HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 3, 2022Page 1 of 6
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
March 3, 2022
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: F. Ferguson
A. Fraser
E. Gittens
D. Governor
O. Grignon
K. Hanson
J-D. Health
F. Heath
N. Hepburn
K. Lopez
N. Sinclair
A.Hector-Alexander, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,
The Regional Municipality of Durham
K. Pyke, Coordinator, Museum Operations, Pickering Museum Village
C. Addo-Bekoe, Manager, People and Culture, Pickering Public Library (Staff
Liaison)
J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison)
A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: Z. Adatia
C. Farinha
K. Noronha
Item/
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome and Call to Order
D.Governor welcomed everyone to the meeting
and called the meeting to order.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by O. Grignon
Seconded by F. Heath
That the agenda for the March 3, 2022 meeting of the
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved.
Carried.
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Item/
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
3. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
4. Approval of Minutes – February 3, 2022
Moved by F. Heath
Seconded by O. Grignon
That the Minutes of the February 3, 2022 meeting of
the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be
approved.
Carried.
5. Presentations
5.1 A. Hector-Alexander, Director of Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion, The Regional
Municipality of Durham
A. Hector-Alexander spoke to the various equity,
diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives happening at
the Regional Municipality of Durham and throughout
the broader community.
A question and answer period ensued where
members discussed:
•the importance of ensuring no community is
excluded;
•how Durham Region staff and the broader
community have responded to the EDI initiatives;
•how the Regional Municipality of Durham will be
collaborating with lower-tier municipalities and
community partners on EDI initiatives;
•how the EDI initiatives will address other factors
such as intersecting identities, poverty, and other
socio-economic factors;
•how these initiatives will meet the needs of the
Black community, while broadly addressing other
forms of marginalization and discrimination;
•the availability of public reports on EDI initiatives
and ways initiatives can connect with the work of
the Taskforce; and,
•the Durham Region EDI Strategic Plan.
6. Delegations
No delegations were noted.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
7. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
8. Other Business
7.1 Introduction to the newly appointed PABRT
members
D. Governor introduced new members by name to
the Taskforce.
O. Grignon provided a presentation that outlined the
background and experiences of new members.
7.2 Onboarding of new members
Item was tabled and discussed under Item 7.5
7.3 Social media and digital marketing
O. Grignon provided an update to the Taskforce
regarding social media and informed members that
vendors have been solicited for pricing to manage the
Taskforce’s social media channels and boost their
social media presence.
O. Grignon asked that the Taskforce consider
allocating no more than $5,000.00 toward hiring a
social media content manager for the Taskforce’s
social media channels for a period of five (5) months.
O.Grignon informed the Taskforce that the idea of
soliciting a student for support with social media was
explored and learned that they would not be able to
arrange for a student to start in a timely manner, and
that the mentorship requirement from a City staff is
another barrier to this option.
Discussion ensued regarding the need for a member
of the Taskforce to review and approve content.
J-D. Heath, E. Gittens, N. Hepburn, and K. Hanson
expressed interest in assisting with this.
Further discussion continued regarding:
•what social media platforms that the Taskforce
would engage with;
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Item/
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Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
•the frequency of content that will be posted;
•how this project will impact the Taskforce’s
budget;
•how the project aligns with the Taskforce’s
priorities and what outcomes would be expected;
•the importance of raising the presence of the
Taskforce of social media to solicit community
engagement; and,
•the importance of forecasting budget needs of the
Taskforce given that this project could utilize 20%
of the Taskforce’s budget.
Moved by O. Grignon
That the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
authorize the allocation of no more than $5,000.00
towards the hiring of a social media content manager.
Carried.
7.4 DRPS Virtual Town Hall update
A. Davis informed the Taskforce that Durham
Regional Police Service has invited the Taskforce to
engage in a virtual town hall to discuss race-based
data within Durham Region on March 24, 2022 from
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
7.5 Review and discussion of Work Plan,
including items related to Community
Benefits Framework, Nuit Noir, ArtFest,
Cultural Fusion, Terms of Reference,
Booking of Delegations
D. Governor raised items to consider prioritizing for
the work plan including the Community Benefits
Framework, Nuit Noir, Art Fest, Cultural Fusion,
revising the Terms of Reference, and the delegation
process.
Members engaged in discussion around:
•discussing the history of the Terms of Reference;
A. Davis to provide the
invitation and event
information to O. Grignon to
circulate to the Taskforce.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
•the time frame for submitting a revised Terms of
Reference to Council for review;
•the Community Benefits Framework; and,
•the need for new members to be provided
information on these priority items before making
voting decisions; and whether an information
session can be arranged to facilitate this.
Moved by D. Governor
That the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce hold
an information session before the April 7, 2022
meeting to provide new members information.
Carried.
Moved by D. Governor
That the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
make revising the Taskforce’s Terms of Reference
the number one priority for the Work Plan.
Carried.
7.6 Enhancing supports for Black Youth and
Entrepreneurs
D. Governor provided an update regarding a
provincial program supporting Black Youth and
Entrepreneurs, and informed members that this
opportunity is no longer available as one of the
deadlines had already passed.
7.7 Letter of Support for Pickering Museum
Initiative
F. Heath provided an update regarding discussions
with the Pickering Museum staff, and informed the
Taskforce that the Pickering Museum is soliciting
their feedback on the Black history initiative and
tourism route.
F. Health further shared that The Pickering Museum
is requesting that the Taskforce provide a letter of
support for a grant application to fund the project and
that a draft letter will be made available for viewing on
the Microsoft Teams channel and that more
J. San Antonio to coordinate
an information / orientation
for new PABRT members
with City staff.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
information may be provided at the information
session.
9. Next Meeting – April 7, 2022
10. Adjournment.
Moved by J. Heath
Seconded by N. Hepburn
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:01 pm