Community partner, Gabrielle Wint-Rose from EAW Publications, has been working with the students from across the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) to prioritize Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) student voice by asking, listening and following through in delivering what students say they need.
In February, the Quinte Local Immigration Partnership (QLIP) Anti Racism Committee hosted a Black Youth Event in Belleville that invited Black students in the Quinte area to attend a community event designed to celebrate Black youth, mentorship, culture, and community connections. As a part of this event, Gabrielle authored a spoken word poem to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of celebrating Black History Month in Canada.
Despite the event being held in Belleville, Gabrielle felt strongly that Black students she has met in Kingston, at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, also deserved to see themselves reflected on the walls of the schools they attend. As such, the ALCDSB commissioned a copy of the poem for the board office and each of the five 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.
Black student groups from Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School receive the poem titled '30 Drumbeats Strong’, gifted to the students for display in their school by the author and community partner, Gabrielle Wint-Rose.
Students from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School receive the poem titled '30 Drumbeats Strong’, gifted for display in their school by the author and community partner, Gabrielle Wint-Rose.