This exhibit honours women of colour (WOC) who have made a positive contribution to the York community. Due to a lack of acknowledgement and recognition for these WOC leaders, this initiative was developed. Each candidate for this initiative was nominated by a fellow member of the York community and was chosen because these candidates have demonstrably displayed our core values of excellence, innovation, and inclusion. During this month dedicated to women’s history our online showcase honours their dedication and service.
Mira Bhattacharya is a second-year student at York University who is actively involved in multiple initiatives that promote inclusion and community engagement. She is pursuing a specialized honors degree in cognitive science and is the Co-President of Best Buddies at YorkU, a nationally registered charity that fosters friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. As the Co-President, Mira has played an instrumental role in re-establishing the official York University Best Buddies program. Mira’s experience working with the disability community has equipped her with the skills and knowledge needed to lead the chapter and help promote inclusion in the York University community.
In addition to her work with Best Buddies, Mira is the Co-Founder of Disable the Difference, a federally incorporated nonprofit organization with a mission to promote awareness, support, research, policy change, and friendship for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also the President of the York University Cognitive Science Students’ Association, where she demonstrates a passion for cognitive science and a commitment to supporting the growth and engagement of undergraduate students in the program.
Mira is a dedicated and hard-working community leader whose passion for advocacy and community engagement has positively impacted the greater York University community.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
As an individual attempting to create positive change in my community, I have been supported, encouraged, and empowered to advocate for equity, inclusion, and engagement. Overcoming covert racism and prejudice as a woman of colour is a deeply challenging and ongoing process. However, I believe that the key to overcoming these obstacles is building strong support networks of empowered women who are passionate about empowering others. A major obstacle for any marginalised person is a lack of representation. I recognize that my experiences may differ from others who are challenged by more openly discriminatory practices, or face discrimination not only based on gender and race, but other intersectional aspects of their identity. I have challenged obstacles by creating my own platforms to amplify the voices of myself and others, and I use my voice to advocate for policy change and inclusion.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
As a woman of colour, my experiences inform and influence my approach to community involvement and activism. Having witnessed and experienced discrimination firsthand, I am passionate about equality and inclusion within my community. My unique experiences have enabled me to recognize the experiences of others facing inequity, which further fuels my passion for activism. I prioritize collaboration and inclusion as I recognize that positive change requires the collective efforts of many individuals. I believe that by drawing on community member’s diverse perspectives and insights, we can work towards a more equitable and inclusive community for all, on and off York University campuses.
Shawnzay is heavily involved in the general York University and Schulich community. She’s a part of various clubs, does frosh yearly, and also works within student engagement. Whenever we are walking around campus together, she always stops to say hello and start conversing with people she’s met at frosh or anywhere else. Shawnzay is truly one of the kindest, most caring, and most selfless people that I’ve come across at school. Every time I see her she is always going around with a smile spreading positivity and making people feel welcome!
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
The biggest challenges I’ve faced when trying to affect positive change in my communities is being ignored or overlooked. As a WOC I understand that not everyone will afford you the respect and attentiveness we all deserve. Being able to communicate with an open mind without closing yourself off has proven to be the best way to strengthen interpersonal relationships and move past barriers.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
I’ve had unique and diverse experiences both from the communities I am part of and those I engage with. I live by treating others the way I want to be treated myself and this shapes the way I approach community involvement and activism quite significantly. As a WOC I have learned to make space both for myself and others in communities as you must be the voice for others that you would’ve loved to have and foster a welcoming environment.
