Dismantling anti-Black racism; Parents of Black children launch Knowledge Exchange Centre

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Knowledge Exchange Centre by the Parents of Black Children is a non-profit formed to exchange knowledge and resources to fight anti-Black racism from the inside. It provides knowledge-sharing initiatives for all organizations large and small. It is driven by the PoBC model of accountability to drive transformation change in your organization.

The Knowledge Centre Exchange offers workshops and training to help Black families.

It can help the following:

• Educators at all school levels
• Parents/caregivers and organizations serving parents and caregivers
• Youth and youth-serving organizations
• Associations/Unions and other organizations

Below are the specific workshops offered and a detailed description:

How to be an Anti-Racist Educator: Teaching with an anti-racist lens (2 hours)

This workship will equip educators with the tools to challenge harmful practices, such as the over-surveillance of Black students, non-inclusive spaces/classrooms, harsher disciplining,and approaches to specialized programming for Black students.

Understanding Anti-Black Racism in Education: The History (1.5 hours)

This workshop will take educators on a journey to understanding educational approaches in pre-colonial Africa, through transatlantic slavery, and colonial Canada to educational experiences in the 1980s and 1990s for Black families. This is a chance for educators to gain a deeper understanding of the Black experience, the history of colonialism, and the role it plays in the creation of systems and legacies that still impacts us today.

The Reality of the Black Student Experience in School (2 hours)

It will help educators discover how to be critical actors in supporting Black students, and provide them with a clear and deep understanding of the lived realities of Black students.

Parents/Caregivers/Organizations serving Parents and Caregivers

(i) Activating and Advocating

This workshop will outline the power of advocacy and how to be an effective advocate.

(ii) Navigating the child welfare system (2 hours)

Are you a Black parent/caregiver or a community organization working with Black families? Learn how to effectively navigate Children Aid Societies. What are your rights?

You should attend the training if:

• You work for a community organization that provides services to Black families
• You are a person of African Canadian descent wanting to know more about the child welfare system

Sessions will focus on:

• Child Welfare Eligibility Spectrum (how workers make decisions about whether to intervene, bias’ that make it more likely for files to be open on Black families etc.
• Child Youth and Family Services Act Can it work for Black families?
• Understand the Ontario Child Protection Tools and Manuals (the tools that workers use to make decisions about apprehensions, intake etc.)
• How to support your clients/family through CAS contact…What should you do/do not?
• Navigating the Education System (2 hours)

This workship is designed to guide parents through the inner workings of the education system.

Youth and Youth Serving Organizations:

(i) The N Word (all grades) – 40 minutes

This workshop will take a deep dive into “n word passes” and explain why no one should be using the word.

(ii) Understanding racism- we all play a role (all grades) – 1 hour

A youth-centred approach to discussing and understanding racism and anti-Black racism specifically.

(iii) Activating your power! Creating the world you want to see (all grades)-40 min

This engaging and interactive workshop will help students identify areas of activim in their lives.

General Audience: Addressing and Maintaining Optimal Mental Health for Black families- understanding the impact of anti-Black racism (1.5 hours)

The facilators will walk you through strategies to discuss the impact of Cumulative Racial Trauma and the effects on low self-esteem while building knowledge and skills to become more self-directing and self-accepting.