The Racialized Graduate Students Collective (RGSC) is a student-led, non-hierarchical initiative grounded in equity, solidarity, and joy as resistance. Our structure is designed to be both collaborative and sustainable, centering the lived experiences and leadership of racialized graduate students.

We are organized into two interdependent groups that shape and sustain our work: the Vision Group and the Community Facilitators. 

Together, these two bodies embody a decolonial, community-rooted approach to leadership—one that resists hierarchical models and instead centers care, co-creation, and the transformative potential of racialized graduate student solidarity.

The Vision Group

The Vision Group consists of alumni and current students who voluntarily hold space for long-term thinking, collective memory, and future-building. This group annually revisits and revises the Collective’s terms of reference, and provides guidance on the overall direction and values of the Collective. The group also reserves the right to nominate a current student or an alumnus to serve in the position of program coordinator. 

RGSC Vision Group
Name	Email	Membership Type
Baharehsadat Razavian	brazavian@mun.ca	Alumni
Erum Angbeen	eangbeen@mun.ca	Current Student
Iroda Abdunazarova	iabdunazarov@mun.ca	Alumni
Faith Kinyua	fnkinyua@mun.ca	Current Student

 

The Community Facilitators

The Community Facilitators consist of current students and alumni who are consistently present and available in the Faculty of Education to carry out the plans and execute the tasks of RGSC. This group includes the Program Coordinator and the Program Facilitators.

The Program Coodinator:

The Program Coordinator of RGSC is a current student or an alumnus that is nominated annually by the Vision Group. They serve as a relational facilitator between the Faculty of Education and the Racialized Graduate Student Collective. The program coordinator ensures continuity, nurtures collaboration, and holds the space where vision and action meet.

The Program Coordinator
Name	Email	Position
M.M Amoo	mmamoo@mun.ca	Program Coordinator

The Program Faciliatators:

The Program Facilitators’ team is composed of current students who receive Graduate Assistantships (GAs) in recognition of their contributions. This team carries out the day-to-day operations, organizes programming, and animates the vision set forth by the Vision Group.

The RGSC is currently hiring graduate assistants to support our programs. Please check your MUN email if you are a graduate student in the Faculty of Education or contact M.M Amoo if you are in a different Faculty. 

The Community Connection Series is a weekly gathering created by and for racialized graduate students and allies in the Faculty of Education. It provides a gentle weekly community where students can reflect, celebrate small wins, share resources, and support one another. Each session varies, ranging from social mixers and peer-support circles to collaborative planning and resource-sharing. These programs are shaped by evolving needs and desires of the community.

Community Circles:

Community circles are held every alternative week from the meal serving week. The community circles would feature music (Karaoke), painting, sharing circles, a movie night and a sponsored trip to a local event. It is the hope of the collective that racialized students may find emotional and relational comfort through these events. For these events, registration would be required and priorities of acceptance would go to racialized students in the Faculty of Education.

Field Trips:

The Field Trips will provide students with opportunities to explore educational, cultural, historical, and natural attractions across Newfoundland and Labrador. Visits to places such as Bell Island, Signal Hill, Cape Spear, and The Rooms Museum will encourage learning beyond the classroom while promoting social interaction, cultural appreciation, and stronger connections among students.

Facilitated By:

• Graduate Assistants

The graduate assistants facilitating the Community Connections are committed to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment where no one has to choose between their scholarship and their well-being.

Community Connection Schedule for Fall 2026:

Community Connections: Fall 2026
Date	Time	Event Name	Event Information
Friday, September 11, 2026	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Welcome Jollof Party	Click here for more information
Friday, October 23	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Graduate Student Skill Swap	Teach a skill that you learnt from back home or one that you learnt upon coming here
Friday, November 6	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Diversity Potluck	This is a meal sharing moment where diverse graduate students come together to share home made food cooked by graduate students.
Friday, November 20	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Karaoke Night	Select a song to sing with a partner and send to community connections facilitators
Friday, December 18	4:00pm to 6:00pm	RGSC Boxing Evening	Surprise the people you love! Send the name of a friend you want to give a gift to the community connections facilitators and they will be invited and given a box of gifts in your name.

Online

The programme will empower Graduate Students in the department to achieve their career goals by providing practical training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It will focus on career planning, professional skills, workplace readiness, and connecting students with education professionals, employers, and alumni to enhance their employability in Canada.

