Last year, we heard a lot in the news about the Starbucks incident with the two Black men who were arrested for being in the café, while waiting for a friend. The issue? Being Black – and what this meant for the Starbucks employee who called the police. We then heard a lot about unconscious bias, … [Continue reading] Anti-Black Racism in Canada
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Black History Month…plus
A few weeks ago I attended a Diversity Committee meeting at my child’s elementary school. They were, not surprisingly, talking about Black History Month (and Asian Heritage month, also in February now) and what they could do. I’m going to share some of the highlights of that conversation because … [Continue reading] Black History Month…plus
Choices and Actions that move the D&I needle forward…
As I watch the snow fly, and it’s freezing outside, I feel like a little injection of hope is in order. So, in this blog post I’m sharing a few things I’ve come across in the last little while that I believe are good examples of some of the great choices and actions we can make to further our … [Continue reading] Choices and Actions that move the D&I needle forward…
Black History Month – stories of resilience
Next month is Black History Month (BHM) here in North America. I have a love/hate relationship with BHM, that you can read about in past blogs. Today, however, I want to focus on a BHM event that you can participate in, and what I’ve learned already just by hearing about it. BHM is a month … [Continue reading] Black History Month – stories of resilience
How far have we come?
This past weekend, I overheard a telephone conversation between my 6-year old daughter and her dad. He was watching a documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and was explaining who she is and her work. Here is some of what he said (I’m paraphrasing): “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a lawyer. When she … [Continue reading] How far have we come?
Our Common Humanity
"There will never be a wall tall enough to prevent a parent from looking for a future for their children." – Joanne Liu, President Doctors Without Borders My mom called me yesterday to read me the above quote and tell me about the article. Thanks Mom! I thought it would be a great way to start … [Continue reading] Our Common Humanity
What’s it like to be Black in Toronto?
Last Monday the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a report called A Collective Impact - about the Toronto Police Department and the racial profiling of Black people. I saw some of the statistics flash across the TV screen at the dentist’s office that day. Sadly, none of them surprised … [Continue reading] What’s it like to be Black in Toronto?
The Importance of Allyship
Allyship is a word we hear and use often in reference to LGBTQ communities and LGBTQ inclusion – but it’s not specific to that group. Today I’m going to explore what the word means and why it’s important for furthering inclusion, equity, diversity and social justice. To be an ally … [Continue reading] The Importance of Allyship
Cultural Humility
You may have heard about the D&G advertising faux-pas last week. If you haven’t you may still be able to google the news reports. Here’s the high-level summary: China was offended and D&G may well have lost a big market. For something that could have been avoided. A simple truth... There … [Continue reading] Cultural Humility
Diversity & Inclusion Training…mandatory or not?
I was recently asked about making a Diveristy & Inclusion (D&I) workshop mandatory. Before I tell you what I said, I have a few questions for you to consider. Questions for consideration: 1. What’s your criteria for making a training program optional? I’m sure there are many answers to … [Continue reading] Diversity & Inclusion Training…mandatory or not?