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Odyssey students describe new Black Student Union, school news show to district board
Summary
Students from Odyssey Academy presented the newly formed Black Student Union and the Good Morning Odyssey show to the Greece Central School District Board, outlining the club’s mission, activities and plans to expand.
Odyssey Academy students and staff briefed the Greece Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday about the school’s newly formed Black Student Union and its student-produced morning show.
The students said the BSU, formed in the fall of the 2023–24 school year, provides a space for Black scholars to connect and advocate. “Our BSU president, Salas Alvarez, advocated for this and started the BSU,” Antonio Vasquez, vice president of the BSU, told the board. Vasquez said the organization’s primary goal is “to create a space where all students can be empowered by each other.”
The presentation said 22% of Odyssey’s scholars identify as Black or of African descent and noted the club’s mission is “to create a supportive and empowering community for the Black scholars within our school,” a statement read by a student presenter, Kalina. Students described the group’s work this year: hosting special guests, running a holiday “burp basket” drive of donated clothing and toys, and organizing a Culture Showcase that featured student vendors and performers from schools across the district.
Students named several outside speakers who participated this year, including James Waters, Adrian Hale, Assemblyman Damon Meeks and Isaiah Santiago, and said the BSU planned to increase outreach to other middle and high school BSUs in the Greece Central School District. Student presenters also described plans to shift next year’s theme from “Who are you” to “Why are you important” to emphasize scholar identity and belonging.
Separately, students described the Good Morning Odyssey (GMO) weekly show, a 7–10 minute student-produced program that highlights school events, student projects and short segments. Senior Nick Viola and freshman JP Swicki described GMO segments such as student passion projects, an open-mic question feature and a recognition segment called the “leopard paw hat draw.”
Assistant Principal Gabby Graves introduced the students and said the district and board support for student activities has been important. After the presentations the students posed for a photograph at the board’s invitation.
