“Habitat helps students put our lives in perspective by showing us harsh realities in our community and gives us a platform to help those in need,” said Acadia Ashdown, a student in Broadneck High School's Habitat Class of 2025. At the end of each year, students in the club take a week- long camping trip to work on other, similar building projects. This year the Habitat for Humanity Club will travel to Elk Neck State Park and work on a home for four days side by side with Habitat of the Susquehanna. These trips foster a sense of community within the club and ensure that no matter what background students come from, they’ll be able to empathize and connect with the people they’re helping. BLACK STUDENT UNION AT ANNAPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL Originating as the Black History Club at Annapolis High School, the Black Student Union (BSU) currently has over 60 active members, all striving to educate students about African American history, culture, and contributions to the United States and beyond. By rebranding the club to BSU in 2022, students and advisors were able to expand the club’s purpose. Now the members focus on speaking out against gun violence, promoting mental wellness, and discussing how the African diaspora is affected by local and global causes. The faculty members in charge of the club, including Davesus Omosun, Brea Ewing, Jazmine Ifill, and Tinesha McNeill, all dedicate their time, resources, and expertise to creating memorable experiences for club members while working in collaboration with student leaders. Zoe Williams, BSU student president, prides herself in creating and fostering a space where students can feel heard, seen, and appreciated. The club meets once a week, serving as a place for students of color and allies to connect in a safe environment and participate in various activities. “[The Black Student Union] has given me the chance to come out of my shell,” said Kaden Barrow, a junior at Annapolis High School who has been in the club since his freshman year. “I’ve made new friends, discovered new passions, and learned to embrace who I am. It is a really beautiful environment.” Due to the work of their advisors, BSU members also have access to many opportunities. These opportunities have included college visits, educational field trips, the chance to listen to guest speakers, and even going to New York City to see The Wiz, a historic Black Broadway musical.
The Black Student Union of Annapolis High School at the Banneker-Douglass- Tubman Museum greeting esteemed poet and Civil Rights activist, Nikki Giovanni.
For the last three years, BSU has also hosted its signature Black History Month celebration, “Beautifully Black Expo”, where students can showcase their talents and educate attendees on African American history. Past celebrations engaged over 200 students and corroborated the importance of art and self- expression to the union. The Black Student Union works in tandem with organizations like the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, No Harm VIP, One Annapolis, Annapolis Juneteenth Committee, The Blacks of the Chesapeake, and the Anne Arundel County Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., along with many others that offer their support. Working with the Fashion Club at Annapolis High School, BSU helped put together and donate more than 150 blessing bags, which were filled with hygiene and health supplies, made to help out those in need in the Annapolis community. Holding close to their motto of “We are more than a club…we are a community,” the Black Student Union of Annapolis High School continues to promote leadership, empowerment, and community outreach with every meeting. These students are making a momentous difference for Anne Arundel County residents through philanthropy, education, and the safe spaces they create. These organizations allow students to service others while navigating their own growth as they move through school and into young adulthood.
APRIL 2025 | 23
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