KG Banjoko
CLASS OF 2020
, AGE 23
In her final year of law school studying in the United Kingdom at the University of Kent, Kg and her family have been in Fort McMurray since 2011 after they moved from Mississauga, Ontario.
Success runs in the family; her brother plays football for Princeton in the USA. When not studying, he stays with her mother, who has a career in procurement. She is a scholar and an athlete. She gives it her all in class, on the court and in the community.
“I’ve learned to spend my time focusing on the things that edify me, the things that push me towards my passion, and the things that ultimately bring me joy,” said Kg.
She is a fearless advocate for equality and took part in the BlackLivesMatter Solidarity in March. Kg also is actively involved in community initiatives to create awareness and better influences.
“The turnout at the march was a mark of not only how strong we are as a community but clearly showed how much hurt is living just under the surface in the black community, and especially in our First Nations communities,” she said.
“The reason it is important to me to volunteer my time within our community is that I know that racism in Canada is underground, fostered by our inability to call it what it is and sit with the truth of the matter. I keep going because those who came before me ran their race as far as they could, and it is now my time to do the same for those that will come after me.”
In high school, Kg was part of the student council. This is where her early influences inspired her career choices.
“Teens4Change and ClubUnlabbeled were groups that challenged me to look outside of myself and begin to understand what it means to be a global citizen. Partnering with communities in the global south to run fundraising events, collaborating with organizations to host events empowering women within our community and being a spirit leader, all played a part in getting me to where I am now,” she said.”
