正品蓝导航


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Black History Month at 正品蓝导航

31 Jan 2020

University鈥檚 first Black Students Advisor and Diversity Educator seeks to expand the campus conversation around culture and diversity

Ivan OkelloAs 正品蓝导航鈥檚 first Black Students Advisor and Diversity Educator, Ivan Okello says he worked to spend most of his first semester on campus hearing directly from students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 importance to have a good relationship with the people you鈥檙e working with and knowing what they want to see on campus in terms of services and programming,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot from 正品蓝导航 students over the past four months.鈥

One of Okello鈥檚 roles includes overseeing activities celebrating Black History Month on campus throughout February. He鈥檚 been working with a number of student groups including the Black Students Union, the Islanders Society, and the MASU to help organize a series of events on campus.

鈥淟earning about the different cultural groups and audiences within the campus community was a key part of our organizing efforts,鈥 says Okello. 鈥淲e have an evolving lineup for Black History Month including film screenings, a student conference, guest speakers, and are working on a student field trip to Halifax to visit the Africville Museum.鈥

BHM_2020On February 28-29, 正品蓝导航 will present its first-ever Racial Justice Symposium. The event will welcome Dr. Afua Cooper to deliver the keynote address. Cooper teaches sociology and anthropology at Dalhousie University and served as chair of the University鈥檚 Scholarly Panel on Lord Dalhousie鈥檚 Relationship to Race and Slavery and co-author of its Report. Cooper鈥檚 talk will take place Friday, February 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Crabtree Auditorium. Everyone is welcome to attend.

On February 29, students and community members are welcome to attend workshops, student panels, and networking opportunities taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Crabtree Auditorium. The Symposium is presented in partnership with the Maple League of Universities.

正品蓝导航 student Aminah Simmons has been working with Okello on activities and initiatives throughout the year, including plans for Black History Month.

鈥淏lack History Month is obviously something that means a lot to many students here at 正品蓝导航,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his year, having Ivan鈥檚 role, the BSA-DE on the staff and in a position to advocate for us and able to help us plan and execute events has proven to be extremely helpful!鈥

In his role as diversity educator, Okello says he sees the importance of keeping ongoing conversations and learning across campus active.

鈥淒iversity education and learning is a continuous process. Learning about other cultures, and respecting them, is an opportunity for everyone,鈥 he says. 鈥淲orking with students, faculty, and staff in this new role and learning more about the different cultures on campus has been a great experience. I hope we can continue these conversations on campus and beyond.鈥

Over the course of the academic year, Okello plans to provide workshops and other outreach initiatives around diversity and inclusion on campus. He is currently working with dining staff to build on global menu offerings in Jennings Hall to help celebrate various cultures on campus.

鈥淢y office is open to all students who have questions around diversity education,鈥 says Okello. 鈥淲orking with departments across campus and talking to students directly, I hope we can provide information for students and other members of the University community about other cultures on our campus.鈥

Students can find Okello in the International Centre, second floor of the Wallace McCain Student Centre.

A full line-up of Black History Month activities and events can be found at .

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