Race, Ethnicity and Culture Services and Support
Find support related to race, ethnicity and culture through personal support and education. Our student services offer safer spaces for students (and their allies).
The Association of Black Students (ABS) is a Waterloo campus-based student service that emphasizes empowerment, solidarity and progress within Laurier and the community. ABS encourages people to become more aware and involved with the movement to challenge social and racial inequalities.
Our focus is to spread awareness about the experiences of Black students with the goal of ensuring all members of the Laurier community are well-informed and have a fulfilling university experience.
Our activities include:
- discussion groups/forums
- workshops
- social activities
- networking sessions
- theBasement on Radio Laurier
- awareness campaigns
- our Beating the Odds conference
Our Programs
ABS’s programs are designed to engage the Laurier community in thoughtful discussions, developmental activities and special initiatives with the goal of education and solidarity.
Meetings, Socials and Coffee Houses
- General Meetings: Held once a month, these meetings are to inform our members and others about the activities ABS will be hosting throughout the month.
- Socials: Socials are held monthly to give members the opportunity to build relationships with one another in a casual setting. Socials include movie nights, potlucks, trips and more.
- Biannual Coffee Houses: These social events give members the opportunity to showcase their talents for a special cause. Our coffee houses also serve as mediums to bring awareness to a particular issue so our members are educated while being entertained.
ABS's theBasement Radio Show
Every Sunday from 9-11 p.m., ABS hosts its weekly radio show titled "theBasement" on radiolaurier.com. This show is sure to keep its listeners entertained with popular, urban and cultural music as well as informed with discussion on topics ranging from societal issues to pop culture and lifestyle.
Beating the Odds Conference
The Beating the Odds Conference is an all-day conference held on Laurier’s Waterloo campus for high school students to boost their aspirations for achieving higher education.
For more information or email abs.laurier@gmail.com.
Black Student Collective (BSC) is a student service that aims to inform and empower the Black community at Laurier Brantford.
As a service, we aim to create a sense of family and community for Black students through activities that provide peer-support and education. Our work seeks to address systemic barriers experienced by Black students and celebrate the diversity of Black peoples.
We encourage students to engage the Laurier Brantford campus in meaningful dialogue by facilitating discussion groups, forums, workshops, social activities, networking sessions, and awareness campaigns.
Our vision is to support inclusion through intersectional decolonial discourses that educate the Laurier Brantford community about the rich and diverse heritage of Black students.
Our Programs
Black Student Collective is integral in delivering broader Laurier Brantford campus programming and provides opportunities such as Black History Month and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination programming.
Ways to Get Involved
If you identify with our service, you should become a member.
To become a member of the Black Student Collective, you must commit to attending a predetermined number of events and/or meetings throughout the year.
Membership in the collective allows you to get involved in leadership roles, and you will be eligible to list Black Student Collective involvement on your Experience Record.
Get involved by attending one of our meetings or email blackstudentcollective.laurier@gmail.com for more information.
You are welcome to meet with a Black counsellor/psychotherapist and registered social worker on the Brantford and Waterloo campuses.
Counsellors work from an anti-oppressive framework and are passionate about equity and diversity issues. They believe in creating a therapeutic space where students feel a sense of belonging. Counsellors are trained in different modalities and their approach with students is integrative and collaborative and seeks to incorporate culturally sensitive and evidence-based interventions.
To learn more or book a session, connect with the Student Wellness Centre.
Staff
Our dedicated staff is here to support Black and racialized students in all aspects of their university experience. From residence and academic guidance to personal care, mental health, and career development, staff provide comprehensive support tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. They are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where students can thrive. Whether you need assistance navigating campus resources, addressing academic challenges, or seeking professional advice, these staff members are here to offer guidance, encouragement, and support every step of the way.
Alexis Charles (she/her) provides career and job development support to equity-deserving students including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+. She works out of the Laurier Career Centre on the Waterloo campus and offers a variety of services to help you explore your career options, improve your resume, look for jobs, prepare for interviews, apply to further education, and more!
Contact Information:
- alcharles@wlu.ca
- Book an appointment with Alexis
Elizabeth Clarke (she/her) supports student success at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses by providing assistance focused on fair access, transition help, and academic success. She collaborates closely with the Student Success Services team and the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to organize and lead programs that ensure all students have equal opportunities in education and feel welcomed and supported. Her role involves conducting one-on-one consultations with equity-deserving students to enhance and develop essential learning and study skills necessary for their academic journey at Laurier.
Contact Information:
- emclarke@wlu.ca
- Book an appointment with Elizabeth
Julian McCants-Turner (he/him) supports students at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses by providing support to marginalized students who may experiencing identity or equity-based situations. As part of the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management he navigates harassment and discrimination matters and supports the sexual violence response team. He offers both formal and informal pathways and holds dear the values of Restorative Justice.
Contact Information:
Reina Stewart (she/her). As the Student Care Coordinator, I am here to work with students on all campuses and ensure they have the resources and support they need to thrive both academically and personally. I have experience helping students navigate personal challenges, financial hardships, academic struggles and more, all of which help me support students when they step into my office. In addition to meeting with students individually, I work with campus partners to develop social, academic, and wellness programming to support Black and racialized students. Outside of the office, I enjoy golfing, travelling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Contact Information:
- restewart@wlu.ca
- Book an appointment with Reina
Trish Rhoden (she/her). As the Residence Education Coordinator for the Department of Residence on the Brantford campus, I supervise Brantford's First-Year Leadership Program (FYLP), Living Learning Program (LLP), and the Residence Education Advisors. This means that I oversee the majority of programming done in Brantford's residences. I also supervise the brand-new Residence Affinity Groups, including the Residence Black Student Collective, which are safe and fun spaces for equity-denied students to build community with each other.