The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutJanuary 11, 2024 Page 1 of 9 Minutes/Meeting Summary Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce November 2, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting 7:00 pm Attendees: C. Canzius A. Fraser O. Grignon B. Loiseau P. Martin V. Shaw K. Hanson D. David D. Dill K. Petrolo S. Mascoll Mayor K. Ashe D. Miles-Senior, Founder & CEO, Durham Family & Cultural Centre E. Edwards, Program and Outreach Facilitator, Durham Family & Cultural Centre C. McKoy, Principal, UpSurgence E. Tayles-Armstrong, Conservator, Pickering Museum Village J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison) C. Addo-Bekoe, Manager, People and Culture (Staff Liaison) D. YewWoon, Community Engagement Coordinator, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: Z. Donaldson C. Russell Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 1. Welcome and Call to Order O. Grignon called the meeting to order and read the Land Acknowledgement. 2. Review and Approval of Agenda O. Grignon reviewed the agenda and requested that the agenda be amended to include an additional presentation by Claudia McKoy, Principal, UpSurgence regarding a Policy Development & Consultation Project Proposal be added as Item 5.3. Page 2 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Moved by P. Martin Seconded by C. Canzius That the January 11, 2024 Meeting agenda of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved, as amended. Carried 3. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 4. Approval of Minutes Moved by K. Petrolo Seconded by D. David That the November 2, 2023 Meeting Minutes of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved. Carried 5. Presentations 5.1 Erica Edwards, Program & Outreach Facilitator, Durham Family & Cultural Centre Re: Durham Family & Cultural Centre - Black Joy Holiday Market Update Erica Edwards, Program & Outreach Facilitator, Durham Family & Cultural Centre appeared before the Taskforce and provided an update regarding the 2023 Black Joy Holiday Market Event including: • a background of the work that Durham Family & Cultural Centre (DFCC) does; • the founding principles of the event being Ujima, Ujamma and Food Justice; • the planning and key timelines leading up to the event; • the increase in sponsorship of the event and the event’s support of 105 families this past year; • an overview of the contents and the retail value of the food baskets provided; • the importance of culturally appropriate food; • an overview of the revenue and expenses of the Black Joy Holiday Market Event; Page 3 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • the 50+ vendors that participated in the event; • the performances and workshops that took place at the event; • feedback and personal impacts of the event reported from the community; • the over 3,500 people that attended the event; and, • an overview of upcoming events at DFCC. Erica Edwards concluded her presentation playing videos that outlined key highlights of the Black Joy Holiday Market Event. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce and Erica Edwards regarding: • the satisfaction seeing the community come out and supporting black-owned businesses and supporting so many families; • the over 100 applications received for food basket support within a window of 20 hours; • the ability for the event to support so many more families due to new partnerships and sponsors; • whether there was an opportunity to replicate this event during a different time of the year; • the critical partnership with the City’s Winter Nights City Lights Event; • the importance of planning events well in advance; • expressed interest from vendors to participating in a subcommittee to assist in planning similar events in the future; • the need to ensure adequate commitment of resources and support should an additional event be planned; • the consideration of the Taskforce to make this event one of the signature events that it supports; and, • the awarding of the Town of Ajax Diversity, Engagement and Community Award to the DFCC for their work. Page 4 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 5.2 Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Conservator & Taylor Little, Curatorial Officer Re: City of Pickering – Gather & Grow Exhibit Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Conservator provided an overview of the Gather & Grow Exhibit that is under development at the Pickering Museum Village (PMV), including: • the exhibit’s goal to explore the way food preparation and production has connected people and communities across cultures and history; • the planned phasing of the project; • an overview of the planned exterior spaces as part of the exhibit; • an overview of the plans for the interior of the Miller Cole House; • the seeking of partnerships to be involved in the exhibit to provide stories, traditions and artifacts for the exhibit; • the funding being sought for the exhibits; • the mini exhibit feature planned for the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex (CHDRC); • the planned cookbook to be created from community submissions as part of the exhibit; and, • the status of the project and project timelines. Ellen Tayles-Armstrong extended the invitation for the Taskforce’s feedback regarding the community partner or resources it should consider in the development of the exhibit. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce and Erica Edwards regarding: • whether there’s was an opportunity to incorporate indigenous perspectives into the exhibit; • the volunteer gardening and cooking groups at the PMV that will be involved in the planning of the exhibit; • whether the PMV could provide information by email for the Taskforce disseminate to community organizations and members; Page 5 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • concerns regarding transportation to the PMV and whether there can be a partnership considered with Durham Region Transit (DRT) to mitigate transportation concerns. 