Halton Black Student Union
Meetings are held online every Monday evening 5 - 10 PM
Now Launching: A New 5-Week Leadership Program for Black Youth
The Halton Black Student Union (HBSU) was founded in early 2021, to support Black students and Black well-being in Halton. The HBSU provides a safe place to talk about issues and problems that Black students face in and out of school, as well as a space where they can get support to deal with how these issues have impacted them. In the Halton Black Student Union, we have much-needed conversations about everything related to the diverse Black lived experience and give Black community members and activists the opportunity to educate and inspire HBSU members.
Black Futures Leadership Program
A NEW HBSU PROGRAM
The HBV Black Futures Leadership Program is designed to develop the leadership capacity of Black middle and high school students in Halton through dynamic online workshops focused on public speaking, community involvement, academic success, and essential life skills.
The Black Futures Leadership Program is a 5-week virtual leadership program under the Halton Black Student Union for Black students in Grades 6–10 in Halton. The program runs weekly on Mondays from February 23 to March 30 (excluding March 16), with one-hour online sessions hosted via Google Meet. Through dynamic workshops, students develop essential leadership skills including public speaking, personal branding, and community engagement, while gaining practical tools for academic success, such as study strategies and navigating high school and post-secondary pathways. Participants also connect with peers who share similar lived experiences.
Black Futures is designed for two cohorts:
Emerge, for students in Grades 6–8, who meet on Mondays at 5:00 PM
Elevate, for students in Grades 9–10, who meet on Mondays at 7:00 PM.
Learn More about HBSU
The First Black Student Union
The first Black Student Union was founded in 1966 at San Francisco State University. Shortly after, Black student unions were established at other campuses across the nation.
Black student unions developed from the Black Campus Movement, which took place between 1965 and 1972. This was a pivotal moment in history where African American college students demanded and protested for increased campus inclusivity.
The students wanted more Black studies programs, more Black faculty and staff at universities, and spaces on campus that celebrated and acknowledged Black culture. This movement represented a significant shift in changing the landscape of higher education.
Black student unions also were originally formed to address political and civil rights issues — both on and off campus.
HIGHLIGHTS & PROJECTS
Halton Black Student Union Co-founder Wins Prestigious TD Scholarship Award
Growing up in a predominantly white town, Medina Jones didn’t see Black voices like hers reflected in her community. The 18-year-old immediately sought to change that, becoming a key voice in the Halton region as the founder of the Oakville Black Alliance and an outspoken critic of systemic racism in education.
This past week, Jones was awarded the 2021 TD Scholarship for Community Leadership. Over 3000 students across the country applied to the scholarship, and Jones was one of 20 prestigious students awarded. The scholarship awards students up to $70,000, covering four years of university tuition including living expenses.
Jones’ work spearheaded a survey on racial discrimination at Oakville Trafalgar High School, and she also co-founded the Halton Black Student Union in affiliation with Halton Black Voices to create a platform for other students to speak out about the injustices they might be facing. The community activist will be heading to the University of Ottawa this fall to study engineering.
CONGRATULATIONS
Medina Jones!
HBSU Podcast
Episodes
Our Hosts
Alexandra
Grade 12 - HDSB student
Sonnet
Grade 12 - Private school
Cassie
Grade 10 - HDSB Student
olamide
Grade 10 - HDSB Student