How Algonquin is standing against racism
Program could be template for others to follow, Alem Legesse writes.
2020 was very stressful for everyone. For the Black population in general, that feeling was multiplied. COVID -19 restrictions, repeated lockdowns and watching the death of George Floyd on TV were horrifying for many Black families, both mentally and emotionally. Any normal person rejects that kind of violence.
When I was asked to join the Inclusive and Diversity Circle at Algonquin College, I found the idea calming and was ready to participate.
I was delighted to receive an email back from Sarah Gauen, the college's inclusion and diversity specialist.
The call was to organize events from Feb. 1 to 5. Preparation and friendly support have come from a diverse group of people learning from each other and launching an amazing project: “Taking a Stand: Disrupting Black and Indigenous
Racism.” We participated in Zoom meetings, crafted invitations, identified contacts within the college, and prepared invoices to hire speakers/performers.
A lead was assigned to each event where, during a meeting, an opportunity is given to everyone to report and comment on progress. By creating a safe and welcoming environment, Sarah made it possible to build great working relationships. For example, it was no longer uncomfortable for Black participants to share their experiences. As well, a real effort has been made to experiment with the formation of inclusive and diverse working spaces. I am grateful and confident that our collaboration will become an example for others to emulate.
During this inclusive week of collaborations, the Algonquin College community will be learning and celebrating culture. We all share the same need to build a better life, to overcome challenges. We can also be encouraged to broaden the dialogue about racism and discrimination as experienced by Black and Indigenous Peoples. Through honest and open dialogue, we will hopefully move toward concrete and positive actions.
On Monday, the opening ceremony was held for “Taking a Stand: Disrupting Black and Indigenous Racism.” It featured a drumming performance with Bear Nation, complemented by an African drumming performance with the Soul Drums Quartet. For more details on the week of events, please visit www. algonquincollege.com/diversity/taking-a-stand.
Taking a Stand is just a first step in eradicating racism. The week is all about raising awareness and exploring race and racism, becoming actively anti-racist, and celebrating Black and Indigenous cultures. But beyond Algonquin College, it also requires concrete actions in our cities, communities and workplaces, including increasing the participation of under-represented groups in our knowledge-based economy, supporting the growth of black-owned businesses, which were hit by the pandemic disproportionally, and creating the conditions for a safe and diverse workforce for Black and Indigenous people.
Taking a Stand: Disrupting Black and Indigenous Racism is a litmus test for our success in inclusion and diversity. Because if you make the environment safe and welcoming, and leverage differences as a competitive advantage, as Frances Frei from Harvard says, diversity will definitively follow. Our Algonquin College experiment can be improved and scaled up for workplaces, educational institutes, cities, Canada, maybe the world.
So, let's take a stand, and execute concrete actions!