Taylor’s selfless and bright personality has shone through many aspects of the YorkU Community – from leading sustainability initiatives to academic leadership to mentoring first year students in research. For the past three years, Taylor has co-founded and led a club called Many Green Hands which addresses student food insecurity and promotes campus sustainability. Under her leadership, the club has achieved major milestones such as a collaboration with faculty and multiple campus groups to implement a compost system at Keele campus, and a university-wide Sustainability conference. Her relentless work through Many Green Hands at York University has fostered a plant-loving community of students (400 members strong) and has helped contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (responsible consumption and production) along with SDG 13 (climate action). She is a tireless leader who is passionate about contributing to a greener YorkU and inspiring our student community to take action. Beyond her leadership skills, she is a mentor and peer who has worked as a Bethune College Science Class Representative for Biology and Mathematics courses. She hosted study sessions to help her peers understand important concepts and prepare for exams. Aside from excelling in academics, Taylor has also represented York University’s values in the Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom. She helped start a seed-library initiative as part of her C4 Cross-Campus Capstone Project to increase food access in a low-income neighbourhood and address SDG 2 (No Hunger). In between school and her green initiatives, Taylor has worked closely with a first-year student to publish a high impact paper in the Frontiers in Public Health journal. She is now in her final year of the Biology program at York and her legacy involves leaving the campus as a more sustainable place for future students.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
I have struggled in the past with finding the confidence to take up space and voice my ideas in a leadership capacity as a woman of colour. Luckily, I have an amazing and uplifting support system, and I have been surrounded by inspiring female and POC role models including family, close friends and amazing colleagues. I am also so grateful to receive mentorship from scientific leaders with similar backgrounds to my own as I develop professionally. The village around me has been so valuable in my confidence and growth as a leader. I strive to offer the same support that I have received to other students in their academic and environmental leadership journeys.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
The two issues I am most engaged with are food insecurity, and climate justice for Small Island Nations and Global South countries. As a woman of colour, much of my involvement in peer mentorship and climate action has been driven by a desire to address systemic challenges, from tackling student and community food insecurity through Many Green Hands YU, to supporting peers in overcoming academic barriers that disproportionately impact POC while navigating introductory STEMM.
Kigi Charles-Ambaiowei is a 3rd-year Economics and English major.
Throughout her time at York University, Kigi has been an active member of the community. She has a keen interest in student academic success, peer-to-peer support, and fostering positive mental health and well-being. Through her roles as a Volunteer Peer Mentor and Peer Mentor Leader with Vanier College, she was involved in one on one, as well as impactful community support initiatives. She has also supported peers at an interpersonal level through her role as a Becoming YU Coach.
In her current role as a Student Engagement Clubs Ambassador with Student Community and Leadership Development, she continues to make a positive impact on campus and support student clubs through innovative club showcases, workshops, and programming.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
Being an international student here in Canada has come with various challenges. The struggles have taken a toll on my mental health at many points in time but I’ve been able to rely on my family and friends for support. The counseling and mental health resources provided through YorkU have also been helpful in developing strategies that help me overcome them.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
Being an international student and having various intersections to my identity has given me a sociocultural perspective. Having this understanding of intersectionality, and knowing the importance of diversity and inclusion has supported me in my roles as a student leader.
When Ariana Mah first became a student leader in her second year, she knew she didn’t want to stop anytime soon. In her work on the York University Board of Governors, the Glendon Faculty Council, and the Glendon College Student Union (GCSU), Ariana has committed herself to changing student life for the better. Now in her fourth year as a student majoring in Political Science at Glendon College, she continues to advocate for student interests at all levels of the university.
In her roles as Deputy Returning Officer and Chief Returning Officer of the GCSU, Ariana soon gained a reputation as a serious and thoughtful team member, who placed careful consideration into the work that she did. While some may take such roles lightheartedly, she dedicated herself to improving all aspects of the electoral process. Student groups across York saw a drop in voter turnout, and yet it was under her careful stewardship that the GCSU saw a voter percentage increase to pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, her active collaboration with executive members allowed for a reformation of the GCSU’s election bylaw, by lowering the requirement for potential candidates to get involved.
In the same period, Ariana dedicated herself to various committees as a student representative of the Glendon Faculty Council, including the Committee on Academic Standards, Teaching and Learning (CASTL). While student turnout at such committees was at times unreliable, her commitment to preparing for, and participating in such meetings helped committees to consistently reach quorum. This was accomplished in no small part thanks to her role as the Vice Chair, and later Chair, of the corresponding Student Caucus. It was in these capacities that she actively recruited, and trained student leaders to stress the importance of community involvement, and eventually welcomed a diverse group of students to council.
These values she cherished, such as inclusion, hard-work, and dedication, shone through in her other official capacities as well. In her roles as the Editor-in-Chief of Glendon’s Pro Tem newspaper, Board Member and Vice President Operations for Regenesis York, and Vice President of Glendon’s Top Scholars group, she has consistently upheld these values, and left each group stronger than they were initially. Her efforts can be most felt perhaps within the York University Board of Governors, where, as a student representative, she has consistently worked to build bridges and advocate for a sensible middle ground. By actively listening to the opinions of others, she has time-and-time again delivered a practical and impactful student perspective that board members can coalesce around. Ariana has also kept true to her identity as a Glendon student, advocating for Glendon and Francophone interests at York University.
Ariana wants to leave a mark, and intends to continue her work as a student leader in her final year at York, including completing her term on the Board of Governors. She hopes to illustrate the opportunities available to others, and serve as an inspiration to other women of colour hoping to engage in leadership and governance.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
As a woman of colour who wears many hats, I have taken on the predominantly white landscape of governance at York University. Both Keele and Glendon, though diverse, are spaces where there are few people of colour in positions of authority, and even fewer women of colour. However, this does not mean that these spaces cannot be improved through the further incorporation of the key tenets of diversity, equity and inclusion. For me, overcoming these obstacles has meant enacting change internally, which then affects the wider York community. Taking chances, being persistent, and keeping an open mind in conversations has allowed me to represent student interests, which in turn ensures that all voices of the student body are heard.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
Being a woman of colour has opened my eyes to the need for more representation at all levels of the university, and has propelled me to do my best in establishing precedent for more women of colour to take up the mantle of student leader. Beyond making a personal difference, I want to ensure that I not only take up space, but keep the space open and accessible to others. In order for real change to occur, one must work to ensure that representation is constant and ever-growing, as opposed to a one-off event. I want to share opportunities with my peers, especially those generally marginalised by the systems in place, and help guide them into their roles as changemakers.
Throughout her four years at York University, Anika Peng has made every effort to go above and beyond in serving her peers, the Faculty of Schulich, and the community at-large. From her devotion to orientation and the first-year experience, to her commitment to international volunteering and mentorship, her work has always been guided by strong principals of leadership, belief in ‘people power’ and a commitment to leaving her community better than how she found it.
She started volunteering for AIESEC at York, a group geared at sending students abroad to developing nations for volunteer opportunities and paid internships. From Austria to Zambia, her work with the marketing portfolio helped numerous developing nations make progress to fulfill one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Her work was pivotal in building the organization’s brand name and helping to recruit volunteers and team members from a wider array of academic backgrounds. While it may have initially been seen as a ‘Schulich club’, her belief that there are strengths that come with a diverse and inclusive organization led to AIESEC at York reaching new heights with membership and community involvement.
She then became one of Schulich’s Orientation Chairpersons for social orientation week 2018. Prior to her term, Schulich Frosh was perceived by many to be independent from other colleges and faculties’ orientation weeks, in that their programming was geared only to Schulich students. It was Anika that helped to change that, as she actively collaborated with orientation teams from Calumet, Glendon and Lassonde to host more joint events.
She would continue to lead this effort of greater Schulich-YorkU ties when she was elected President of the Undergraduate Business Society (UBS). Of Anika’s many attributes, the one that impressed me the most was her belief and conviction that we were stronger together. While previous UBS Presidents decided not to actively use their voice at elected student roundtable meetings, she continuously used hers to build stronger ties across York and help advance the cause of woman and POC leaders.
Anika ended her YorkU student leadership experience as the Chairperson for the York Orientation Directors Association, where she would help guide, consult, and lead each college and faculty’s orientation team for Frosh Week 2020. As the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly began, she was faced with leading and planning an online orientation week with no precedence or set of instructions to rely on. Despite the uncertainty, she maintained a composed and optimist demeanor and helped her team to welcome York’s latest generation of students.
Throughout her time at York, Anika has consistently lived and breathed key values: conviction to do what is right, despite the difficulties that could lie ahead; dependency, as friend and a colleague that others could rely on; and a belief in the power for others to do good. She took the mantle of leadership to such lengths, than countless others were able to follow because of her.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
Being a woman of colour means walking into spaces and constantly questioning whether I deserved a seat at the table, feeling like I had to work harder for an equal voice, and being second guessed on decisions that a male counterpart would never be second guessed on. Part of overcoming these obstacles as a woman of colour was connecting with other strong WOC to building a support network and to create spaces in the leadership opportunities I had to make spaces for unheard WOC voices. I like to think the effort and work I put in to have my voice and other WOC students heard continues to echo even as I have graduated.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
Being a woman of colour allowed me to see what was required to build into the things that I was doing within my community at York University. For example, uplifting and mentoring younger WOC students while providing them opportunities to have their voice heard was important to me. Speaking out about issues that affected WOC on social media to start important conversations was also a result of knowing what it felt like to feel as if no one could hear me. As a woman of colour, my every day experiences are similarities for many students and that is why I felt the need to integrate these uncomfortable but crucial topics into every role I had at my time at York.
Shailee is a wonderful human being and a proud York Lion that is always willing to lend a helping hand with a smile. She always puts her best step forward and reflects that in her interactions with others. Watching her come into her role as ICA’s (Indian Cultural Association) President has been a pleasure as she has been given a bigger platform to share her light with while connecting students from diverse backgrounds and welcoming them with open arms. She is the spirit of YorkU and reflects what I love most about this community.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
Making a positive change in my community is rather challenging as a lot of south asian women try to suppress each other instead of supporting and standing up for each other but I do try my best to support people in my community we even did a workshop for women of colour to share their problems and make them feel heard and it is still a continuing process and a learning curve for everyone.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
I am happy to be in a position that I could provide support to other women like me.
Mahak is a fourth year Biomedical Science major. She has made a positive impact through her academic leadership, involvement in peer-mentorship programs, and contributions to improving student life. She has served in academic mentoring programs at York which include mentoring a team of 8 with producing a Spotify podcast series and working as a Peer Assisted Study Session Leader for organic chemistry. She also led an undergraduate research team to win the Science Communication Award (3rd place) in an international data science competition hosted by Stem Fellowship. As a result of her research endeavours, she was a recipient of the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Award. Through the YorkU Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom (C4), Mahak worked on projects tackling important accessibility and sustainability issues. For example, she helped create a pop-up event for the Woburn community where over 400 backpacks and sports equipment were donated to the youth to reconnect them with the outdoors. In addition, she is working with an interdisciplinary team to create and implement a solar-powered battery for hemodialysis machines to make them more accessible for patients with chronic kidney disease. She is also Vice President of Events for the student organization Many Green Hands where she helps execute student-led initiatives that address food access challenges in the YorkU community. Mahak is an ambitious leader and a diligent, enthusiastic team player.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
Making a positive change requires a blend of hard work and finding the right opportunities. In my first year at York, one challenge was finding a mentor who can understand, guide, and inspire me. In the coming years, I joined many different clubs and took part in several opportunities (from debate club to Research @ York). In the process, I learned the importance of trying your best to find what fits for you. After many futile emails, I finally had a breakthrough and was able to find a supervisor for research. It took a long time but I also learned the best way to study. In my upper years, I realized I had gained so much from my trial-and-error and I really wanted to share what I learned with others who are in the same place when I was a freshman. As a result, I took up several mentoring opportunities provide that interface. For example, I worked as a PASS leader to not only help students master tough organic chemistry topics but also improve their study strategies. I mentored students over the summer and helped them realize their potential in making a positive impact in their community through C4. Having worked in research for two years, I now guide first-year students who want to join research and answer their questions. Putting all my experiences together and helping others has been incredibly fulfilling. I wish I knew about Shades of Herstory as a first-year student. I believe that seeing WOC who are achieving incredible things would have been very inspiring.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
Growing up, I learned the importance of grit and being able to connect at a fundamental level with others. Having the determination and working hard in academics, research, and collaborative opportunities, I learned that one has to go all in. In activism, this translates to doing the background research and taking the time to listen to and understand the community you want to impact. In terms of connecting, having the opportunity to work with various groups of people (from youth in a Scarborough neighbourhood to long-term care residents) has taught me to appreciate the interdisciplinary perspectives around us and see what we have to offer to others despite our differences.
