Black Student Association builds community, celebrates Black culture at STU

The Halloween social event was hosted by the Black Student Association last fall semester. (Credit: STUBSA Instagram)

The St. Thomas University Black Student Association (STUBSA) is a student-run society known for encouraging resilience, community and pride in providing multicultural identity to STU.  

Gabriel Prah, a third-year social work student from Ghana, is this year's president of STUBSA. 

Prah came to Canada alone, hoping to build a higher education that would strengthen his future.  

But his arrival was met with travel sickness, bound to his room, alone and sick. This experience, along with the generosity and help from the international student coordinator, allowed him to consider a career as a social worker. 

“All the help and support given to me led me to want to advocate and pass along the support that I received,” said Prah.  

His thrill of supporting those who feel they do not have a voice paved the way to becoming president of the association.

“Building community connections is really important to me. If I run into a Black person on campus, I reach out and say, ‘Hey, this is what we do, these are the connections we have, you can reach out to us by our email.’” 

Prah wants to send the message of being a big brother to other Black students.  

With Black History Month just two weeks away, STUBSA has several events lined up to truly capture the month and allow the STU campus to learn and participate in Black culture.  

By using social media to showcase those who are actively involved with the Black community and their events, STUBSA intends to spread the message about its objectives.

“Posting Black people on campus who are making things better, what they stand for and what their purpose is,” said Prah.  

A new initiative the association will undertake is having a Q&A box around campus. This will allow students to “ask respectful questions about Black culture, Black history, anything they want to know.”  

Prah hopes to open the box during STUBSA’s events and answer the questions for all students to hear and understand.  

Alongside other events, the association plans to include a cooking class in early February to celebrate Black food and culture.

“We're looking for a couple of volunteers to lead and cook for the class. Learn how to make the meals and how to eat them,” said Prah.  

The rest of the month will be filled with Black-centered movie nights, guest speakers and a speed dating event.

“We’ve realized that black people on campus have a hard time building connections, so were trying to break that chain and get people talking to each other." 

As Black History Month approaches, more events will be scheduled and announced. 

With only one more year in his degree, Prah wants to give the most to his community and awaits the opportunity to be able to encourage and teach what he has to offer.  

“My main purpose is community, bringing people together,” Prah said. “Black students on campus, we are one family, no matter where we have come from.”