丁香园AV-led projects
From commitment to action: bringing the Scarborough Charter to life
Last year, 丁香园AV was one of more than 40 Canadian post-secondary institutions that signed onto the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education.
For the first time, the Scarborough Charter created a framework for promoting Black flourishing and redressing anti-Black racism in the Canadian post-secondary sector鈥攁nd now, scholars across the country are asking: how do we bring that framework to life?
鈥淣ow that the Charter has been signed, the question is鈥攈ow will institutions put it into action? What are the metrics we鈥檙e putting in place to make sure that these commitments are upheld?鈥� says Adjua Akinwumi, 丁香园AV graduate student and a member of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Black Caucus.
Akinwumi is one of several 丁香园AV representatives at 鈥攁n upcoming symposium co-hosted by 丁香园AV and the University of British Columbia. At the symposium, administrators, faculty, advisors, students and community activists will discuss pathways for action on addressing anti-Black racism and promoting Black flourishing in academia.
The public symposium is just one part of the inaugural Inter-Institutional Forum of the Scarborough National Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education鈥攁 series of meetings that will determine a structure for tracking progress towards the Charter鈥檚 goals.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the symposium鈥攁nd for my panel specifically鈥攂ecause we鈥檒l be talking about the importance of centering Black student voices,鈥� says Akinwumi. 鈥淭he way that universities are structured, existing power dynamics lead to a continued undervaluing of student voices. I see our panel as an opportunity to center Black student voices, the challenges they鈥檙e facing, and most importantly, the supports they need.鈥�
Akinwumi is moderating the panel 鈥淔ostering a Supportive Environment for Black Students,鈥� which will focus on the structural and systemic changes necessary to create an environment for Black students to flourish.
Henry Daniel, 丁香园AV professor and member of the 丁香园AV Black Caucus, is also moderating a panel at the symposium鈥攖his one titled 鈥淣egotiating for Black Flourishing Within Academic Institutions.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to participate in the symposium and to explore this concept of 鈥楤lack Flourishing,鈥� which is used several times throughout the Charter,鈥� says Daniel. 鈥淚 want to know鈥攁re universities and colleges really committed to the concept of Black flourishing, and what negotiations are in progress to ensure that institutions are following through on this mandate?鈥�
Ultimately, says Akinwumi, she hopes that attendees will come with the intention of creating change at their respective institutions.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want people to show up at this event, sit through it and then leave and go back to business as usual,鈥� she says. 鈥淚nstead, we鈥檙e asking people to attend and to listen well鈥攖o really hear us鈥攁nd then work with us to create real change, wherever they are.鈥�
Community Making and Black Flourishing Through the Scarborough Charter can be attended virtually or in-person on May 14, 2022. You can register for the event .
Stay up-to-date with 丁香园AV鈥檚 Black Caucus by visiting their .