How The Woodlands BSA is Changing the Face of Social Activism

Olivia Hendrikx | Feb 3, 2021

At The Woodlands, equality is highly valued and students fight every day to create change in their community. The Black Students Association is just one example of how our school raises awareness for important social issues.

The Black Students Association (BSA) is a group of grade 7-12 students who are ambassadors of the Black community at The Woodlands. They share a passion and commitment to spread awareness of racism in the local and global community, working to create a safe space for students to share their experiences.

The Woodlands BSA was created at the beginning of the year as a response to the rising need for Black Activism in the community. In the City of Mississauga throughout July, protests against the police force and the government occurred, in relation to demands of bias training and police funding. After contacting school administration and finding a staff sponsor in Ms. McCleary, the Director of The Woodland’s Equity Committee, the dream of having a school BSA became a reality.

As students, one of the most significant things that we can do to help eliminate these issues is to continue to learn. The BSA hopes to give students the opportunity to understand the complexities of these issues and learn what they can do to create change.

Black History month begins in February, and the BSA is taking advantage of this month of recognition of serious issues by creating multiple awareness videos. One video will be released every Friday throughout February. The topics of these videos include a spotlight on notable figures in today’s world, police brutality, over-sexualization of black women, and cultural appropriation. These videos are being released to the school community in lieu of the Black History Month assembly held every year along with posts every Wednesday centered around notable Black activists. The BSA is also working with other clubs, including Art Club, to allow the school community to be engaged in awareness events. On Monday, February 1st, Art Club hosted a meeting supported by the BSA discussing some significant Black artists and creating art pieces of Black individuals throughout history.

What makes this club special is the rapport between members. Grade 7 students entering The Woodlands’ world are paired with grade 12 students who are experienced leaders. This type of engagement shows that the BSA is about more than just raising awareness. It is a method of sharing knowledge and carrying on the spirit of the school community with the next generation of students. They hope to touch the minds and hearts of all students at The Woodlands, and invite everyone reading this article to join and make a change in the community.