Join us for an engaging and informative Youth Forum Dialogue
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Carl James
Director, York Centre for Education
& Community York University
Date: Friday February 16, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: McLean Community Centre
Community Hall, 95 Magill Drive, Ajax
Project Background
The Durham Community Action Group (DCAG) is working with Black and other
racialized youth throughout the Durham Region to develop a dialogue and public
education series entitled “In Their Own Voices: Disrupting Anti-Black Racism & Hate”.
The initiative is done at DCAG with the support of Ontario’s Anti-Racism Directorate and
the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. The primary goal is to build
capacity among all youth in Durham to recognize and effectively respond to incidents of
anti-Black racism, systemic racism, and hate, in both their school community and
society. In year 1, a series of dialogues with youth, police and educators raised
awareness and strengthened their understanding of anti-Black racism and hate.
Through this process, participants were able to develop the capacity and confidence to
identify and effectively address anti-Black racism, hate, and systemic racism in all its
manifestations. The focus is the pernicious and systemic nature of these 2 admittedly
important issues in policing and the education system, the impact ineffective responses
have on Black youth, and in perpetuating and normalizing these harmful problems.
In year 1, youth shared, in their own voices, their experiences with anti-Black racism
and hate in education and some encounters with police working in the community.
Youth also identified best practices that have been implemented in Canada and other
jurisdictions to effectively respond to racism and hate, and to ensure accountability and
youth involvement in developing solutions. This awareness and the skills gained formed
the basis of the work undertaken in year 2 of the Project.
Youth designed and developed educational materials to be utilized in public education
workshops that could amplify their voice, share their experiences, and reflect their
unique perceptive. Youth participants will strive for the delivery of the workshops to
educators in the Durham Region School Boards, personnel with the Durham Region
Police Service (DRPS) and the community in general to raise awareness, increase
understanding, and help to effectively address the often traumatic impact of poor
responses to systemic anti-Black racism and hate on Black youth.
