The Concordia Caribbean Student Union (CCSU), formed in 1968, has been Concordia University’s central Caribbean group for almost 50 years and is one of the oldest clubs in existence at this university. The Caribbean Student Union is not only a group dedicated to creating a safe haven for those seeking a home away from home, but is also devoted to creating awareness and spreading Caribbean culture to those willing to learn and immerse themselves in its many traditions. Here’s a look at the seven fierce women who make up this year’s CCSU’s executive team.
Jody Philogene, President
Background: Hattian
Major: Sociology
Describes herself as: Loving, dynamic and loyal
What are your goals/dreams? My short term goals include finishing my degree, which will eventually help me pursue my dream of owning and operating my own NGO; it will mostly focus on women and children. Another thing I’m big on is body positivity: self-esteem, confidence. I find that body positivity is something really important in one’s life. This sounds really cliché, but it’s true. I want to leave my footprint on this earth, potentially change someone’s life.
Why did you join the CCSU? I joined CCSU because I also wanted to make an impact in my university, and it’s a great platform for my future endeavours. And I’m happy to be doing it with six beautiful young women. I can’t wait to what this year has to offer.
D’Ante Hanna, Vice President
Background: The Bahamas
Major: Political science
Describes herself as: I am a kind-hearted, passionate person. I also love leadership positions, anything that allows me to be in a leading role.
What are your goals/dreams? I have a very simple dream and it’s to bring happiness to as many people as I can before I leave this earth. My goals in life is to help somebody, if it’s one or a million. If I can just help one person, my goals will have been achieved.
Why did you join the CCSU? I joined the CCSU because I found it to be a home away from home for me. Before moving to Montreal, I lived in another part of Canada and, although I had great friends whom I love and adore, I never 100 per cent felt at home or stayed true to my culture, which made me sad in a way. CCSU allowed me to be myself and express my inner “island gyal,” and I am forever grateful for that. I joined the executive team because, like I said before, I love being in leading roles and, without tooting my own horn, I believe I am a great leader and I have the ability to help the CCSU grow as much as it helped me find to myself. Having an all-female executive team is so heart-warming and inspirational. Watching the way women are finally coming together and supporting one another in 2016 is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Audrey-Lise Benoît, VP Events Coordinator
Background: Haitian
Major: Political science and sociology
Describes herself as: A little goofy black girl with big dreams (the sky isn’t the limit)
What are your goals/dreams? Being a public speaker, a crazy one, and to own my own event planning company. My mission in life is giving back to people and making them smile. What made me the girl I am today was overcoming the fears inside of me. I want to be able to do the things I never thought I could or would accomplish, by letting myself grow, by taking one step at a time. I am not where to want to be, but I am also not where I started.
Why did you join the CCSU? Because I love planning events, and I find joy making others happy. Joining CCSU, and planning events and seeing the satisfaction on people’s face as they left our events, it brought me a sense of satisfaction.
Kachina Jacaman, VP Administration
Background: Haitian
Major: Anthropology and sociology
Describes herself as: Ambitious, determined and caring
What are you goals/dreams? To travel the world, and to one day open my own non-profit. Also, to graduate university. My overall lifetime goals are to impact the world in a positive way; if it’s one person or more than one, it doesn’t matter, as long as I am making a difference.
Why did you join the CCSU: To get closer to my Caribbean roots and have a family at school. I chose to join the executive team to get more involved in school, and because it’s a good experience and I find having an all female team so empowering. It’s so different from our all-male team last year.
Gaby Polanco, VP Marketing
Background: Guatemalan, raised in Barbados
Major: Psychology
Describes herself as: Passionate and kind
What are your goals/dreams? My mission in life is to be happy, successful and have a family.
Why did you join the CCSU? I joined CCSU to raise awareness about Caribbean culture in my university. I wanted to be an executive to have a say in how we will make an impact in other students lives. I feel empowered by being surrounded by an all-female team of executives.
Felicia Therese Da Conceicao, Public Relations Officer
Background: Trinidad and Barbados
Major: Women’s Studies
Describes herself as: Introverted, compassionate and curious
What are your goals/dreams? To major in and eventually get a PhD in psychology and to open up a pastry shop or café one day. I hope to live life with humour and positivity.
Why did you join the CCSU? I decided to join the CCSU because I wanted to be a part of a student club, and it also helped me broaden my Caribbean roots. I wanted to be an executive to create amazing events, and to introduce Caribbean culture to the student body at Concordia. I love that this year’s executive team is all women; we’ll definitely be bringing our “feminine touch” to the team. An all-woman team isn’t something CCSU has had in a long while, so I’m excited to see where this year will take us.
Stelly Viximar, Chief Financial Officer
Background: Haitian
Major: Accounting, with a minor in Management
Describes herself as: I consider myself a straightforward person. I am also very organized and trustworthy.
What are you goals/dreams? To be a part of the head office of a sports franchise
Why did you join the CCSU? Before knowing everything that I do now about the CCSU, my friends dragged me to one of the events. I realized it was pretty interesting, and as a person from the Caribbean, I realized that I did not know much about other Caribbean cultures and I was now interested in finding out. I joined the executive team because I thought it would be nice to get more involved in school activities, and they were looking for someone to fill the spot of chief financial officer, and because of my background in studying accounting, I thought it would be a perfect fit.