Addressing Anti-Black Racism

The City of Vaughan recognizes that anti-Black racism is perpetual, pervasive and systemic in Canada, and that an effective strategy is required to challenge anti-Black racism in all its forms.

Addressing anti-Black racism is a key priority in the City’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and multi-year action plan (PDF).

The faces of eight diverse Black individuals

Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan

Vaughan Council approved the City’s Reimagining Black Futures in Vaughan: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan 2024-2031 (PDF) on April 22, 2024. This eight-year action plan provides key actions for supporting diverse Black communities that fall within the City’s jurisdiction, and was developed in collaboration with Black residents, leaders, community groups, organizations and businesses in the city. Their insights, perspectives and recommendations have shaped the objectives, key actions and accountability measures within the action plan. Community engagement was central to the action plan’s development.

 

Read the action plan (PDF) to learn how we’re addressing and removing barriers to the full and meaningful participation of the diverse Black community in municipal services, programs, events and general city life. 

 

Reimagining Black Futures In Vaughan: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan 2024-2031

Project Background

The Addressing Anti-Black Racism project involved collaborating with Black individuals, organizations serving the diverse Black communities living in Vaughan and community leaders to learn about their lived experiences, hear their perspectives and collaboratively develop recommendations for sustainable change. 

 

Since the project launched in September 2022, the City has:

  • reviewed existing Anti-Black Racism Action Plans across cities in Canada to better understand existing efforts, plan components, structures and more.
  • identified organizations led by and/or supporting the Black community in Vaughan and York Region.
  • organized an Addressing Anti-Black Racism Special Advisory Committee comprised of Black individuals through a ​public recruitment. The mandate of the Special Advisory Committee was to:
    • provide advice on the project.
    • facilitate community connections.
    • advise on and guide the community engagement process.
    • provide feedback on the reports in each phase of the project.
    • provide feedback on the recommendations and action plan.
  • facilitated a series of focus group sessions with Black individuals, organizations serving the diverse Black communities living in Vaughan and community leaders.
  • drafted the Reimagining Black Futures in Vaughan: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan 2024-2031 (PDF), which was approved by Vaughan Council on April 22, 2024.

 

Project timeline

  • Strategy review and initial outreach – Fall 2022 | Complete
  • Community engagement: identifying key issues and recommended actions – Winter/Spring 2022 | Complete
  • Validation of the draft action plan – Summer 2023 to Winter 2024 | Complete
  • Launch the final action plan city-wide – April 2024 | Complete

 

Understanding Anti-Black Racism

Anti-Black racism is historic, pervasive and systemic in Canada. It refers to attitudes, beliefs, prejudices and/or discriminatory practices that are directed at Black people. It is micro (as seen in day-to-day interactions) and structural (as seen in laws and policies). It is entrenched into societal practices that reflect and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination directed at people of African descent and is rooted in their unique history and experience of enslavement and colonization here in Canada. Anti-Black racism can be reflected in many forms, including disparities in health, education, employment and others. These outcomes can vary greatly within the Black community, as Black individuals of different genders, religions, ages, sexual orientations and other identities experience overlapping barriers. This means to address anti-Black racism, the diverse identities and lived experiences within the Black community must be supported.

 

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Contact Information

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Strategic Initiatives Portfolio – Inclusion and Community Outreach

Phone: 905-832-2281

Location:
Vaughan City Hall
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON  L6A 1T1