During her 4 years at York University, Sofinari Grange has shown a deep amount of passion for enacting positive change within the York Community. While she has held several positions both as a student leader and a staff member at York University, Sofinari’s commitment towards integrity, compassion and the best interests of all students has remained steadfast in every role.Whilst at York, Sofinari was heavily involved within McLaughlin College Council, working her way up from First year rep in 2018 to President in the 2021-2022 academic school year. Whilst on this council Sofinari was committed to creation of an inclusive space through endeavors like an entire month of Black history events, amendments to make the MCC constitution more inclusive of all genders and providing a forum for creative expression through spearheading the organization of the 2021 Frosh Fest. Whilst serving at McLaughlin College Sofinari has won awards such as the Janet Gibson Award (2020), Lara Ubaldi Award (2022) and the Tatham Trophy (2022)
Outside of McLaughlin college, Sofinari was very present in other areas of the University through her love of music. Through her 4 years at York Sofinari performed at several showcases on campus, Such as Rhymes and Rhythms of Resistance, The Lucky Ones for International Women’s day and several frosh Showcases to name a few. Additionally in her final year Sofinari served as the anthem singer for the YU Lions and performed at YU’s Juneteenth Celebration.
After Graduation Sofinari’s love for the York community did not end. She spent the summer serving as Orientation Learning Coordinator on the York Orientation Directors Association. It was there that she, alongside her YODA Chair, Stephen Teong, were tasked with supporting the newly elected college and faculty student Presidents, and their hired Orientation Chairs, to plan, prepare and execute York’s first in-person Orientation Week since the start of the pandemic. Although exhausted from finishing their presidencies, it was their joint belief in working towards something bigger than ourselves that carried them forward.
Currently Sofinari works in the department of Social Science, where she assists students, staff and faculty daily, and jumps any opportunity to continue to serve the York Community that is made available to her.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
Whilst faced with challenges such as negative stereotypes as black woman such as being labelled aggressive or angry and suffering from poor mental health, I have found that one of the ways in which I overcame these obstacles was through leaning into my community even further. Whether it was asking for support from other women in my communities through venting or requesting assistance or even utilizing the mental health or crisis supports on campus; I have found that challenges are always easier to overcome whilst leaning on the support of others.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
Whilst faced with challenges such as negative stereotypes as black woman such as being labelled aggressive or angry and suffering from poor mental health, I have found that one of the ways in which I overcame these obstacles was through leaning into my community even further. Whether it was asking for support from other women in my communities through venting or requesting assistance or even utilizing the mental health or crisis supports on campus; I have found that challenges are always easier to overcome whilst leaning on the support of others.
