With February being Black History Month, we wanted to highlight some Black community members who have made an impact at Renison.
Meet David, a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student and organizer of ABC Chill, a new event for African, Black, and Caribbean students.
An international student originally from Jamaica, David first became involved with Renison when he became a residence Don in Spring 2024. He speaks positively about his experience, and is a Don again this term. David enjoys the tight-knit community of Renison’s residence, and says that the ability to interact with many different people each day has helped him become a better person.
David began his involvement with ABC Chill after being approached by Ryan, Renison’s Assistant Director of Student Experience and Housing. A major part in Renison’s overall strategic plan is to create more spaces for marginalized groups to foster inclusion and nurture a sense of camaraderie and community. ABC Chill is one way that Renison can create space for African, Black, and Caribbean students.
For David, this is an extremely important initiative. “Having a space to connect with others with similar backgrounds is an amazing support,” he says. “Even if these connections aren’t utilized or accessed, the very knowledge that they exist is a support in itself.”
Showing up to ABC Chill’s first meeting in the Link Inclusion Lounge in January, David was pleased with how many students participated. Living up to the name, he says the experience was very laid-back; a relaxing opportunity to meet and chat with some fellow students.
As for what the future of ABC Chill might look like, David says that it’s still very early. “There’s a lot of potential,” he says., “And so much more that we can do.” In the group’s first meeting, attendees discussed potential ideas for future sessions, which ranged from shared meals to movie nights to karaoke. Beyond that, David notes the possibility of collaborating with other student groups or engaging with larger events such as Black History Month.
Now in his final term, David also says that ABC Chill is a great way to give back to the Renison community and leave a lasting positive impact. Even though he will graduate soon, he expects that ABC Chill and similar events will only improve over time through student feedback. “There’s lots to build on,” he says, and he hopes for success this term and the terms to come.
Readers can learn more by reaching out to David, Ryan, or just stopping by the Link Inclusion Lounge for more information. Schedule a meet-up with David by visiting uwaterloo.ca/renison-seah/meet-up