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University of Guelph-Humber Justice Studies student Kamesha Wint is a 2025 recipient of the Association of Black Law Enforcers (A.B.L.E.) scholarship. A.B.L.E. is a non-profit organization that works with Black and other racialized groups by addressing their needs and concerns in law enforcement and the community.
It’s a feat she achieved through her commitment to justice, her strength, and her resilience – and a goal she aimed to attain not just for herself as a student, but as a role model to her young son.
“I want my son to be able to see that no matter what, mommy always pushed, and she always excelled to make sure that she was a great role model,” Wint shared. “I'm also proving that you can excel no matter what hurdle comes your way. That's where I draw a lot of my strength from; it’s from being a mom.”
The scholarship, which is valued at $3,500, was presented to Wint at the annual A.B.L.E. gala this fall, where the theme was “Strength Through Struggle: A Journey of Perseverance and Endurance.” Her story is one that embodies this message, as she pursues her justice education so she could one day support the community and contribute to eliminating systemic barriers and internal biases.
Wint’s story started with a dream; she believes that through justice, vulnerable populations – including youth, communities of colour, people who struggle with mental health, incarcerated people – should not be left behind. Wint wants to empower communities. This is the change she wants to be part of.
In 2020, she enrolled in a college program focusing on crime, but found that a program at Humber Polytechnic better suited her interests in the intersection of law and society, so she took a “leap of faith” and transferred the following year into the Community and Justice Services program. But only weeks after she was accepted into the program, she found out she was pregnant.
“There were thoughts of, ‘How am I going to navigate this new academic journey that I want to go on, but also now embracing motherhood?’” she said. She chose to defer her education to prioritize being a mother.
Over the next couple of years, she worked her way up and found success in the retail industry, but it wasn’t a career that fulfilled her, and she wanted more. She wanted to show her son that reaching your full potential is possible and that he is capable of doing whatever he dreams of. As her son approached his second birthday, she felt ready to juggle the roles of student and mom. Upon graduating from the Community and Justice Service Program with Honours and the Academic Award of Excellence at Humber, she began exploring university options and discovered the Guelph-Humber Justice Studies program – showing that with courage, hard work, and dedication, it’s always possible to strive for success.
Receiving this scholarship is a testament to her goal-setting skills. Wint attended last year’s A.B.L.E. gala and told her classmate that at this time next year, she’d apply for the scholarship. She felt especially motivated as A.B.L.E.’s mission inspired her, and she was “in awe” of the speakers at the gala. Over the next year, she remained committed and disciplined in achieving that goal in earning the award.
“Removing systemic challenges, internal biases, and discrimination against Black law enforcement is pivotal for future generations to come. I can appreciate A.B.L.E. removing the ceiling that shrinks Black law enforcement and providing opportunities for growth and success, regardless of social identities and intersectionality. This is also what I want to do in the future,” she said.
A year after first attending the gala, while completing an assignment and her son was at school, she received the email informing her that she’d be receiving this scholarship. She felt “extremely honoured.”
“Be true to yourself. Whatever your goals are, there's nothing too big or too far-fetched. Personal growth is excellent,” she said.
Congratulations, Kamesha Wint!
To learn more about the possibilities to create positive social change within the justice system, explore Guelph-Humber’s Justice Studies program here. Graduates leave the University with an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies and a diploma in Community & Justice Services or Police Foundations.