Toronto Black Policy Conference 2021 focus on the themes of Reset, Rebuild, and Recover

BY PAUL JUNOR

It was truly an inspiring, enriching, amazing and reflecting conference presented by The Canadian Black Policy Network (CBPN) held on November 27^th, 2021 at the University of Toronto. Eunice K. Yeboah founded it and Sharnelle Morgan, who was both alumni of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, graduates in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program located at the University of Toronto.

The inaugural conference occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s conference saw a diverse range of speakers who reflected on the aftermath of systemic anti-Black racism in Toronto. The focus of this year’s conference was on: mental health, the city’s housing crisis and economic recovery in Toronto’s Black communities.

The organizers of the 2021 conference were: Eunice K. Yeboah,Sharmelle Morgan, Jennifer Oduro, Anna-Kay Russell and Deborah Baiden. Lani Krantz of U of T News interviewed the organizers and reported that the CPBN was founded on Emancipation Day, August 1^st, 2021 as a,

“New non-profit organization dedicated to creating a network across Canada of individuals and organizations interested in addressing issues that impact Black communities.

Our organization is committed to providing collaborative and innovative spaces and events (including the Toronto Black Policy Conference) to enhance the engagement of Canada’s Black communities in the public policy process, and to support the exploration of public policy’s impact on those communities with interested Black groups allies.”

In terms of the pressing needs that the Black communities face in Toronto, CPBN identifies, “Structural racism in education, employment, housing, health care and the criminal justice system.” With respect to the 2021 conference, CPBN notes that the theme “Was chosen to provide Black’s community members in Toronto and their allies with the opportunity to reflect on how systemic racism has had a two-fold effect on Toronto’s Black communities. Black communities were more exposed and less protected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to pre-existing racial inequalities.”

CPBN hopes that the 2021 event will “Create a lasting, recurrent discussion of policy issues affecting Toronto’s Black communities with tangible outcomes.” The 2021 conference opened with a performance by Randell Adjei, inaugural poet laureate of Ontario. Dr. Tanya L. Sharpe, Associate Professor and Dr Notisha Massaquoi, Assistant Professor both of U of T’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work started the conference with a dialogue regarding mental health stigmas in the Black community as part of the first session on “Reset: Centering Well-Being in our Collective Recovery.”

The second session focused on “Rebuild: Solutions to Toronto’s Housing Crisis in Black Communities.” It was moderated by Evelyn Amponsah, newly appointed Director of The Centre for The Advancement of the Interests of Black People, Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) and panellists were Dehabo Ahmed-Omer, Executive Director of the BlackNorth Initiative, Cheryl Case, Founder and Principal Urban Planner at CP Planning and Mwarigha M.S. Vice-President Housing and Homelessness services at Woodgreen Community Services.

The afternoon session focused on “Rebuild: Maximizing the Economic Impact of Investments in Black Communities.” It was moderated by Liban Abokar, co-founder of Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) and featured panellist: Nadine Spencer, CEO of Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), Isaac Olowolafe Jr, real estate entrepreneur of Dreammaker Inc and Adeela Carter, founder of Carter Strategy and Pitch Better.

The final session focused on “Recover: Solidifying Black Voices in Political Processes.” Kema Joseph, bilingual government relation’s consultant of Crestview Strategy was the moderator and featured panellist Laura Mae Lindo, activist, educator and MPP for Kitchener Centre.