Hilary Lockhart is an indigenous woman originally from Couchiching First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. She is the middle child of 3 girls. She moved to Toronto to attend York University in 2021. In March of 2022, Hilary filed a National Class Action Lawsuit against the Government of Canada and The Canadian Cadet Organization in order to give women who were victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and gender based discrimination a voice, accountability and closure to end their suffering. Being a victim herself she knows how important this is. Hilary is working on completing a B.A in English. She plans on going to law school after her degree so that she can become a lawyer. She plans on working in civil litigation, personal injuries specifically to fight for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault. In her free time she loves to read, knit, sew, crochet, cook, bake and loves going on long walks.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
I was silenced for a long time by the cadet organization. I have faced multiple mental illness diagnosis. I overcame this by finally coming forward and deciding to sue, to stand up for these victims and to let them know they have a space to tell their truth and their stories.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
As an indigenous woman, my elders and spirituality within my Ojibwa Culture helped me. I know the statistics on sexual abuse and assault. I refused to be imprisoned by this. I also knew I needed to be the voice of change. I knew I deserved to heal, I prayed on it and knew that this was something I needed for my healing journey.
Sophia Tracey is a recent graduate of York University who specialized in Political Science and French Studies. Throughout her time at York University, Tracey was committed to fostering long-lasting relationships with her peers, her professors, and her fellow students as well as improving student life on campus. Despite personal encounters with adversity, Tracey remained a diligent student and passionate student leader.
During her undergraduate career, she was an active member of multiple student organizations on both the Glendon and Keele Campuses. From 2018-2019 she volunteered as an Orientation Leader, and she returned in 2021 to oversee the coordination and internal communication for Glendon’s first hybrid Orientation Week following COVID-19. She also served as an ambassador for the Glendon Virtual Network, the Treasurer for United Caribbean Islands club, and an Active Bystander Facilitator during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Some of her most notable contributions were achieved during her term as the Vice President of Operations of the Glendon College Student Union (GCSU). As the Vice President of Operations, Tracey worked closely with the GCSU President to oversee the execution of the Council’s initiatives and constitutional duties of the 30-member team, which was one of the largest Councils in recent years. Within her role, Tracey was responsible for all internal communication within the Council, coordinating with York and external partners to acquire services for students, as well as organizing training and transition meetings for Council members to equip them with the tools to effectively engage the student population.
As an executive member of the GCSU, Tracey advocated for transparency between the Council and Glendon constituents and bilingualism throughout all GCSU activities. She further advocated for subsidies to ensure students who did not have the financial means could partake in GCSU-led events. She assisted with the planning and delivery of Glendon’s first Mental Health Week and assembled self-care kits to encourage students to continue practicing self-care beyond the week. She further worked closely with members of the York Federation of Students (YFS) to make YFS services more accessible at the Glendon Campus. Beyond her administrative work, Tracey promoted the mental wellness and well-being of council members by hosting monthly 1:1 check-ins with each of the student representatives. These meetings enabled her to develop strong relationships with Council members which contributed to their personal growth and success within their roles.
As a Black woman and a first-generation university graduate, Tracey recognizes the importance of intersectionality and its impact on student lives. Considering her own experiences, Tracey was motivated to create a positive environment for students to explore their passions and to take advantage of the various opportunities within the University. No matter her role, she created space to get to know incoming and current students and support them to the best of her ability. While her time as a student at York has come to an end, she continues to lead with kindness and integrity through her work as a Case worker and Education Manager.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
In my pursuit to effect change and make a positive difference in the lives of my fellow students, I have encountered challenges in the forms of limited opportunities to provide input, availability of resources, and engagement. As a woman of colour, I had to learn to operate within the various spaces and systems that exist within society and the university institution. This meant adapting the way I conduct myself and being resilient in the face of adversity. While there are avenues of connecting with administration and participating in discussions that affect the student body, I was not always invited to partake in these conversations.
