When Grade 9 student Alicia Becerra sat down to write her essay for the Local Lens contest hosted by the Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) in collaboration with True2Soul Network, she knew she was putting words to something deeply personal: her journey of navigating between two homes, two cultures, and two countries.
Her essay, “Two Homes, Two Countries,” earned Alicia 2nd place in the 2025 Local Lens writing contest, a recognition that celebrates stories of heritage, identity, and belonging. Alicia was honoured at the Emancipation Gala on August 1, 2025 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, where their voices and narratives were celebrated alongside community leaders, educators, and artists.
Discovering Strength in “In-Betweenness”
In her reflection on the experience, Alicia shared that writing the essay was an opportunity to explore her personal heritage and the unique space she occupies between her Canadian and Colombian identities.
“I’ve always been in the middle – too Canadian for Colombia, and too Colombian for Canada,” she explained. “I recognized this in-betweenness isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. It has taught me resilience, empathy, and forced me to view the world in a unique way.”
Alicia describes her identity not as divided, but as layered and ever-changing: “Discovering my cultural identity has shown me that I am not alone on this journey. There are countless others in my Halton community who feel the same in-betweenness that I feel. This caused me to feel more connected to my community, and prouder of where I come from.”
A Celebration of Culture and Community
The Local Lens contest is part of HBHAS’s ongoing work to promote multiculturalism, heritage awareness, and diversity across Halton. Each year, students are invited to share their own stories and reflections, weaving together themes of culture, history, and identity.
This year’s winners were recognized at a gala that featured keynote speaker Dejehan “Luckystickz” Hamilton, an award-winning motivational speaker and internationally renowned percussionist. The event brought together community partners, sponsors, and families in a celebration of heritage and resilience.
Inspiring Others Through Story
For Alicia, the recognition is just the beginning. She hopes to continue sharing her story and encouraging others to embrace their unique cultural journeys.
“This experience has led me to want to continue to share my story and use my voice to be part of something good,” she said. “I am inspired to continue to spread the message that culture is not what we are born with but what we experience.”
Alicia’s story stands as an inspiring reminder that identity is not confined to one place, but is enriched by the bridges we build between communities, cultures, and experiences. Congratulations, Alicia, on this amazing accomplishment!
