti-Racism Committee and was a day to celebrate Black youth, mentorship, culture, and community connections.
Black community leaders—entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives, and professionals—hosted interactive stations throughout the day featuring hair braiding, fresh lineups, art, local Black history, food sampling, and honest conversation. With passports in hand, students rotated between stations, asking meaningful questions about careers, identity, and life experiences in a setting where they felt recognized and valued.
This event was the first of its kind for this community, and responds to an identified need shared by students in the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB). This collaborative event allowed Black students from both local school boards to feel seen and supported as community partners wrapped around them to create an event "just for them".
Participation in this event provided the ALCDSB an additional opportunity to action the ongoing work they are doing to prioritize asking, listening and following through in delivering what students say they need. This event is one of many unique opportunities that prioritizes Black youth seeing themselves represented in identity affirming ways throughout the school day.
One of the community partners from the QLIP Anti Racism Committee and EAW Publications, Gabrielle Wint-Rose, authored a commemorative spoken word poem to celebrate this debut event and the 30th Anniversary of celebrating Black History Month in Canada. Following the event, the ALCDSB commissioned a copy of the poem for the board office and each of the 5 secondary schools in the ALCDSB as a permanent visual reminder that Black history should be ongoing, connected to all curriculum and alive in the Black youth that make our schools and communities stronger. Black students in each of the schools will work with staff to develop a plan for where this poem will be installed and how to ensure that all students learn from and interact with this special piece.
The poem, titled 30 Drumbeats Strong, will be displayed at the Board Office in Nappanee and in all five ALCDSB secondary schools as a lasting reminder that Black history is ongoing, alive, and deeply connected to our communities and classrooms.
Black student group from Nicholson Catholic College receive the commemorative poem, gifted to the students for display in their school by the author Gabrielle Wint-Rose.
Black student group from St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School receive the commemorative poem, gifted to the students for display in their school by the author Gabrielle Wint-Rose.
Black student group from St. Paul Catholic Secondary School receive the commemorative poem, gifted to the students for display in their school by the author Gabrielle Wint-Rose.
Gabrielle Wint-Rose, Author, EAW Publications gifts Carey Smith-Dewey, Director of Education, Sarah Cassidy, Coordinator of Equity and Inclusive Education, and Nick Wooley, Superintendent of Education a copy of her commemorative poem, for display at the Board office.
