Kemi Toki, a Grade 12 student at St. Charles College, is the school’s student council president. She is a leader in the St. Charles College Canned Food Drive, and currently working toward the Community Safety and Emergency High Skills major for a red seal on her diploma.
Not busy enough with school and her extracurricular activities, Toki is the founder of the school’s Black Student Association (BSA).
“The BSA is a club that caters to students of colour in my school community,” said Toki. “It is an opportunity for a group of minorities in a school environment to rely on each other and support each other no matter our country of descent. It is a club in which we can all come together to voice our concerns and also create awareness in our school community. We have hosted fashion shows that showcase different black cultures and traditions.”
As a young girl, Toki searched for people who looked like she does creating change and didn’t see many, so she decided to be the change that she wanted to see.
“I know a lot of young black girls that also wish for that representation in their school community, so I decided to be that person for them, someone that they could look up to which led me to create a space for them to have a voice so they could pursue their dreams,” Toki said. “My parents have always encouraged me to be my own best self. They made sure I learned to have my own voice and to also speak up for others and myself.”
Toki has always had a passion for taking on leadership roles. This is best demonstrated by her involvement with student politics, which led to her current role as student council president.
“This has been a medium through which the voices of students in my school have been heard,” Toki said. “Joining the student council has created a space for me to properly voice the opinions and concerns of students in an appropriate manner.”
The St. Charles College Canned Food Drive is a means for the student body to give back to the community by supporting the Sudbury Food Bank.
“Students canvas in neighbourhoods to raise enough cans and money for the food bank,” Toki said. “We also go to grocery stores to bag groceries, creating awareness of the need at the Sudbury Food bank.”
The Community Safety and Emergency High Skills major equips students with the opportunity to specialize in their specific passion.
“It gives students the exposure into their careers by co-op placements and also training that would equip them in their specific careers fields,” said Toki.
One of the ways Toki does this is through volunteerism.
“Volunteering allows me to give back to my community in my own way,” said Toki. “I usually volunteer at the Afro Women and Youth Foundation in whatever role they need me to be. Sometimes I take care of the younger kids during the women’s sessions or I facilitate sessions for the youth and the younger kids either in crafts or giving insights regarding our school system.”
Asked what she considers her greatest accomplishment, Toki does not mince words.
“My greatest accomplishment is who I am today, including my journey as a young black woman and how that shaped me to create a change. The change that I have made in my school community has been one that shifted my perspective on life in general,” Toki said. “It showed me that just because something doesn’t affect you that does not mean it is right. Creating awareness regarding the struggles of black youth in places where it’s not really spoken about and making a change has been one of my greatest accomplishments.”
Toki will be attending Laurentian University in September to pursue a bachelors of Social Work. She plans to obtain a masters in Women and Gender Studies, and eventually go to law school to specialize in family law with the goal of receiving a PhD.
Kemi Toki’s words of inspiration
“I believe that no matter where we find ourselves we should always be of good cheer. I would also like to encourage the youth to be involved in their community no matter how little and to know that it is important to be the change that we would like to see.”
James Stewart is a writer in North Bay. Inspire is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.