HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-05Clarftwn
Clarington Anti -Black Racism Task Force
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 6:00 PM
Microsoft Teams
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Present:
Jasmyne Julien
Meera McDonald
Rochelle Thomas
Angela Todd -Anderson
Also Present:
Erica Mittag - Municipality of Clarington
Samantha Aitken - Clarington Public Library
Regrets:
Hawa Mire
Lauren Reyes -Grange
1. Land Acknowledgement
Meera shared Clarington's Land Acknowledgement Statement.
2. Review of Agenda - Declarations of Interest
Members were asked if they would like to declare any items of interest. No concerns
were shared.
3. Review and Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Rochelle Thomas; seconded by Angela Todd -Anderson that the agenda
for the April 5, 2023, meeting be approved.
Carried
4. Review of Previous Meeting Minutes
Moved by Angela Todd -Anderson; seconded by Rochelle Thomas that the minutes of
the January 11, 2023, meeting be approved.
Carried
5. Updates from the Diversity Advisory Committee
Elections occurred for members of the Diversity Advisory Committee; positions
include:
• Chair — Tenzin Shomar
• Vice -Chair — Pranay Gunti
• Secretary — Lyndsay Riddoch
• Anti -Black Racism Task Force Representative and Co -Chair — To be
determined at next meeting
• Durham Regional Police Services East Division Community Safety Council
Representative — Dione Valentine
The Terms of Reference for the Anti -Black Racism Task Force (new name) have
been updated and an overview was provided to highlight the changes.
Recruitment of new members will begin, and members are asked to share with their
networks.
6. Updates
An overview of the Action Log of the work to date was shared with members. Rochelle
asked for this to be brought back to future meetings for regular updates.
Anti -Racism Strategy was reviewed. Erica, Angela, and Lauren will meet in the coming
weeks to review timelines and discuss the public engagement phase. Members will be
asked for their involvement to promote the survey, engage with community, and
formulate action plan recommendations.
African Ancestral Acknowledgment is being reviewed by the Region of Durham's
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Unit, along with Durham Region area Diversity
Coordinators, to discuss a consistent process and application across the Region. Erica
thanked Rochelle for sharing the City of Toronto Guidelines.
The webpage content and outline has been drafted by the Community Development
Assistant; Communications is currently preparing a mock-up which will be reviewed
with the Task Force at their May meeting to gather their input and suggestions on the
proposed page. The page will include a self -reporting feature for incidents of racism
and discrimination, similar to this platform offered in the City of Thunder Bay:
https://www.thunderbaV.ca/en/city-services/anti-racism-support.aspx Erica will meet
with the Thunder Bay team to learn more about their implementation, lessons learned,
uptake, how is it monitored and what is the follow up.
7. Other Business
Region of Durham and Partners hosting an Emancipation Day event on Tuesday,
August 1, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (location to be determined). More
information will be shared once available.
Clarington, in partnership with the Community Development Council of Durham, was
successful in a funding application to the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association's
Reaching Each and Every One program. As a result, the �Iarington Kickstart Active
Living and Fitness program has been launched. Through the program, newcomers to
Canada (living within Durham Region) receive a free 3-month fitness / swim / skate
pass and access to workshops and weight training classes, as well as activity loan kits
(snowshoeing, pickleball, workout, etc) to borrow to participate in activities.
The Region of Durham approved a Community Safety and Well-being plar in 2021.
This week, workshops were held with community partners to build out action plan items
for the 7 identified priority areas. Erica will share more updates and information on the
development of the plan as they become available.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.