Surrey Schools racial equity manager receives national recognition award

Surrey Schools racial equity manager receives national recognition award

Published 2:15 pm Wednesday, June 17, 2026

A Surrey Schools employee has been recognized for his efforts to challenge systemic racism and empower Black students across the district.

Nick Brown received an award of recognition at the ABEEL Foundation’s (Alliance of Black Employee Experience & Leadership) annual Shaping the Future of High School Program National Awards in Toronto on May 23.

This event honours secondary students, educators and school communities that challenge systemic racism in innovative ways.

Surrey Schools says Brown was awarded for his work as the district’s racial equity department manager, empowering and inspiring Black youth in Surrey, White Rock and beyond.

ABEEL founder Samuel Ajobo nominated Brown because of his work in increasing the representation of Black students from Surrey Schools in submissions to the non-profit, which supports students with bursaries for post-secondary education and entrepreneurship.

“They were struggling to find where a lot of the Black students were,” Brown explained in a web article from Surrey Schools. “The population is very scattered, they only had a few northern schools mentioned like Guildford Park, Kwantlen Park and North Surrey involved, and I said, ‘You’re missing Frank Hurt, Tamanawis, Semiahmoo, Grandview Heights.’”

Brown says they opened it up to all 21 secondary schools as well as the Burnaby School District. “I was able to triple the nominations and the entries of the students to make this our largest year.”

Surrey Schools says that for the past two years Brown has been an influential figure in enacting anti-racism efforts through the district and elevating the voices of Black students.

His accomplishments also include:

• assisting with the establishment of Black Student Unions across Surrey and White Rock secondary schools;

• collaborating with the district’s research and evaluation department on Youth as Changemakers, a program that gives students in secondary equity clubs the opportunity to create projects to improve topics of equity in their schools;

• upholding Black excellence and recognizing Black History Month in schools, educating communities on Black art, stories and people of Canada’s past and present;

• celebrating Black staff who make meaningful contributions in their schools; and

• furthering the efforts of Surrey Schools’ Racial Equity Strategic Plan, aimed at strengthening diversity and belonging in the district through culturally affirming and responsive equity initiatives.

Surrey Schools says that within all of this work, Brown has also conducted anti-racism training for secondary students in Surrey. This has led to Grade 10 to 12 students at numerous schools to share this knowledge with Grade 6 and 7 students at nearby elementary schools and continue racial equity work in their broader communities.

Brown shared that he hopes to continue to grow groups like Youth as Changemakers and other racial equity initiatives to make a difference in the lives of racialized students within the district.

“In my speech, I kind of touched on my personal experience growing up around racism and my lived experience, and I tied it into education and foundations like ABEEL that remind us that we can continue to grow and break barriers,” said Brown.

He shares how much he appreciates the foundations as well as getting the opportunity to work and empower Black students.

Learn more about the ABEEL Foundation’s Shaping the Future of High School Program at abeelfoundation.com/overview/high-school-program.