You’re Invited: Diversity & Inclusion Learning Session #2: Anti-Racism 101 – Moving From “Not Racist” to “Anti-Racist”

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Hello Volunteers,

Thank you all so much for your continued enthusiasm and commitment to our Diversity & Inclusion learning sessions! We hope you’ll continue to join us for brave and bold discussion in our accompanying Volunteer Connector Call Discussion Group (see end of post!)

Thank you for your feedback on additional sessions and improvements. We’ll share the learning syllabus as the planning team – our IDEA Group and our new Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, Cian Knights, move forward.

Next up:  Session #2: “Anti-Racism 101 – Moving from “Not Racist” to “Anti-Racist” (2 hours)

This learning session continues the conversation introduced in our first session. Letecia Rose, Equity Advocate and Community Engagement Specialist, joins us once again.

Our Second Session: Here’s What to Expect

  • Land acknowledgement with Erin Prendergast, Chief, Strategic Initiatives (2 mins)
  • Introduction by Stephan Jost, Director & CEO (5 mins)
  • Overview of Agenda and Learning Objectives, with Nathalie Sato, Manager, Talent (5 mins)
  • Anti-Racism 101: Moving from ‘Not Racist’ to ‘Anti-Racist’, with Letecia Rose (90 mins)
  • Questions/Answers (pre-recorded), with Letecia Rose (15 mins)
  • Wrap-up, by Nathalie Sato (3 mins)

How to Access this Recording:

(Note for any staff coordinators watching: to access, you must be disconnected from the VPN to view)

Things to Keep in Mind:

  • These videos are pre-recorded webinars, not live (chat/ Q&A function is not active)
  • Depending on the speed of your internet, or how many volunteers are watching the recording at the same time, the video may be slow to load. Please be patient with any interrupted viewing.
  • As pre-recorded content, we regretfully aren’t able to now re-record this session with closed-captioning; we recommend the Otter app (a speech-to-text app, that enables users to transcribe voice conversations) It’s available on desktop, Android, and iOS devices. Closed captioning will be a part of new sessions currently being planned.
  • Keep a list of thoughts you’d like to share in our Volunteer Connector Call! – (see more, below)

Related Resources:

Here’s a resource list to learn more about the ideas and issues introduced in this recording:

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/09/17/so-you-want-to-be-an-ally-against-systemic-anti-black-racism.html

Here is one of the video clips from Letecia’s presentation about micro-aggressions. Take the opportunity to watch it again and reflect on how language, even unintentional, can be harmful.

Listen to this podcast of Letecia Rose speaking with Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor on the topic of Decoding Black. (Letecia referred to Dr. Taylor in her training session):  https://www.centennialcollege.ca/centennial-podcast/season-3-decoding-black/episode-1-introducing-decoding-black/

In March 2020, as part of AGO Talks, writer Desmond Cole as he launched his new book The Skin We’re In, which explored injustices experienced by many Black Canadians. Here is a link to the event including an audio recording: https://ago.ca/events/futures-desmond-cole

Here is a more recent article that further explores this topic: https://thewalrus.ca/in-conversation-desmond-cole-and-tea-mutonji/. 

Want to Talk More?

Join our AGO Volunteers Connector Call. This is an opportunity for you to discuss and share what you’ve learned with other volunteers, and consider how you can better support a more diverse and welcoming volunteer community. Our focus is to create a positive space to share our own personal learnings, and to encourage bold and brave conversation, to talk and grow together. The group sessions are not mandatory if you are finding them difficult to participate in. Please do whatever feels best for you.

Volunteer Connector Call #2, Anti-Racism 101 – Moving from “Not Racist” to “Anti-Racist”

More about Our Featured Speaker: Letecia Rose is an equity strategist passionate about creating inclusive and accessible spaces. Her career has transcended multiple sectors working in the arts, youth development, education, recreation and social service. Working in the area of social justice for the past 15 years, Letecia has trained thousands of organizations, educators and stakeholders in hands-on diversity programs across Ontario and has created spaces for individuals to have courageous conversations about issues of discrimination and inequity.

Letecia is a recognized city-builder working alongside groups like Civic Action as a Fellow and has received the United Way Innovation and Creativity award, a Vital People award from Toronto Community Foundation and Inclusion Innovation Award from the National Basketball Association (NBA).