Just like last year, students flock to the Student Activities center every Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 to participate in the Black Leaders Union. Just like last year, members participate in or plan events such as Black Jeopardy, the Popcorn Fundraiser or the Scavenger Hunt. However, unlike last year, BLU has new sponsors: Tichina Gardner and Michelle Jiles.
Gardner and Jiles follow in the footsteps of predecessor Le’Andrew Wade, former BLU sponsor for the past 13 years before his retirement. Two sponsors usually head the group, but Wade manned the group after his co-sponsor, English teacher Raquel McGee, welcomed a baby.
Gardner is a PSS Team 2 secretary and also the coordinator of Operation Snowball, a leadership and drug prevention program at Oak Park and River Forest High School. With the extensive work she puts into Operation Snowball, Gardner has experience creating a happy, sincerely welcoming space for students.
As a school psychologist, Jiles is also entering BLU with benevolence. Jiles had created a Black student union at her previous school, so she came with a level of experience. Though she didn’t attend OPRF, her high school had the same demographic. While Gardner is an OPRF alumni of the class of 2017, Jiles is a former graduate of Homewood Flossmoor High School.
“I know what it’s like being a Black student in a majority white setting, and the kind of challenges that come with it. I didn’t have this resource when I was in high school,” she said.
BLU President Riley Bazillion and Vice President Jaela May interviewed more than eight potential sponsors in their free time. However, the school administration made the final choice. When the sponsors were announced for the new school year, both Bazillion and May were incredibly pleased. Bazillion, who knew Gardner, said she brings “a very warm and calming energy to the group that [we were] really looking for in a sponsor.”
As for Jiles, May described her as “friendly but business savvy,” and “very punctual.” May and Bazillion also feel that their new sponsors are relatable, given that they graduated high school fewer than 10 years ago.
When asked to sponsor BLU, Gardner jumped at the chance. She had already fostered meaningful connections with many Black students, so she felt it was a chance to deepen those connections.
“I’m an alumni, so I think it’s pretty important to have that role model I didn’t have when I was here,” she said.
Gardner noted that she was in school at the time of the filming of “America to Me,” the Steve James documentary detailing racial inequities in OPRF, which was pivotal in her decision to sponsor BLU.
Jiles added that she hopes that BLU can reach out and collaborate with other clubs this year, like they did for last year’s potluck with ASPIRA. She and Gardner both hope to further attendance among students and maintain the collaborative community. The sponsors would also love to see the club produce and participate in other events in addition to their Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. assemblies in order to further spread their outreach in the community.
So far, BLU has already had three meetings. The leaders, members and brand new sponsors of BLU are all very excited for others to participate and experience the new BLU.
