A 'hub for Black excellence' — how this Windsor, Ont., university is bringing Black scholars together

Juliet Bushi had been a university educator and school board trustee in Regina for over 10 years. But it wasn't until she made the move to Windsor, Ont., where she says she felt community support as a Black educator. 

"It was something I never had in Saskatchewan," she said.

"I was the only actively involved Black sessional [instructor] that I knew of."

Afternoon Drive0:00University of Windsor bringing together Black scholars

The University of Windsor is home to something unique: a think tank made up of Black faculty members called the Black Scholars Institute. The program has received a revamp and a new director. Host Matt Allen speaks with director Camisha Sibblis and scholar Juliet Bushi.

Bushi has recently been hired alongside 13 other Black faculty members at the University of Windsor who will be a part of a revamped Black Scholars Institute (formerly the Black Studies Institute). She will work as a professor with the faculty of education, though the other new staff members will be spread across multiple departments. 

Camisha Sibblis has been appointed as director of the institute, a think-tank for Black faculty members to discuss anti-racism, the Black experience and education across multiple departments and disciplines. 

"[The name change] is significant, because [with] 'Black studies,' that might open it up to non-Black people across disciplines," Sibblis said. "The Black Scholars Institute is more about the support of Black scholars, but also with a focus on community, from faculty to students."

For Bushi, the opportunity to collaborate with other Black educators is something she says she hasn't seen before in her career.

"[Besides teaching], I used to run a non-profit in Regina where I worked with Black children and new immigrants, and I didn't get any support from that institution," Bushi said.

"All the funding I got was [by] myself, writing grants, and I was exhausted. Physically, financially and mentally. The Black Scholars Institute will provide that support that a lot of Black scholars need and don't have." 

Bushi says she had read about Windsor and the city's historical significance to the Underground Railroad. When she saw the job posting, she knew it would be a good option for her and her family, with a stronger sense of community, opportunities and resources that would be culturally relevant for her children.

"We were well established in Regina, but the prospect of working alongside Black faculty members was something I dreamt of, something I never experienced in my over 20 years of living in Canada," she said. "To actually come here and be immersed in that environment was an incredible opportunity to pursue, for me and my family."

Sibblis says she is looking forward to the evolution of the group, a "home and hub for Black excellence" — something that emerged from the university's efforts on anti-Black racism in 2020.

"We really started to think about the ways in which we can create a sense of belonging for both Black students and staff," she said.

The University of Windsor will provide a permanent space for the Black Scholars Institute in the fall. 

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.