Growing up in a predominantly white town, Medina Jones didn’t see Black voices like hers reflected in her community. The 18-year-old immediately sought to change that, becoming a key voice in the Halton region as the founder of the Oakville Black Alliance and an outspoken critic of systemic racism in education.
This past week, Jones was awarded the 2021 TD Scholarship for Community Leadership. Over 3000 students across the country applied to the scholarship, and Jones was one of 20 prestigious students awarded. The scholarship awards students up to $70,000, covering four years of university tuition including living expenses.
Jones’ work spearheaded a survey on racial discrimination at Oakville Trafalgar High School, and she also co-founded the Halton Black Student Union in affiliation with Halton Black Voices to create a platform for other students to speak out about the injustices they might be facing. The community activist will be heading to the University of Ottawa this fall to study engineering.
CONGRATULATIONS
Medina Jones!