Human Health Sciences student Lachia Richards says she got inspiration to start her business, Creations by Chia, from her parents.
“My dad is a huge artistic person, so that’s where I got my art from and so trying to manage their lives, families and businesses, kind of inspired me to just start my own business,” said the Ontario Tech student. “Just put it out there and just see what happens.“
She paints on cardboard and sold her paintings at the second annual Black student showcase on Feb. 25.
The event was produced by the Black Youth Visionary Program and the University’s Black History Month initiatives, according to Ontario Tech.
“The initial inspiration for this event was to celebrate not just student clubs, but also small businesses, Black-owned businesses especially, and also appreciate culture and music because there’s a few performances happening today and some food as well,“ said Sthandiwe Masilela, a Neuroscience student at Ontario Tech.
The Black Youth Visionary Program launched in February 2024 after Ontario Tech received a donation of $500,000 from Scotiabank. Their goal is to engage more Black youth in post-secondary education at Ontario Tech.
The event was an opportunity to recognize and uplift the accomplishments, creativity and entrepreneurship of the Black student community.
“Being able to see a lot of different aspects of Black culture, a lot of things from across the diaspora. In one place and making it really easy and accessible as there’s classes in this building and everything like that,“ said Masilela.
Performances by students included singing, dancing and drumming.
Abibat Salau is a Durham College general arts and science student. She performed with the African Student Union.
“I did this a lot in high school as well. It’s it feels like, you know, like showing that I’m Black and I’m proud in a space, in a space that was not meant for us,“ said Salau.
Even though she is not a student at Ontario Tech, she says she was welcomed by the other dancers, and it became a positive experience.
She says if attendees were to take one thing from their performance, it would be, “to be Black and proud, to showcase that you are here and you are allowed to be loud. You are allowed to have your voice heard.”
Along with the market and arts performance, students enjoyed Jamaican food such as jerk chicken sliders and beef patties. Students also had a chance to play Black board games and talk to student-run clubs.