Below are some of the programmes:

Career Readiness Workshops:

Preparing International Education Graduates for the Canadian Job Market

Topics often include:

• Understanding the Canadian labour market
• Writing Canadian-style CVs and cover letters
• Optimising LinkedIn profiles
• Networking strategies in Canada
• Preparing for behavioural interviews
• Salary Negotiation and Workplace Culture
• Teacher Certification and Licensing Clinic

Potential Partners:

• MUN Career Development Office
• Faculty of Education Carerr Services
• Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• NLSchools
• Association of New Canadadians (ANC)
    

Meet the Employer Forum:

Meet employers who recruit education graduates, such as:

• Newfoundland and Labrador English School District
• School principals
• Early childhood education centres
• Adult literacy organizations
• Educational technology companies
• NGOs
• Settlement organizations

Students can:

• Learn about hiring processes,
• Ask questions,
• Building professional networks.
  
  

Upcoming Schedule:

Career Readiness Workshops: Fall 2026
Date	Time	Event Name	Event Information
Thursday, September 17	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Welcome to the Faculty of Education	Tips on Available Support and the Hurdles of Navigating a New Space
Thursday, October 1	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Finding Employment	Writing Resumes, Cover Letters and Applications and Optimizing Websites and Applications for Job Search
Thursday, October 29	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Opportunities in NL Schools	Explaining the Teacher Certification Process and Employment Pathways in Newfoundland and Labrador Education System
Thursday, November 12	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Building Your Portfolio as a Graduate Student	Networking and Volunteering, Research Opportunities and Graduate Assistant Opportunities
Thursday, November 26	4:00pm to 6:00pm	Meeting with Alumni	Question and Answer Sessions preparation for Graduation and Expectations after Graduating.

SheWrites Circle is a weekly online writing space for graduate students who identify as women, offering a supportive community for developing writing skills and achieving writing goals. It is held every Saturday 4pm-6pm (NL time), providing a consistent hour for writing, sharing, resting, and reconnecting. Students working on a thesis, revising an article, or rebuilding a writing routine will benefit the most from this program. It is designed to counter isolation as the circle brings care, encouragement, and practical support directly to participants wherever they are.

 

Why Join SheWrites?

• Build or rebuild a consistent writing practice
• Share feedback, tips, and motivation with fellow writers
• Be in community with other women navigating grad school
• Reclaim writing as a source of connection, not just stress
• Skip the theory; get practical help you can use right away
  
  

Upcoming Sessions:

SheWrites Circle: Fall 2026
Date	Topic	Description
September 19, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Introducing SheWrites Circle	The story of the project, guest speakers, introducing each other, sharing experiences, defining interesting topics, writing activities.
September 26, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Academic Writing vs. General Writing	Discussing differences and similarities. Grammarly. Activities to define and practice different styles.
October 3, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Choosing Literature for Review in Academic Writing	Where to find resources for your academic paper. Peer-reviewed resources.
October 10, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	AI in Writing	Possibilities, restrictions, and morality of using AI.AI policies.
October 17, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	APA Style	Issues of APA style demands. Lifehacks to deal with APA Style
October 24, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Creative Writing 1	Being creative as a way to boost writing skills. Practical activities.
October 31, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Writing and Inclusion	How feminism, LGBTQ+, multiculturalism, anti-racism and diversity have influenced Academic Writing.
November 7, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Creative Writing 2	Creativity as activism, resistance and resilience.
November 14, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Collaborative Writing and Group Projects	Benefits, Challenges and Strategies
November 21, 2026 4:00pm to 6:00pm	Revision - the last step is the hardest one	Discussing the importance of revising our writings before submitting. Practical and effective ways of revision.

ED 4022

ED4022 is the office assigned to RGSC in the Faculty of Education. The office is open for four hours from 12pm to 4pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Graduate students can come to this office to consult with the graduate assistants supporting the program, access support and collaborate with the community. To book a meeting with one of the graduate assistants, you can call M.M Amoo on 7097632192 or send an email to mmamoo@mun.ca.

The Racialized Graduate Students Collective (RGSC) is proud to offer a range of special events tailored to meet the diverse needs and interests of our members. These events, organized upon request, reflect our commitment to personal growth, professional development, community celebration, and academic support and dialogue. By partnering with both on-campus and off-campus service providers, we ensure a rich and comprehensive array of resources and opportunities. Through these special events, the RGSC reaffirms its dedication to support racialized graduate students and enriching their educational and social experiences. We are committed to listening to our members' needs and continually evolving our offerings to better serve our vibrant community.

Upcoming Special Events

Special Events: Fall 2026
Date	Event Name	Event Information
TBD	To be announced