Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Newmarket Anti-Black Racism Task Force

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Electronic VIA ZOOM
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Members Present:
  • Jerisha Grant-Hall
  • Nadia Hansen
  • Lori-Anne Beckford
  • Councillor Bisanz
  • Councillor Broome
  • Claudius Brown
  • Holly Douglass
  • Gavin Gunter
  • Gary Miranda
  • Opiyo Oloya
  • Kimberly Roach
  • Leslie Serieux
Members Absent:
  • Councillor Morrison
  • Maxine Gordon Palomino
Staff Present:
  • Jennifer Rose, Healthy Program Workplace Specialist
  • Kiran Saini, Deputy Town Clerk
Guests:

  • Kemba Byam Akinbo, City of Toronto, Training & Development Consultant

    Teshini Harrison, City of Toronto, Policy Development Officer

1.
Notice
 

Jerisha Grant-Hall advised that the Municipal Offices remain closed to the public. This meeting was available VIA ZOOM Meeting at newmarket.ca/meetings.

2.
Additions & Corrections to the Agenda
 

None.

3.
Conflict of Interest Declarations
 

None.

4.
Presentations
 

4.1
Presentation from Toronto's Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit
This item has attachments. 

1.CABR Presentation - Newmarket Presentation - 2021-04-06 FINAL Newmarket.pdf

Kemba Byam Akinbo and Teshini Harrison delivered a presentation that outlined the City of Toronto's experience in relation to building an Anti-Black Racism Action Plan. They provided information on the Action Plan that was developed for the City of Toronto and its implementation strategy from 2018-2022. They advised that 22 recommendations were formed with 80 action items for the Action Plan. Discussion regarding the Confronting Anti-Black Racism unit ensued, highlighting the various aspects of the ecosystem such as a Planning and Accountability Circle, a Black Resilience Cluster Table, a Council Advisory Body, and a City Leads Table.  

Task Force Members discussed and inquired about targeted universalism, training City staff, policy development, best practices for consultations, lessons learned, and engagement strategies. 

 

  • Moved by:Gavin Gunter
    Seconded by:Leslie Serieux
    1. That the presentation provided by Kemba Byam Akinbo and Teshini Harrison entitled Confronting Anti-Black Racism be received.


    Carried

5.
Deputations
 

None.

6.
Approval of Minutes
 

6.1
Newmarket Anti-Black Racism Task Force Meeting Minutes - March 2, 2021
This item has attachments. 

1.Post-Meeting Minutes - ABRT_Mar02_2021 - English.pdf
  • Moved by:Councillor Broome
    Seconded by:Nadia Hansen
    1. That the Newmarket Anti-Black Racism Task Force Meeting Minutes from March 2, 2021 be approved.


    Carried

7.
Items
 

7.1
Affirmation
 

Opiyo Oloya provided an affirmation recognizing the generosity of spirit and giving. He noted his gratitude for others' in giving their time freely, contributing their talents, and supporting the important work the Task Force is undertaking.  

7.2
Reports from Subcommittees
 

Subcommittee #1: Gavin Gunter provided an update noting that survey results are currently being reviewed and that 367 responses were received. He noted some preliminary themes and issues that arose from the responses reviewed to date, which included policing and education.   

Subcommittee #2: Jerisha Grant-Hall provided an update noting that the subcommittee is in process of compiling data and doing literature reviews. They are also actively reviewing Town policies in addition to finding emerging themes from the survey results. The subcommittee will be reviewing new data from Statistics Canada and the impact of the pandemic on the Black community.  

Subcommittee #3: Nadia Hansen provided an update noting that the subcommittee has almost completed their environmental scan. She noted that Black youth from the Town of Bradford created their own flag. 

7.3
Interim Report to Council
 

Jerisha Grant-Hall advised that the Task Force should be working on a framework for the interim report. She suggested that the report be divided into themes and that draft recommendations within those themes be developed. She encouraged all Task Force members to access the working version of the report through the shared link and for all subcommittees to draft their respective sections within the report.

7.4
Upcoming Council Workshop - June 7, 2021
 

Kiran Saini advised that the a Council Workshop for all Advisory Boards, Committees and Task Forces of Council has been scheduled for June 7, 2021. This is an opportunity for the Task Force to share updates to their workplan by way of a presentation to Council. 

8.
New Business
 

None.

9.
Adjournment
 

  • Moved by:Holly Douglass
    Seconded by:Gavin Gunter
    1. That the meeting be adjourned 5:38 PM.


    Carried
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