Being the first diversity and inclusion campaigns officer for University College Dublin

In the middle of the msot chaotic time of my life, the pandemic, something even more connected to me and bigger was about to happen. The horrible, unecessary death of George Floyd, a Black man in the US, a father, a son, a valuable part of the world, a soul, made the blood of so many activist fighting against racial issues boil. This brought waves of Black people everywhere, independent of our nationality or ethnicity, speak up about the racial abuse we have experienced since we were born, everywhere in the world.

This created protests from many cities in the US to Australia and even Dublin. Me, a 22 years old, migrant, Politics student at University College Dublin of Afrodescendence and Latino, that have spoken for years about racial issues and racism in Latin America, decided that enough is enough. I decided to do my master’s on Racial issues, Decolonisation and Migration issues in UCD and gave all my focus and energy to racial justice activism. Not only did I want for racism to be called out and be talked about but I also wanted to denounce the hypocresy in White Irish people when they protest or put balck squares on their instagrams for someone in the US but neglect their refugees (90% of color) and do not accept Black Irish people’s Irishness.

My battle has been succesful so far. Published in three different magazines. Created a stron following in social media. Being part of 2 different charities against Direct Provision (The Irish version of an ICE but against their refugees). Being part of an education paltform with over 18k following. Have been asked to be a speaker at 13 panel discussions on BLM and Inclusion. As well as to speak along side government officials about inclusivity of mgirants in Ireland. And finally, but more importantly was elected the first Diversity and inclusion campaigns officer for the SU in Ireland’s biggest university.

This, has given me the opportunity to create different safe spaces for discussion for UCD. What I’ve named: Diversity weeks, where I bring speakers from all over Ireland to speak about Blackness, BLM, Black positivity, Decolonisation. I have been praised by all kind of people in UCD and other universities getting over 900 views in two days in our Decolonising the curriculum video. Apart from this I have created deep networking with some of the most incredible people in the Black community in Ireland.

Now I am finishing my second term as I was re-elected Diversity and Inclusion officer. I am very proud of everything I have achieved and the legacy I will leave to UCD.