5.3 Claudia McKoy, Principal, UpSurgence Re: Policy Development & Consultation Project Proposal Claudia McKoy, Principal, UpSurgence provided an overview of a Policy Development & Consultation Project Proposal, including: • the past work of UpSurgence in facilitating the creation of the City of Mississauga’s Equity Report and Action Plan; • the process of codesign to engage stakeholders, promote buy-in, and bridge perception gaps; and, • the anticipated steps and timelines of the proposed Policy Development & Consultation Project Proposal for the Taskforce. Odessa provided further background on this proposed project and indicated that it had stemmed from discussions at the November 2023 Taskforce Meeting to seek out a facilitator to assist the Taskforce in developing their Annual Work Plan and a Strategic Plan for the entire term. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce, Claudia McKoy, and staff regarding: • clarification regarding the due date of the Annual Year End Report & Work Plan being due to Council no later than the May Council Meeting; • clarification that the Taskforce could undertake this initiative as a project within their Work Plan; • the cost for this proposed project still needing to be negotiated, and the need to consider the City’s Purchasing Policy in making a decision on the matter; • clarification that both broader community members and leaders would be consulted as part of the proposed co-design process; • concerns regarding the potential for the community to feel “engaged out”; Page 6 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • whether the lessons learned from the past engagement in the City of Mississauga can inform this exercise in Pickering; and, • clarification that this could be considered a separate and broader project from the Taskforce’s Work Plan; • the need for adequate time to engage communities and stakeholder for type of project; and, • caution regarding pushing a project like this farther into the future. 6. Delegations There were no delegations. 7. General Business 7.1 EDI Strategy Update This item was deferred to February 8, 2024 Taskforce Meeting. 7.2 Black History Month Celebration C. Canzius and D. David provided an update regarding the Black History Month Celebration event being led by the Region of Durham, including: • the various organizations participating in the event; • the event being scheduled to take place at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex (CHRDC) on February 1st from 6:00pm – 8:00pm; • the event hosting booths from community partners and the need for support from members to operate the Taskforce’s booth; • the theme of the event being “Black History, Intersectionality, and Joy” ; • the event to feature performances and panelists; and, • the event being open to the public and that registration is currently open. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce and staff regarding: • the event seeming well supported; Page 7 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) • whether the Taskforce should financially support the Cultural Expression Black History Month Event which may require more support; and, • clarification that the City is still supporting the Region’s Black History Month Event in other ways. Moved by D. Dill Seconded by D. David That the Taskforce allocate the designated $2,000.00 for Black History Month Initiatives to the Cultural Expressions Black History Month Event. Carried 7.3 Marketing and Promotions C. Canzius provided an update on the Taskforce’s Marketing and Promotions including: • new promotional items that have been purchased including a new banner, table cloth, and tote bags; • an update that the Taskforce is out of promotional pens and fist-shaped stress balls; • the intent to re-stock the inventory of pens and fist-shaped stress balls in 2024; • the proposed pens to be purchased in 2024 being sustainable and made of recycled paper; • the draft plan for a new Taskforce logo; and, • the draft plan for the redesign of the Taskforce’s pop up banner. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce and staff regarding whether QR codes could be incorporated in the design of the banner or other materials that can direct people to information or resources. O. Grignon indicated that she would like to update the Taskforce regarding the budget and have a conversation about updating the Taskforce’s website at a future meeting. 7.4 2024 Work Plan Page 8 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) O. Grignon spoke to the need to ensure that the Taskforce is pursuing initiatives and events that the community would like to see and buy into. She indicated the proposed Policy Development & Consultation Project Proposal. J. San Antonio spoke to the importance of having further conversations regarding the cost of the proposed Policy Development & Consultation Project and the need to consult the City’s Finance Department to best understand next steps once the cost of the project has been identified. Discussion ensued amongst Members of the Taskforce and staff regarding: • whether the Taskforce can formulate a task list of initiatives to inform the Year End Report and Work Plan; • concerns regarding the Taskforce’s workload not being evenly distributed amongst Taskforce members; and, • encouraging Members to contribute and share their expertise. O. Grignon and C. Canzius spoke to the need for a motion to approve Taskforce funds for promotional materials. Moved by D. Dill Seconded by D. David That the Taskforce allocate $2,000.00 towards promotional materials. Carried D. YewWoon to send D. Dill the Taskforce’s past Budget information. 8. Correspondence There was no correspondence. 9. Other Business There was no other business. 10. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2024 at 7:00pm in an electronic format. Page 9 of 9 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned. Meeting Adjourned: 9:28 pm