Black community activism and advocacy has given birth to TDSB’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement

BY PAUL JUNOR

There are great things ahead for the TDSB’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement (CEBSA) as it looks ahead to some great events in the future. As the first of its kind in K-12 public education in Canada, there are great expectations placed upon them to fulfill their mission.

It was years of Black community activism and advocacy that gave birth to this innovative and creative centre with the mission to dismantle anti-Black racism within the TDSB. It was launched virtually in 2021 and the official launch took place on June 13^th, 2022, with the occupying of its physical space at Winston Churchill C.I The newly renovated and designed wing is adorned with art and murals by Danilo Deluxo McCallum. His work explores the multiplicities of Black identity through the lens of Afrofuturism.

On Saturday, September 24^th, 2022, it hosted a Back-to-School Preparation event for Black Children and Youth: a Black Health and Wellness Symposium. Workshops for families and caregivers were held and there were free activities for kids including giveaways, food, and music.

On Monday, October 17^th, 2022, they hosted “Storytelling: Reclaiming our Narratives (Gr. 9 -12). The session explored the role of storytelling in shaping the understanding of diverse communities, and more specifically the narrative of Islam and Muslims living in Canada. The focus was on: centering the multiplicities of experiences and identities of Muslim communities, promoting anti-Islamophobia/anti-Muslim racism education, and exploring concrete strategies within school communities and classroom environments.”

On Monday, October 17^th there was a collaboration between CEBSA and the Black Veterinary Association of Canada in which Black-identifying students in grades 7-12 who are interested in learning about careers as veterinarians or veterinary support professionals. This six-week program seeks to educate Black students on the various aspects of veterinary medicine and admission requirements for veterinary colleges.

On Saturday, October 22^nd, 2022, and Sunday, October 23^rd, 2022 CEBSA hosted a session during the parents and caregivers conference. Over the weekend there were opportunities for learning, connection, and engagement as: parents, guardians, and caregivers learned strategies to help them support their children in the TDSB. The keynote speaker for the conference was Randell Adjei, Ontario’s Poet Laureate.

On Tuesday, October 25^th, 2022, CEBSA hosted a discussion on “Building an Understanding of Anti-Black Islamophobia.” The session explored the interlocking impact of anti-Black racism and Islamophobia on Black communities and Black Muslim students.

On Wednesday, October 26^th, 2022 the CEBSA in collaboration with ADVANCE Canada’s Black Music Business Collective launched a program (involving Black-identified students in Grades 11 and 12) and hosted an advance information session for these students who are interested in exploring career options in the music industry.

On Thursday, October 27^th, 2022, they will host a virtual Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Conference: Using Student Voice to Inform School Policies and Practices. Black students who participated in the Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP) during 2022 will present their research. The students will discuss the factors in creating a successful experiential learning opportunity for students to create action-oriented change. There will be fourteen presentations across five panels in which there will be discussions on:

• Pathways and Transitions
• The Black Identity in K-12 education
• Equitable learning opportunities for Black students

For the second year, CEBSA is hosting the Black Girl’s Book Club, which will run from November 2^nd, 2022 – December 7^th, 2022. It is open to self-identifying Black girls from Grades 9 to 12. They will read books about Black girls and celebrate the stories of Black women writers. New ideas, stories and ways of self-expression will be explored. Tami Charles will host the readings during these sessions from 4:45 p.m – 5:45 p.m.

Anyone interested in learning about the CEBSA can check its social media platforms:

Website: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/cebsa

Facebook TDSB-CEBSA

Twitter:@tdsb-cebsa

Instagram:@tdsb-cebsa