I agree, Alicia! I think that’s a really important step to reverse the more paternalistic approach to programming, where Black communities are told what they should want or need as opposed to being asked and as (if not more) important, having those requests granted. Because there are times where Black communities are asked, but their concerns…

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I think you make many good points, Jae! The one that stood out to me most was when you said that programs should be crafted using youth’s standards. It can be easy to put a lot of time into designing a program that we assume youth will enjoy, but it makes more sense to co-design programs. That can be an empowering experience for Black youth,…

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Yes, Haley!! Sometimes there is such a separation between those in power and those being impacted by the decisions made by those in power. The judgement of whether a decision was “good” or “effective” shouldn’t be made by those who crafted and presented those decisions. There needs to be accountability there, and community members are one level…

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For sure, stigma can and does act as a barrier to services. For you, Julie, or anyone responding in this thread, what does addressing that stigma tangibly look like? What could programs/program leads and participants do to confront that stigma?

Glad this was made available!! Such a good playlist. It’s Ye for me; when Ye is on, I feel like a whole other person 😅

Very well said, Anca! Your response reminds me of the saying “Equality can feel like oppression. But it’s not. What you’re feeling is just the discomfort of losing a little bit of your privilege.” However, there is a need for those in power to wrestle with, as opposed to dismiss, their discomfort.

Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your perspective! I definitely agree that within Canada, there is this comparison with other countries, like the U.S., that is used to undermine the real impacts of systemic racism in our society. This tactic often results in the silencing and erasure of Black voices who challenge that system, because racism is…

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Hi everyone! I’m excited that there’s a space to chat about food justice, especially after the workshop we had today from 1 – 4 pm, titled the Transformational Power of Food Security & Sovereignty for BIPOC Communities. If you’d like access to the slides as you reflect more on this question, they can be found…

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