As part of black history month celebration in Edmonton on February 16, 2019, at the Grand Salon of Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta, another workshop on racism took place.
Two community partners joined hands to put together this workshop to prevent racism and encourage harmony and acceptance of diversity in Alberta. They are; Africa Center and Alliance Jeunesse Famille de l’Alberta Society (AJFAS), with the collaboration of Young Itinerants Ambassadors(JAMIT).
The workshop is called: DIALOGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHT AND TAKING ACTION AGAINST RACISM (DITAAR).
This workshop originated from 2017 when Minister David Eggen met with more than 100 community organizations to gather ideas on how to combat racism and build a more inclusive Alberta. In June 2018, the Alberta Government released the Taking Action Against Racism Report. As indicated in the Taking Action Against Racism Report, over the coming months, the government will further engage on a number of additional items to combat racism, foster acceptance and promote diversity and inclusion.
This event is part of the effort to support and promote the Alberta Government’s Taking Action Against Racism Report, released in June 2018. The purpose of the workshop was to encourage dialogue on inclusion, to raise awareness and understanding of racism and its impact in the community.
The dialogue part of the workshop also gave an opportunity for exchanges between members of the public, youth leaders, and community agencies. The workshop was conducted in English and French.
Take home lessons:
A truly just community is like a potluck, everyone brings something and everyone gets something. This speaks to the richness and flavours that diversity brings to Alberta.
Hate speech and racism is distasteful and disturbing and sends the message that you may think that Albertan society is built on human dignity and freedom but that does not apply to you. You are different but your difference is not welcome here.
Multiculturalism is a matter of public policy and describes Alberta’s racial and cultural diversity as what makes Alberta strong.
Youths of African descent have to be the best version of themselves in the backdrop of racism. They have to be involved in community work, volunteering to build their communities.
Youths should be encouraged to go into professions that have a low representation of minorities such as policing and teaching. Those professions should also be open to encourage racial minorities from joining them.
There is a variation between the definitions of hate crimes in police service across the country, which creates room for lack of action on the part of law enforcement.
The purpose of this forum was to give voice to political decision-makers, youth, and community leaders to make their voices heard on the subject of racism.
“Together it is possible to build a better society,” AJFAS.
