Acknowledging, understanding, and addressing anti-Black racism and its impacts on Black families and students

BY PAUL JUNOR

According to its website: studentandfamilyadvocate.com it is a Black community-based program designed to support Black families and students as they engage with the education system. It is composed of 17 leading and well-known Black-led organizations that have SFAs directly connected with them across Ontario.

The website reveals that as SFAs, we also acknowledge, understand, and address anti-Black racism and its impacts on Black families and students through advocacy, accountability, and transformational change. The three pillars that undergird their work are:

1. Advocacy

Black advocates who understand the way Black/African, African Caribbean, African Canadian Afro-Latin families are impacted in the education system.

2. Accountability

Located in Black-led agencies and organizations across Ontario and available to help you

3. Transformational change

We will stand beside you, attend meetings with you, help you draft letters, ensure accountability for your children as you interact with the school system.

This was funded through a $6 million grant from the Ontario Ministry of Education, which was announced in March 2022 and will run for three years. Black parents/caregivers will be able to access culturally relevant support and services for their elementary, secondary or post-secondary children. The SFA is powered by a systems navigation network, which provides a range of services and strategies for kids.

The press release indicates that the SFA initiative will focus on working with students in the academic school year for 2022- 2023 as they settle in schools. SFA connects Black students and families to supports and services intended to encourage positive outcomes for: Black children, youth, and families at various entry points throughout their academic life. Furthermore, its goal is to facilitate normalized and entrenched Black school success, which all of our children are fundamentally entitled to.

Farley Flex of Urban Rez Solution states in the press release, “The classroom experience plays a significant role in the personal and professional development of our children and youth. We want to ensure each child is set up on a path to success and able to tap into their fullest potential while receiving equitable treatment as they develop lifelong skills in the classroom and beyond. Our priority is to ensure the next generation is well-equipped for the road ahead.”

I interviewed Farley and he shared insights about Urban Rez Solution’s participation in the SFA initiative. He mentioned that it is important to have a marketing and management approach to the promotion of the program, as this is vital to selling it to those who will benefit from it. He states that the program extends to other areas in Ontario and there is hope that it will be extended beyond the three-year process. He believes in a strength-based approach when examining the challenges that Black families face.

There is a three-step process that has to be completed to pair students with SFA advocates:

• Conducting a search for a local SFA advocate
• Completing an intake form
• Connecting with a worker who will create an action plan to wrap and support the student and parent/caregiver.

Anyone interested in learning about the SFA programs can check the website: www.studentandfamilyadvocate.com