SOCA THIS WEEK ISSUES:  Read our Newsletter 

spring 2022 Events Calendar

Learn about upcoming events, opporuntunties, and resources for Black students by clicking on our most recent newsletter.
Let's Glow Crazy Party 🔥 🎉

Dance your heart away at our end of year party to celebrate your hard work this year! Come enjoy Afrobeats, Dancehall, Amapiano, Soca, and more! 🤸🏾‍♀️

Hosted by Osita David @ositadavid

Featuring DJ Mario @mvrio.dee, DJ Bazenga, and DJ Chris @mphandechris 🎶

PURCHASE TICKET HERE: bit.ly/37qgRIL

This event is brought to you by SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) in partnership with UBC Black Student Union @ubcbsu and Choplife Entertainment @choplifevancity 🎉

Learn more about each event and General Membership Meetings here as details are announced throughout the summer semester.

SPRING 2022 UPCOMING EVENTS

SOCA Provides Resource for our Members

The Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry grew out of a movement on campus to advocate for the issues relevant to Black students on campus in 1994. In 1997 we were allocated space and became a central hub for all students to learn about their various perspectives of African and Afro-Descendant Peoples.

/ Library
/ Video Catalog
/ Movies
/Microwave
SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) is an equity-seeking constituency group focusing on raising awareness on issues relevant to people of Black, African and Caribbean Descent on campus and globally.

Feel free to drop by the SOCA Black Student Support Centre in the Student Union Building, check out the library, or if you are willing to volunteer with SOCA, send us an email at sign up here or send us an email at sfusoca@gmail.com.

To become a member, folks can sign up to be a part of the membership mailing list and attend meetings. If there is any Black, African or Caribbean student group or community group at SFU, or externally, and want to partner with SOCA, send an email to SOCA email at sfusoca@gmail.com or the SOCA Black Student Support Coordinator at bssc.coord@sfss.ca

Get  Involved

A Community Building Experience
Students can get involved with SOCA in a myriad of ways. Whether it be helping with the Library and keeping our books up to date, or performing with us as a singer, dancer, poet or any other skill you would like to share with us.
We organize various events that highlight the varied cultures related to people of African and Caribbean Descent and foster community building among our membership along with other members of the Rotunda Community on Campus.

Organizational Values

Welcome To SOCA
  • INCLUSIVITY
  • REPRESENTATION
  • COMMUNITY-BUILDING
  • SOCIAL JUSTICE

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

  • ​SIGN UP TO BE A VOLUNTEER: FORM
    ​As a volunteer-run space, office volunteers are crucial to keeping SOCA open six hours a day if possible. By keeping office hours and working to maintain a healthy environment, office volunteers facilitate people socializing, talking about issues affecting the black community, organizing events and more. There is a volunteer mailing list that changes every semester with who are current SOCA volunteer. Very useful for requesting volunteers for tabling, keeping the office open, etc, asking for each other’s contact info, as this is a generally more involved group of SOCA people. (soca-volunteers@sfu.ca.)
  • JOIN A COMMITTEE
    Will help organize short or long-term projects. There is no obligation to be a committee member, although committee work is approved by executive. Examples of committees: Cultural Events Committee, Black Student Support Centre (BSSC) committee, Social Justice and Advocacy Committee, the library team, SOCA Dancers, Soccer team 
  • DROP IN THE BLACK STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE
    Not everyone will want to be main volunteer or executive, but everyone is open to using the resources of the Black Student Support Centre. As such, anyone can come and share in discussion, read the books, watch documentaries, play games etc. Creating that home away from home and a place for education.
Welcome to SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry, Simon Fraser University’s Black Community Support Group. The SOCA Black Community Services Centre is a welcoming space for people of the varied African and Caribbean Heritages and their descendants.

Why Join SOCA

Racism and Discrimination affect everyone. Therefore, no matter what your racial or ethnic makeup, everyone is welcome to advancing the fight of anti-oppression and fighting systemic racism. We welcome our non-black allies to join us in fighting for the right to exist without discrimination, racism or prejudice.

SOCA is a student group devoted to creating a safe space for students of African and Caribbean descent and allies on campus. SOCA also partners with a number of organizations such to develop programming and events which promote awareness and the expose the campus community to issues significant to the African and Caribbean Diasporic communities at SFU. 

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SOCA WON OUR FIGHT FOR SPACE IN THE SUB!

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VICTORY - Victory! After years of fighting, the Board votes to offer space to the Rotunda Community! 
"9 MAR 2020 — After two years of fighting eviction, SOCA is happy to announce that we are in the final stages of our efforts to have a safe space for Black folks on campus.

Thank you to all members and allies supporting our cause.
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Afia Poku, SOCA President (2019/20):
“It is a relief for SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry that the multi-year battle to save Black space on campus has ended. Securing operational space is an assurance of our longevity, allowing us to continue building a sense of community on and off campus. Black space is vital for connecting students navigating experiences unique to Black students.”

“We truly appreciate our members and allies who have advocated with us since 2018, or joined to support in the activism along the way.”

News Article
​Student groups blast SFU student union over eviction from meeting spaces

Student groups blast SFU student union over eviction from meeting space - Global News
Student Groups Condemns SFSS for Institutionalized Racism - The Peak
Recap of the Rotunda Space Discussion - The Peak
​Victory - Groups offered space in the New Student Union Building
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Timeline of Events: Timeline​