By Marvellous Ojo
Journalism & Communications Student Intern
About 40 people, including staff, students, and community partners, gathered for a Pan-African flag-raising ceremony and panel discussion during the Black History Month event at Holland College’s Prince of Wales Campus in Charlottetown on Feb. 3.
The event, themed “Rooted in Legacy, Rising Together”, featured four panellists who shared personal stories about their families and the cultural foundations that guide them today.
Organized by the college’s Culture and Inclusion Advisor, Sasha Nandlal (she/them) and Black Cultural Society’s Reequal Smith (she/her), the ceremony celebrated legacy and community pride while promoting more inclusive campuses.
Reequal Smith, program and events co-ordinator at the Black Cultural Society of P.E.I., spoke about the influence of her grandfather’s career as a musician and her grandmother’s perseverance, which provided her with a sense of belonging and guidance in her daily life.
“Knowing where I come from and just knowing my family. That’s really important for me. That has a lot to do with just, being rooted and carrying on those roots within your, day-to-day life,” she said.
Obed Oluwakoye, an academic support worker with Student Support Services at Holland College’s Summerside campus, said inclusion must go beyond Black History Month and called for a shift to become part of everyday campus life.
He explained that intentional efforts are needed to ensure people feel seen and supported, and that these efforts should not be limited to one-time events, as they can benefit the wider campus community.
“I want to feel like there’s a space where I can voice my opinions in a good way, you know, where I don’t feel or fear retribution or some kind of backlash for voicing my opinions. Having those things really goes a long way for people,” he said.
The event also served as a platform to raise awareness about barriers both international and Black students face, including the need for better mentorship and greater representation in faculty and staff roles.
Nandlal said the aim of the event was to encourage open and honest conversations while creating space to include voices that may often be unheard.
"The goal is to empower the voices in this space to really speak out about their experiences and connect with the larger group here at Holland College and in society, because we often feel disconnected. That’s when we empower," she said.
Hosting this event is just one aspect of Nandlal's role as culture and inclusion advisor. She described her role as a systems changer and said education is a necessary first step toward long-term reform.
"Building awareness is just the first part of making change happen because once people realize something is not right, then we have to ask ourselves what we can do better," she said.
Nandlal is currently developing an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategic plan.
"By the end of April, it will be in full motion, moving from a space of talking about strategic planning to actually creating an action plan," she said.
Shared in collaboration with Holland College's Office of Culture and Inclusion
February 5th, 2026