Through networking and becoming more involved in student organizations, I was able to gain a better understanding of existing procedures and to participate in conversations with administration. As a student leader, I gained access to panel discussions and focus groups to share my experiences as well as relay the concerns shared by other students. In regard to the availability of resources, while there are resources available, they are very sparse when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Moreover, many students were unaware how they could access these resources. As such, I reached out to various community partners such as the Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education, the Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Canadian Federation of Students Ontario, to build awareness about the supports available and how to access them. To increase engagement and solidarity among BIPOC students, I coordinated collaborations among the different student associations that I was a part of.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
As a Black woman, I have learned that I must work twice as hard to get half the recognition and be tactful in my responses and interactions with non-BIPOC folk. Through my experience as a student and a young employee, I have encountered explicit and implicit forms of racism and discrimination. While I now have tools to handle these issues when they arise, this was not always the case. Through my studies and learning about intersectionality, I have used my voice and positions within student organization to uplift other marginalized groups and speak up in cases of injustice. No one should feel inferior or overlooked based on their race, gender, or economic status. However, the reality is that many students experience various obstacles when navigating systems that should assist them rather than hold them back. As a woman of colour who came from a low-income family and parents who immigrated to Canada, I relied on scholarships and awards to help cover tuition costs and living expenses. Thus, my lived experienced have informed the way I interact with community members and have motivated me to be an advocate for those who are underrepresented.
I first met Sash in September 2020 while working at Existere—Journal of Arts and Literature as its Senior Editor for Non-Fiction. Sash was one of my Junior Editors and she stood out for her ability to critically engage with submissions and discuss polarizing topics with ease. The next year, Sash became the Senior Editor for Fiction, and she chose excellent pieces for consideration. One story in particular, Tunapocalypse, was the stand-out piece of Issue 41.2, in my opinion.
From October 2021-August 2022, Sash became the Director of Writing & Publishing and the Symposium Director as part of the Professional Writing Students’ Association. As the Writing and Publishing Director, she decided to begin the enormous task of re-instituting and re-inventing Inventio, a student-run literary journal, which had been dormant for a couple of years. Her vision, guidance, and professionalism has helped it become a thriving place for undergraduate students to publish their works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry once again. Ideas she brought forward include a publication contract, a style guide, and a more streamlined submission process. Due to the inactivity period with Inventio, we weren’t able to reach some people we wanted to publish because we only had their school emails which had expired. During this time, she was also Inventio’s Editor-in-Chief for the first issue, which saw five works written by York university students published.
As the Symposium Director, Sash was responsible for organizing the website (metanoiayorku.com) and the first synchronous live Zoom symposium. It consisted of nine students placed into three panels presenting their writing on the theme Metanoia: Meta(Magnitude): Catalyzing Cracks and Seismic Spaces on the Self(ves), Fractured Barriers, and Pivot. This gave students the opportunity to develop skills in writing, peer-editing, web development, and public speaking, as well as adding to their resumes and portfolios.
Sash is currently the President of the Professional Writing Students’ Association (PWSA). I sit on the Executive Council with her, and I couldn’t imagine a better leader. She has a passion for our student body and displays that through her continued efforts to grow our club. She has made our Discord server a place for students (open to all undergrads, regardless of program), alumni, and faculty to come together as a community and connect in over 20 channels.
I cannot think of anyone more suited to this honour than Sash Wilson. She is a passionate, intelligent, and professional woman who is constantly striving to improve not only herself, but also everyone around her.
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to make a positive change in your community, and how have you overcome these obstacles as a woman of colour?
It has been a challenge not having professors I can identify with until my later years at York. When I applied for the LAPS mentorship program for women & Black students, I was paired with a Black woman mentor who I could see making positive changes within her community. I learned a lot from Anika Holder—head of HR for Penguin Random House Canada—about being a leader and affecting change.
In what ways has your experience as a woman of color informed and influenced your approach to community involvement and activism?
My experience as a woman of colour has me looking for ways in which I can be seen and heard. In my capacity as President of the Professional Writing Students’ Association, I have been working to create a space where other students can find a sense of community, be seen, and be heard in their writing.