Hamilton event shines a light on Black excellence and community work of youth in the city

As a child, Naomi Ogunjobi says she never thought she would win awards or go to university.

"I honestly never saw anyone who looked like me or talked like me or had a family and values similar to mine doing [great] things," said the Black 17-year-old from Hamilton.

But on Saturday Ogunjobi defied the expectations she grew up with.

The Grade 12 St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School student won the Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership at this year's John C. Holland Awards.

"When they announced it, I literally jumped up and ran," Ogunjobi said.

"It was super exciting, I'm so honoured."

She was one of 35 award winners at the annual event put on by the Hamilton Black History Council that celebrates excellence in the city's Black community.

It took place at the LIUNA Station Grand Ballroom on James Street North on Saturday night.

Ogunjobi is graduating high school this year and plans to study political science or law and society in university.

She said she hopes she can help inspire others to do good.

"Anyone is capable of anything. We all have the ability to uplift, inspire and empower one another," Ogunjobi said. "Never allow the colour of your skin or any aspect to withhold you from accomplishing great things."

Ogunjobi is the first recipient of the Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership, which was announced last year to honour, celebrate and acknowledge the civic leadership that students are engaged in whether at school, their neighborhood or in the city.

Kojo Damptey, the scholarship's founder, previously served as executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion.

"During my time there, I was able to see some of the incredible work that Black youth are doing so I felt it was incumbent on me to have an award like this to honourBlack youth," Damptey told CBC Hamilton.

Damptey saidplans are already in motion for two awards next year one for a student in secondary schooland another for a post-secondary student.

Saturday event was 'truly remarkable'

Ezinne Ifeanacho, winner of the Marlene Thomas Community Advocacy Bursary, described the event on Saturday as being "just illuminating" and "truly remarkable."

"Being there with my family, it was amazing,I felt so supported," Ifeanacho told CBC Hamilton on Monday.

"It was so immersive to be in there and to really understand my purpose within life and be awarded by my community members."

Ifeanacho, a second-year health sciences student at McMaster University, said her parents immigrants from Nigeria "worked so hard for me to get here."

She said she has been working with vulnerable populationssuch as immigrants, the elderly, children and university students, as a way to "pay it back forward for all the hard work ofmy parents and all the hard work that they've instilled with me."

Her community work sees her wearing several hats, including:

• Community advisor at McMaster, helping first year students better transition within the university environment.
• Volunteerat theJuravinski Cancer Centre, assisting elderly patients who are going through a tough time.
• Volunteerwith BGC Hamilton, interacting with various children and playing different games with them, especially after school, "where they can be bored most of the time."
• Helpingto launch stress management workshops atRafiki, which is dedicated to African immigration services.

"I volunteer with these organizations because I believe it's important to make an impact within where you are and within your position as a student in Hamilton," Ifeanacho said.

"I love being out there and talking to people from the community, hearing their stories, hearing their voices, and hearing how I can also help them better get comfortable within the Hamilton community and the environment."

Here's the full list of winners:

• Audre Lorde LGBTQ2S+ Scholarship - Owen Martin
• Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership - Naomi Ogunjobi
• Dr. Ethilda "Tilly" Johnson "Business/Entrepreneurship" Bursary - Camila Rabia
• Good Shepherd Health and Social Services Scholarship - Chloe Oyebola
• Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council "Community Matters" Scholarship - Emilia Diaz-Ruiz
• Immigrants Matter Bursary - Aisha Suliman
• Lincoln Alexander "Breaking down Barriers" Scholarship - Asha Abdi
• Raymond G. Lewis "Sports Leadership" Scholarship - Justice Umelo
• Reverend George Horton Scholarship - Muna Essa
• STEM Scholarship - Ahmed Aboleila
• Tune-In Foundation Bursary - Rachael Goombs
• YWCA Hamilton Young Woman - Trailblazer Scholarship - Stephanie Jean Pierre
• Evelyn Myrie "Political Action" Bursary - Ariana Petrazzini
• Marlene Thomas "Community Advocacy" Bursary - Ezinne Ifeanacho
• Nelson Mandela "Social Justice" Scholarship - Koubra Haggar
• Mature Student Scholarship - Michael Okoro
• Youth Achievement Bursary - Zephi Brooks
• Youth Achievement Bursary - Shoroug Adam
• Youth Achievement Bursary - Nana Poku
• Youth Achievement Bursary - Charly Mutamba
• General Achievement Bursary-Omolade George
• General Achievement Bursary - Seretta Goulbourne
• General Achievement Bursary - Daniella Chukwu
• General Achievement Bursary - Ines El Aker
• General Achievement Bursary - Seanna Garcia
• General Achievement Bursary - Benita Nkansah
• General Achievement Bursary - James Esemu-Ezewu
• General Achievement Bursary - Sara Teklemichael
• General Achievement Bursary - Emily Williams
• General Achievement Bursary - Lexy Sevor
• General Achievement Bursary - Stephanie Henry
• Ainara Alleyne "Rising Star" Award - Joel Simon
• Business & Professional Achievement - Sharon Gordon
• Jackie Washington Arts & Culture Award - Kareem Ferreira
• Community Service Award - Omar Mahamed
• Vince Morgan Ally Award - Dr. Madeleine Verhovsek

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.