Virtual Hub Team
The Virtual Hub Team started under the leadership of the Robbins-Ollivier Research Team and was led by Naomi Ngobila, a Western Black Leadership University Experience (B.L.U.E.) student, under the mentorship of Neisa Long and Dr. Nassisse Solomon.
The larger Virtual Hub Team consisted of students from the Western B.L.U.E. program, Community Engaged Learning (CEL) program, student researchers and staff who positively uplift the Black at Western Virtual Hub: Blackademia.
What is the Western Black Leadership University Experience (Western B.L.U.E.)?
Western University is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable campus. We aspire to empower and support Black students throughout their university journeys so they are confident and prepared to embark on successful and fulfilling careers. With this in mind, Western University launched the Western Black Student Leadership University Experience (Western B.L.U.E.) program in 2022.
Learn more about the Western Black Leadership University Experience (B.L.U.E.) program and how to apply for the Fall 2025 cohort.
What is Community Engaged Learning (CEL)?
Community Engaged Learning (CEL) is a program organized by Western University's Student Experience. CEL allows students to take their skills beyond the classroom walls and into the community. CEL experiences partner students with groups, individuals, and organizations in the London region and abroad to tackle significant problems and issues.
The CEL students for this project are Kofi Brako, Martha Valmana Crocker, Tavia Gikes, and Sara Wilson. The CEL students are fourth-year medical science students specializing in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS). They were excited to collaborate with the Robbins-Ollivier team as part of their fourth-year IMS capstone course. For this project, they gathered information through extensive environmental scans and conducted detailed analyses of sources to bring the virtual hub to fruition.
Nassisse Solomon
Team Lead
Neisa Long
Staff Lead and Coordinator
Kathryn Fraser
Web / Communications Lead
Eunice Yidana
Staff and Web Support
Kofi Brako
CEL Student
Martha Valmana Crocker
CEL Student
Tavia Gikes
CEL Student
Sara Wilson
CEL Student
Reflections from CEL Students
My four years at Western have fueled my desire to enhance the Black experience on campus. This project represents an invaluable opportunity to foster inclusivity and make our campus more accessible for both present and future Black students, faculty and staff. The project has been immensely fulfilling, connecting me with fellow advocates dedicated to cultivating inclusive black spaces on campus. - Kofi Brako
Working with the Robbins-Ollivier team has been both rewarding and enlightening. I have had the privilege of listening to and learning from many perspectives, enriching my appreciation for diverse experiences within our community. This project will undoubtedly have a lasting impact, as it fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment in the Black community at Western. - Martha Valmana Crocker
I spent my first two years at Western online and hybrid, and during that time, I struggled immensely to connect with the Black community and find resources tailored to us. Through this project, I have discovered many resources associated with diverse students, faculty and clubs and learned more about the rich history of Western and London. Working on this project in my final year was a full-circle moment, and I hope that current and incoming Black students can feel empowered and connected in ways that I didn't. - Tavia Gikes
The significance of this project is long overdue, especially for Black individuals within the Western community, as well as those who are incoming. Working closely with the Robbins-Ollivier team has been both rewarding and surprising, as we uncovered a variety of resources offered by Western that often go unnoticed and have not been easily accessible until this project. - Sara Wilson
