February is Black History Month.

The month is an opportunity to amplify and celebrate Black history and excellence.

And, as bestselling Canadian novelist, Esi Edugyan reminds us, it is important to remember, “History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.”

The national theme this year is Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.

UNBC’s Magnifying Black Voices (MBV) program aligns with this theme. Created to empower Black students, the initiative launched last spring to provide meaningful mentorship opportunities for students with experienced Black faculty and staff who are passionate about personal growth and career development.

The program went beyond mentorship and provided a space for community engagement and connection. Each event held through the MBV program was an opportunity to connect with University and community leaders, to learn from, ask questions, listen and participate in meaningful dialogue, centered around the Black experience.  

The gatherings were also a space to celebrate cultural richness, diversity and the unique contributions of Black individuals at UNBC and in the broader community. 

Initially supported by the University’s Ignite and Inspire Fund as an initiative of UNBCS’s strategic plan Ready, the program is part of active, ongoing efforts to create an environment of inclusivity and equity at UNBC while empowering Black students, faculty and staff.  

With funding just secured for a second year, the team in the Office of Equity and Inclusion looks forward to sharing further details in the coming weeks.

The MBV program reaffirms a commitment to standing against racism and breaking down the systemic barriers Black people continue to face in Canada and around the world. These efforts were galvanized in 2021 when the University became a founding signatory to the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education.  

The Charter’s principles of Black flourishing, inclusive excellence, mutuality and accountability guide UNBC’s ongoing commitment to eliminate systemic discrimination and uplift Black voices across the University’s campuses—this month and throughout the year.