Last week, our Board celebrated an important step forward in our work to dismantle anti-Black racism. Our Dismantling Anti-Black Racism team launched our Centre for Black Student Excellence.
The inception of the Centre for Black Student Excellence began shortly after the launch of our Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy and is a space dedicated to dismantling anti-Black racism, removing systemic barriers and creating resources and supports for our Black students and their families. We encourage you to visit the centre’s online presence, watch the videos, listen to the podcast discussions, and access the resources at www.yrdsb.ca/blackexcellence.
The launch of our new centre was made possible by our dedicated Dismantling Anti-Black Racism team, who have a message they would like to share with our communities.
Now more than ever, the lives of Black students hang in the balance. With a mirage of images that bombard our television screens black youth are too often further marginalized and face significant disparities in accessing their education.
As part of our commitment to change, the Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy is a roadmap that will help to forge change and make inroads towards the priorities that matter.
Enter, the Centre for Black Student Excellence—a space committed to the promotion of Dismantling Anti-Black racism and amplifying voices that have been historically marginalized. A place that gives birth to the genius that is within us. The ultimate goal is to work to eliminate barriers that YRDSB data shows have resulted in stark disparities and disproportionalities for Black students' achievement and well-being.
Within these pages there are many options that are available to you. You will have access to mixed media—YRDSB curated videos and podcasts, a community newsletter and highlights, resources, and digital learning.
With a clearly defined mission—as a system we have also had to challenge our approach to teaching, best practices and to ensure that we actualize how young people will be made aware of their greatness and infinite potential.
We invite you to enter. Abide in the space of learning and discovery, as we celebrate achievement and the pursuit of brilliance.
Join us as we strive to collectively dismantle systemic barriers and work together to create transformational change.
Sincerely,
The Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Team
It’s been just over one year since we launched the Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy in March 2022, and while there is still much more work to be done, we can take pride in the steps we have taken as a system to move this work forward.
We look forward to supporting the work of this team as they help us to make real and essential change in our system.
Louise Sirisko
Director