On Friday, February 9, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students from Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) schools including Michael Power/St. Joseph, Father Henry Carr, James Cardinal McGuigan, Monsignor Percy Johnson, Bishop Allen, and Father John Redmond attended TMU’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s annual event: The Tea About Being a Black Law Student at the Sears Atrium.
The event, organized by the BLSA Lincoln (Toronto Metropolitan University), is part of their Black History Month programming. Their annual flagship event, "The Tea About Being a Black Law Student," brings together law and pre-law students, alumni, and Black legal professionals from across Canada for an evening of mentorship, career exposure, and community building.
The Keynote Speaker was award-winning Safia Thompson, who greeted our students with empowering words of hope, reflection, and the importance of community. Safia is an Associate in the Litigation Group at McCarthy Tétrault and will be on a Federal Court of Appeal Clerkship this Fall.
During the evening, students had the privilege of participating in mentorship circles with Black law students and lawyers. This enabled our students to explore pathways related to law, advocacy, and policy.
After dinner, our students observed a moot (simulated appellate court proceeding) between members of the BLSA and voted on which side presented the most convincing arguments.
Students then had the opportunity to listen to a guest panel, ask them questions about their pathways, and seek their advice as they prepare themselves to enter the Justice Sector. Thank you to Jeremiah Bowers, Teni Odetoyinbo, and Kingsley Eze for sharing their valuable insights and experiences with our students.
Students were also given tips about financial planning from Stephanie Lovering (Enbridge) and how to access resources to better support themselves as they pursue studies in this sector.
The entire event was well-received by our students and staff. A heartfelt thank you to the BLSA, namely our own Kien Azinwi Sanigong (TCDSB Alum, 2016), Suwayda S., Sydney Joao, and all the volunteers who made the night a success! We look forward to attending additional events with them in the future!
