ICYMI Cambridge student honoured for being a fierce advocate for Black youth

This article was previously published on CambridgeToday.

Winning awards is nothing new for Given Harris, but his latest award from the province of Ontario speaks to the years of community service and dedication to his community. 

Last week, Harris was honoured at the annual Lieutenant Governors’ Legacy Awards with the Lincoln M. Alexander Award for his work creating programs and uplifting the local Black community.

Growing up in a predominantly white environment, Harris consistently felt underrepresented and singled out. It wasn't until he started to attend Preston High School that he would find others who shared the same views and passions for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

"I aspire to study nephrology, specifically to address the health disparities that disproportionately impact Black communities," said Harris who has just accepted a scholarship to study at the University of Toronto (U of T). 

Inspired by his family's battles with diabetes and kidney disease, the 18 year old wants wants to get into a career in medicine, in part to help tackle some of the complex issues BIPOC individuals face when accessing healthcare.

In the meantime he'll continue working as a fierce advocate for Black youth. 

Out of thousands of applicants, Harris won the Excellence Entrance Award at the U of T which offers a scholarship for "high-achieving Black students who have an interest in the advancement of underrepresented groups in STEM."

The Cambridge teen has made it his mission to get involved with nearly every organization and group at his school and the surrounding area to further his learning and share his experience with others. 

"My ultimate goal is to inspire and mentor the next generation of black youth in STEM and build a more culturally sensitive healthcare landscape across Ontario."

As both the head of his student body and co-president of the Black Student Association (BSA) at the Waterloo District School Board, Harris created diversity days and hosted events that accurately depicted the cultural make-up of his school.

Furthering his dedication to his peers and local youth, Harris and another student created a free tutoring program called "Afro Rise Tutoring," where he provided free academic support and mentorship to Black students across the region.

He has also spoken to crowds at the largest anti-black hate organization in North America the Steering Committee for the Parents of Black Children organization, working on policies to address systemic racism in education across the province.

With all of these feats, Harris attributes a lot of his success and dedication to his work with the Guelph Black Heritage Society where he found a mentor in the organization's president Denise Francis. 

"She taught me the importance of education, Black excellence and the immense potential for creating positive change for black youth. Her unwavering support throughout the years has been instrumental in shaping my efforts, particularly with 'Code Black', where her guidance helped me bring my ideas to life," said Harris. 

Code Black is a program created by Harris to teach black youth STEM, how to code and aims to guide the next generation of black leaders in technology and entrepreneurship.

The Guelph Black Heritage Society has also been recognized by the province of Ontario for groundbreaking educational programs like "My Place In This World."

This program, which is being taught at the Waterloo Regional Catholic District School Board, has been at the forefront of how Harris has decided to carry himself and uplift others; finding the light and positivity in his community. 

"This curriculum that is being taught all over Ontario is made to build ally-ship and teach kids to be proud of their heritage as Africans and see the contribution that we made to the world like the abacus or astrology," he said, "These things are beautiful parts of our history that don't pertain to sadness or shackles and chains."

The list of accomplishments and awards for Harris is extensive and ticks nearly every box. From being the defensive captain of Preston High School's rugby team for the past three years to receiving an award for the most community service hours by any student (750 hours), Harris is in "go mode" as he starts his journey to get a PHD at the U of T. 

"I want to continue this journey of medicine and help my community from a healthcare aspect while furthering my social activism, standing up for marginalized communities and reshaping what black success in Canada looks like," he said. 

Harris also plans on opening up a non-profit organization in the region, encouraging young people to engage with these marginalized issues and become more
politically aware.

Without the support of Preston High School principal Shawn Weatherdon and board members like Vida Collis who is the superintendent for student wellbeing, Harris notes he would not have had some of the tools to be in the position he is in. 

"This was a team effort, if it wasn't for them I may not have known about these awards. So I have to share the credit."