Tackling
Anti-Black Racism
HEAD ON
ThePickeringAnti-BlackRacismTaskforce(PABRT)was “Werecognizethatanti-Blackracismhasauniquehistory establishedin20,aftermanycommunitymemberscame NorthAmericawithsystemicconsequencesthatcontinu togethertoexpressconcernsaboutanti-Blackracismhave atatown disproportionateimpactsondiverseBlackcommun hall meeting in Durham Region. today,includinghereinPickering,”saidDaveRyan,Mayor, CityofPickering.“Asacommunity-drivenmodel,thePABRT TheTaskforceismadeupof13dedicatedBlackcommunity will engage and collaborate with a broad array of community memberswhocalltheCityofPickeringhome,inadditionto stakeholdersinordertoaddressanti-Blackracismas MayorDaveRyanandtwostaliaisons.ThePABRTstarted othersocialjusticeconcernsthataectourdiverser to meet early last year with a mandate to identify and address stakeholders.” issuesofanti-BlackracisminPickering.AMandateandTerms ofReferenceweredevelopedforthemtouseasaguideasthey ItwasimportantfortheCitytoengagewithdiverseBlac moveforward. communities, in order to identify the gaps and try to eradicate systemicracismandcreateanenvironmentwhereeveryo ThemembersofthePABRTwantotherBlackcommunity safeandthattheybelong.TheestablishmentofthePABRTi memberstogetinvolvedandhelptheCitymakepositive and stepintherightdirectionforPickeringandtheT great inclusivechanges.Someoftheirgoalsincludesharingtheir thefirstofitskindfortheCity. expertiseoneortstodismantleanti-Blackracisminadditionto promotingBlackcultureandDiaspora. Who is PABRT?
If I had a magic wand, I would want to increase the engagement among the Black residents of Pickering and work towards empowerment in the community. We are not well-known yet, but it’s my mission to raise the profile on the PABRT and to let others know that they are not alone. Odessa Grignon Vice Chair of The PABRT
14 | Your City Magazine - Issue 3
FloydHeathhasbeenaresidentofPickeringfor15yearsand heservesasChairontheTaskforce.Heisverycommittedt theworkthatthePABRThasbeentaskedwith.Hesharedt theyhavealreadycompletedasurveyintheCityandwere toidentifythreekeytopicsofinterest:education,heal andbusinessdevelopment.Heathsays,“Lastyearwefocuse onintroducingourselvestothecommunity.Wehavealoto strongmemberscomingonboardandwe’relookingforwardt working with them.”
ThePABRTrecentlywelcomedsixnewmembersinMarchandis currentlyworkingondevelopingitsstrategyandaction promises to include more community residents and stakeholders. TheTaskforcehasalreadyhostedvariouseventsinclud “ArtistTalks,”hostedbyCoraReidoftheBlackRoseMoveme Thisgavemembersanopportunitytodiscusssocialjust racerelationsissues.Theyalsowantedtofeatureeven celebratedhealthandwellnessintheBlackcommunit ledtoPABRThosting“SocaWellnessSocial”and“FamilyFloetr Fitness” during the Culture Days celebration and included givingThanksgivingBasketstofamilies.Attheendof201the engagedwithyouththroughthe“416Meets905”openmicnight, allowingyouthtoexpressthemselvesandspeaktheirt through spoken word. Collaboration is key
OdessaGrignonistheViceChairoftheTaskforce.Shewasbo inCanadatoparentswhoimmigratedfromtheWest-Indies. GrignonhaslivedinPickeringformostofherlifeandisnow married,raisingherfamilyhere.ShejoinedthePABRTbecau she was experiencing racism in her neighbourhood and when she saw the opportunity to be a part of a solution, she signed up.
