DEI CoP - COMMITMENT TO COMBAT OPPRESSION, RACISM, ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION
UPDATED DEC 2, 2020 - This is a copy of the DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION COMMUNITY of PRACTICE (DEI CoP) – DURHAM REGION’s Commitment Statement issued by the committee on Tue, Oct 20, 2020, at 9:01 AM in response to the disturbing news on school yearbooks emanating out of Pickering, ON. in which a black student’s yearbook tribute to his grandmother was replaced with a racist slur. (READ MORE on CBC)
Lake Ridge Community Support is a proud member of our local Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community of Practice and felt it important to share our commitment with our clients, and our community. We’re represented on he DEI CoP by our Human Resources Administrator, Janice Capes.
Our Commitment Statement serves as a reminder and a robust call to action to continue both individually and collectively, our rigorous efforts to combat oppression, racism, anti-Black racism and discrimination.
Our purpose is to actively promote and support member organizations in the promotion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles through informed practice to remove the barriers of systemic, cultural and direct oppression.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent (resolution 68/237) citing the need to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent, and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society.
As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”
In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
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OUR COMMITMENT TO COMBAT OPPRESSION, RACISM, ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION
We continue to bear witness to the ongoing injustice that has led to the deep sorrow and lament of the Black communities at the local, provincial, national and international levels. The sustained state of systemic anti-Black racism is historic. For generations, it has created an environment that has enabled widespread oppression, economic scarcity, over-representation in the child welfare and justice systems, health and education barriers, and loss of life.
The DEI CoP member organizations stand committed to the promotion of equity, inclusion, respect and justice as fundamental values embraced by each of our organizations, to reflect our social responsibility to the individuals and communities we serve and with whom we work.
It is our mission to act as advocates and allies for community peace, truth and restorative practice. The DEI-CoP knows that being aware of racism, oppression and discrimination is not enough.
In our Black families, clients, friends, colleagues and within the Black communities, we see the results and impact of the hurt and harm of racism, oppression and discrimination.
Also, in our Indigenous families, clients, friends, colleagues and the Indigenous communities, we see the results and impacts of racism, oppression and discrimination, including over-representation in the child welfare and justice systems. In our People of Colour families, clients, friends, colleagues and their communities, we too see the results and impacts of the hurt and harm of racism, oppression and discrimination.
We will no longer be silent. We call on the Durham community at large to join us.
We commit to take action by sitting in discomfort to have those tough, respectful, open, honest and healthy conversations about racism and doing all that we can to address oppressive and discriminatory practices, policies, beliefs and attitudes within ourselves and within our communities.
We recognize that we can individually and collectively make positive change and that the responsibility is on all of us to educate ourselves, take action and send a resounding message of NO MORE!
We have at this time in history a window to take action, to do better, to be better, now and for the future. So, join us, stand with us and share the burden that our Black families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and communities have been carrying alone for far too long.
Endorsed by the following Members of the
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Community of Practice – Durham Region
MEMBERS OF DURHAM DEI-CoP ENDORSING THE COMMITMENT STATEMENT
Boys and Girls
Club of Durham
Carea Community Health Centre
Catholic Family Services of Durham
Community Development Council of Durham
Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region
Durham Children’s Aid Society
Durham Rape Crisis Centre
Durham Family Court Clinic
Durham Regional Police Service
Frontenac Youth Services
John Howard Society of Durham
Lake Ridge Community Support Services
Murray McKinnon Foundation
Region of Durham – Diversity and Immigration Program
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region (R.F.E.C.Y.)
RESOURCE LIST COMPILED BY THE DEI COP
Links:
“Programme of Activities for the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”
Recommended Videos/Articles:
White Fragility: How 'white fragility' reinforces racism
The Talk: Procter & Gamble: The Talk
Discover any bias: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/selectatest.html
National Equity Project (2019) Don't talk about Implicit Bias without talking about Structural Racism. Don’t Talk about Implicit Bias Without Talking about Structural Racism
Unpack your invisible knapsack: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Peggy McIntosh Racial Equity Tools: https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf
Recommended Books:
Cole, D. (2020) The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power
Diangelo, R. (2018) White Fragility: Why it's so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism Jivani, J. (2019) Why Young Men Rage: Race and the Crisis of Identity
Jualla van Oudenhoven, Rona (2015) Violence against Children, A Rights-Based Discourse Kendi, I (2019) How to be an Anti-Racist
Saad, L. (2020). Me & White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor.