MICHAEL SKRZYNIAK
OAKVILLE, Ont. — Toronto native Matt Black, a fourth-year defensive back playing for his hometown Toronto Argonauts is doing just that by giving back through the Huddle Up Bully Prevention Program, a campaign that will be celebrating its 12th anniversary this September.
Involving himself in the community is important to Black and he makes sure his teammates share in these experiences.
“I got involved in my rookie year,” said the former Northern Secondary School track-star in an interview at Holy Trinity High School in Oakville after a hot day of practice. “My teammates and I go into local schools and talk to the kids about bullying, sharing stories about our experiences while raising awareness.”
Erin Schneider, the coordinator of the Huddle Up program, says Black’s relation to the community helps him connect with the children he visits.
“It’s a strong point with him being from the community”, says Schneider in a phone interview. “When he’s speaking to senior and elementary kids and mentions hanging out at The Eaton Centre and Scarborough Town Centre, the kids really connect.”
Few athletes are able to service the same community they grew up in. Black, a former track and field standout at Northern Secondary School in Toronto, wants to help because he believes Toronto helped him become the person he is today.
“I’m a city kid,” said Black. “I feel like I have a responsibility to give back to the city that raised me.”
Growing up near Jarvis and Dundas streets in the downtown area, Black says he needed to stay busy and keep away from the unsafe areas near his home.
He credits his parents with keeping him occupied in high school sports, such as hockey, baseball and track.
“I never had time to sit down and get into trouble.”
With the recent birth of his first child, Ava Daniela, Black looks to pass on the traits his parents taught him and hopes to spread the anti-bullying message to his new kin.
“I plan on keeping her active and bringing her to these community events and instill good morals and values,” said the father-to-be. “My parents were involved with what I did and I plan to be the same way.”
Bullying is a problem that most people either face or witness at some point in their life. The former Metro Toronto Wildcat of the Ontario Valley Football League says he’s been on both ends of the spectrum.
Regretful of some of his past decisions, Black is trying his best to make up for it.
“I never really had a specific problem with bullies but there were times I was a laughing stock,” said the former four-year starter at Saginaw Valley State (Michigan). “I was also a part of the other end but I’m not happy about that.”
“If I’m in a position where I can help someone out I might as well take the initiative in helping them.”
Black’s involvement goes beyond what is asked. Schneider mentions that he was one of many Argonaut players and members of management who participated in National Pink Day this past February, a day of nation-wide awareness of the problems brought on by bullying.
Many Argos, including Black, wore pink shirts at assemblies in different schools in the Toronto area.
“Matt goes above and beyond. He’s always a phone call away.”