Kesley Martin-Rowe is a 19-year-old from Windsor entering her second year at the University of Windsor for Psychology and Sociology; she plans on using that degree to get a master’s in Child Life and become a registered Child Life Specialist in Ontario to combine her dreams of working with children and working in a hospital.

Since founding the yearbook committee in her final year of high school, Kesley has strived to be active in her community, going on to be a special events planner for the Caribbean and African organization of students at the University of Windsor and cheerleading in her first year. During her second year, Kesley plans to explore her ambitions through positions with the Society of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Psychology Student’s Association, and UNIfy – a club dedicated to helping students across faculties at the University of Windsor become connected. Kesley strives to be a role model for Black youth and to serve as a reminder that you do not have to look a certain way to succeed in traditionally non-Black communities.

Kesley’s platform of choice is the support of Black people in Windsor. As a child, Kesley faced much mistreatment from peers due to being Black. She was not allowed to learn her culture at a young age due to fear of harassment from peers. Connecting with her culture had always been a struggle, and it only worsened the further she progressed in education. Growing up meant seeing the world as it truly was, which was an unsafe and unwelcoming place for Black people worldwide. Being born means being seen as “fast” and being looked down upon for things other races can do freely. Growing up means seeing the few Black male friends you had in a town where you were a minority becoming hateful towards darker skin women like yourself to assimilate with a non-Black standard. To look back on your experiences is to realize how many weird looks you got in higher-end stores or how people would say they were against anti-Black racism until it was one of their friends, to see how friends treated you poorly due to your race.

Kesley’s goal is to create spaces where Black people of all generations can heal from these wounds created by others. There is never a guideline for how to avoid racism, micro aggressions, or abuse, but there should be a place for comfort and a community to connect to, as well as a place for education and growth. Cultural rejection should not be the norm, and as Miss Tecumseh, Kesley would strive to empower the Black community in Windsor.