Education and Events

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) offers programs across the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, run by the centre as well as student-run services.

Conferences

Beating the Odds

Beating the Odds is an all-day conference held on our Waterloo campus for high school students to boost their aspirations for achieving higher education. As a means of combating statistics suggesting that racialized students have a 70% drop-out rate in Waterloo Region, our members and community supporters bring professionals and other university students to Laurier to facilitate workshops and keynote presentations that create an atmosphere of empowerment and motivation.

In past years we have had workshops on; identity, business, leadership, next steps after high school and more. Our keynote speakers are professionals in their field and have a passion and/or relevant experience for inspiring young people. Workshops offered by racialized professionals and Laurier students benefit high school students by offering them valuable information that will help to propel them into a successful future.

Our annual conference, held each February, continues to grow as we register hundreds of students each year to attend.

Learn more by reading Laurier Association of Black Students honoured for work addressing racial inequities.

Black Brilliance

CSEDI collaborated with the Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa and the Waterloo Region District School Board’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion office to organize the second annual Black Brilliance Elementary Conference at Laurier. The conference welcomed over 350 participants, including more than 200 Black students in grades 5 to 8 from 45 elementary schools across the Waterloo Region, along with their teachers and guests.

The day began with a plenary session, followed by interactive workshops facilitated by Laurier faculty, staff, Tshepo Fellows, members of Laurier’s Black Faculty and Staff Caucus, and community leaders. Attendees also enjoyed a lunch featuring African and Afrodiasporic cuisine before joining another round of workshops.

A key feature of the conference was the involvement of Laurier students. With the support of CSEDI, more than 25 undergraduate student volunteers contributed as event assistants, helping with food distribution, navigation, workshop support, and overall coordination to ensure the day was welcoming and inclusive.

The conference was made possible through the collective support of Laurier partners including the Faculty of Music, Lazaridis Hall, WLUFA, Office of the Dean, Black Faculty and Staff Caucus, Office of the President, Faculty of Arts, Office of the AVP-EDI, ICT, and the Kitchener Public Library.