This story is part of a series on the winners of the 2023 President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success:
Pandemic lockdowns brought to light the need for and value of mental health care.
A group of counselling professionals – among them NC counsellor Jamie Consoli – have highlighted inequities experienced by people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) seeking support, and the underrepresentation of racialized counsellors in the profession.
A grassroots effort to bridge the gap, Consoli and fellow counsellors Christina Abounassar from York University and Sam Katerji from Wilfrid Laurier University created the Ontario BIPOC Counsellors Group. The group of counsellors from Ontario Colleges and Universities meet monthly to provide virtual peer-to-peer support for students and connection with one another.
“BIPOC counsellors are underrepresented not just in the post-secondary system but also in the mental health profession,” said Consoli.
The intercollegiate group functions via a collaborative, shared leadership model which is considered to be a more decolonized practice
As racialized and marginalized counsellors, the team themselves experience unique challenges working within post-secondary systems and recognize the importance of a dedicated space to safely navigate these challenges by those who have shared lived experiences.
The innovative collaboration earned Consoli a 2023 President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success.
“Innovation challenges us to meet student needs in unique and engaging ways,” said Consoli. “This is especially true for BIPOC folks who may not always see themselves in the systems they navigate and run into unique challenges as a result. The fact that Niagara College has recognized our work as innovative is meaningful, significant, and beyond encouraging. We are very grateful to receive this award.”
The innovation – a partnership with mental health educators across other post-secondary institutions – is a testament to the value that collaboration brings to advancing our efforts to best support students.
“For me personally, becoming a part of this space has been nourishing for my spirit as an Indigenous person,” said Consoli. “The work that counsellors do have a significant positive impact on student retention, so an investment in counsellor wellness is an investment in student wellness.”
“While Jamie’s early advocacy interests focused on Indigenous rights, she soon recognized the complex challenges and unique needs of other racialized groups and expanded her focus to include all racialized groups,” said Jay Burdon, Director of HWAS at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “Jamie’s passion for equity, diversity and inclusivity has been evident not only here at Niagara College, but across the post-secondary sector throughout the province.”
Burdon cited Consoli’s work to designate HWAS a smudge-friendly environment and her leadership of a cultural sensitivity working group within HWAS to consider the equity, diversity and inclusion of service offerings. Consoli was recognized in 2022 with an Excellence in Counselling Practice award by the Ontario College Counsellors.
With the funding and support from fellow counsellors, Consoli will host an in-person gathering for all BIPOC Counsellors from Ontario post-secondary institutions. Having established the group during the pandemic, the meeting would be a chance for the members to connect in person for the first time and deepen their practice as BIPOC counsellors.
At the recognition lunch on May 17, Consoli expressed her hope that the recognition would have a “ripple effect” through her department and the College to inspire others to pursue new ways of supporting students.
