“We hold a space at the table.”
This is a concept that Karina Deepnarine wants other Black students to understand – but also something she lives by as someone who sits at many tables.
The 20-year-old third-year student at York University is pursuing a bachelor’s honours degree in human resources management with an honours minor in African studies in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
With a passion for advocacy rooted deeply in her Guyanese heritage, Deepnarine combines academic excellence, strategic thinking and community engagement to challenge systemic inequities and uplift Black communities, both on and off campus.
Her academic journey is not just shaped by textbooks, but by a desire to understand and change the systems that affect people’s lives.
She chose her major because it allows her to explore how workplaces can be reimagined as equitable environments. Her minor brings a rich, intersectional lens to her work, grounding her leadership in historical, social and cultural understanding.
“Combining HR knowledge with African-centred perspectives allows me to create inclusive structures that address systemic barriers while empowering Black communities,” she says.
This duality forms the foundation of Deepnarine’s advocacy where theory meets action, and education fuels empowerment.
Her leadership extends across several student organizations, where her impact is as strategic as it is inspiring.
As an undergraduate research assistant and student representative on the executive team at the Harriet Tubman Institute, Deepnarine explores African and African diasporic histories through a non-Eurocentric lens.
Her work includes leading the upcoming Tubman Talk titled “Unlearning the Post-Colonial Mindset: Confronting Internalized Anti-Black Racism,” a dialogue bridging academic theory with lived realities and community impact. The talk runs Nov. 6 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
She’s also marketing director of the Black Business Student Association, facilitating professional development for Black students through strategic partnerships and collaborations with organizations like Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals, TD Bank, Onyx Initiative and Scotiabank. Her work ensures that students receive mentorship, networking opportunities and internships, turning advocacy into tangible access.
“It’s rewarding to see students gain real-world opportunities because it shows the power of advocacy when paired with professional development,” she says.
Deepnarine also contributes to equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at York through her roles as vice-president of internal affairs at the Black Women in Law Association, social justice Chair with student-advocacy club United Caribbean Islands, committee member at Race Inclusion and Supportive Environments and peer mentor with Black Excellence at York University (BEYU).
But Deepnarine’s commitment doesn’t stop at campus borders; her advocacy extends nationwide, serving Black Canadians through her work with Federations of Black Canadians as volunteer engagement and recruitment lead for the Ontario Hub, while also contributing to the Government Relations Committee.
She says these experiences have sharpened her ability to navigate institutional systems while keeping community impact at the centre.
“Advocacy requires both grassroots engagement and systemic action,” she says. “It’s about building change from the inside out.”
Deepnarine’s leadership has not gone unnoticed.
She is the recipient of several awards for her work, including the Justice for Abdirahman Bursary announced this fall, as well as the Rose Mary Brown Award. She was also recognized with Peel Regional Police’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship in 2023 and the Jacor Marketing Award for Inclusion in 2023.
Each award is a reflection of her relentless drive to challenge injustice and build sustainable support systems.
“These recognitions remind me that the work I do matters and that my voice and the voices I amplify are being heard,” she says.
Deepnarine stays grounded through her heritage, family and community, turning moments of isolation – such as being the only Black student in a classroom – into motivation.
“Blackness isn’t just about struggle. It’s about beauty, legacy and potential. I carry my last name into every space I enter, and I do it proudly.”
As a mentor at BEYU, Deepnarine sees her role as helping others realize their worth and step into their power. She approaches mentorship not just as guidance, but as community building.
And, she believes in the ripple effect: that by supporting one student, you spark a chain reaction of empowerment and leadership across communities.
Deepnarine is more than a student and a leader; she is a changemaker. Through academic excellence, tenacious advocacy and community dedication, she is reshaping the narrative and helping others write their own.
“We do have a seat at the table,” she says, ”and I plan to make room for many more.”
With files from Karen Martin-Robbins