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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-04Clarbgton If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131 Anti -Black Racism Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Online via MS Teams Clarington ABRAC Members: Councillor Llyod Rang Angela Anderson (Chair) Lauren Reyes -Grange Jodie Glean Rochelle Thomas Hawa Mire Nadia Nembhard-Hunt (until 8:04pm) Jaslin Browne Stephanie Innocent (CDCD) Umwali Sauter (Lakeridge Health) Regrets: Dione Valentine Joseph Adesanya Also Present: Mayor Adrian Foster Melissa Westover — Manager, Communications Jeannette Whynot — Staff Liaison. Donnalee Smith — CLMA Councillor Rang called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. 1. Land Acknowledgment Statement Councillor Rang shared a land acknowledgment statement. 2. Declarations of Interest No declarations of interest were made. 3. Review and Approval of Agenda for June 4, 2025 The agenda was reviewed and approved without any changes. 4. Review and approval of May 7, 2025 meeting minutes Moved by A. Anderson; seconded by L. Reyes -Grange, That the minutes of the May 7, 2025, meeting be approved as presented. Carried. 5. Council Update Councillor Rang advised the Committee that the vote for chair at their May meeting stands and A. Anderson is officially the Committee Chair. Mayor Foster gave brief remarks to the committee. 6. New Member Introductions A. Anderson welcomed three new committee members and invited attendees to briefly introduce themselves. 7. Vice Chair Election J. Whynot invited committee members to share nominations for the role of committee Vice Chair. The following nominations were received- J. Glean nominated L. Reyes -Grange A. Anderson nominated L. Reyes -Grange No other nominations were put forward. L. Reyes -Grange accepted her nomination for the role of Vice -Chair. With no other nominations, L. Reyes -Grange was appointed Vice Chair. 8. Presentation: Allison Hector -Alexander, DEI Director, Regional Municipality of Durham A. Hector -Alexander shared information about the Durham Region Anti -Racism Task Force's (DRAFT) work plan development. She shared that DRAFT had a lot of ideas for what to include on their workplan but through a thoughtful process they were able to create a workplan that was realistic, achievable and meaningful. Additionally, it reflected the skills and interests of its members. DRAFT established four sub -committees that grouped together the workplan's key themes: Education, DRPS, Legislation, and School Boards. Each sub -committee completed group agreements that included ethical and participatory requirements. A. Hector -Alexander shared that DRAFT often reflected on the analogy, `you can't boil the ocean', meaning we can't do everything. The Task Force often reflects upon its successes, challenges, and uses that information to direct their future activities. Committee members asked A. Hector -Alexander to share DRAFT's successes and other suggestions for what the Clarington ABRAC could focus on. A. Hector -Alexander 2 emphasized the importance of finding opportunities to bring communities together, ones that strengthen local capacity. Building strong partnerships with subject matter experts, local organizations and community members has resulted in great projects and events. Committee members also asked A. Hector -Alexander to share the tools they've used to support an effective and cohesive Task Force. A. Hector -Alexander shared that through workplan development exercises they broke down ideas to determine the steps/resource needed to successfully complete it. In doing this, members recognized their capacity limits, which ultimately assisted in creating a workplan that was realistic. 9. Workplan Development R. Thomas requested that her workplan priority is commemorating Black veterans' publicly. It was requested that Clarington formally recognize Black Veteran's, specifically from WW1 & WW2. Members discussed the ideas for commemorating Black veterans shared by R. Thomas and inquired about the number of Black Veterans who served in WW1 & WW2 from Clarington and/or the Durham Region. Committee members expressed concern with focusing on a project as specific as this without having a larger framework to guide the project. H. Mire recommended that the Committee consider the needs of Clarington's Black community and that the workplan should reflect their feedback. Moved by J. Glean; seconded by R. Thomas That the ABRAC holds a special meeting specific to the development of the Committee's workplan prior to the Committee's next regular meeting on September 3, 2025. Carried. 10. Emancipation Day H. Mire inquired if the Municipality would be recognizing Emancipation Day through a proclamation and/or flag raising. Mayor Foster advised that staff or the Committee Chair can submit a request and once received his office will make the necessary arrangements J. Whynot shared that the Region is hosting a large Emancipation Day event on Wednesday July 30t" from 4-7pm in Pickering and inquired if the Committee was interested in hosting a table at the event. Due to time constraints, J. Whynot advised that a brief poll would be emailed to Committee members to gauge interest in attending the event and supporting a Clarington table. 11. Discussion: Recent Anti -Black Racism Graffiti 3 This item was deferred due to time limitations. 12. Missing Black Boys This item was deferred due to time limitations. 13.Adjournment Moved by J. Glean; seconded by L. Reyes -Grange That the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 9:06 p.m. Next Meeting: Special workplan workshop meeting: to be determined Next Regular Meeting: Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 7:30pm (virtual) 12