Scarborough Charter Virtual Signing Event and Launch - November 18, 2021

TL;DR

The Scarborough Charter, a collaborative effort among academic institutions in Canada, aims to address anti-black racism and promote black inclusion within higher education.

Transcript

hello and welcome everyone to the scarborough charter signing and launch my name is karima hashmani and i am the co-convener and executive director equity diversity and inclusion at the university of toronto today is a day that i have been looking forward to for the past year since you all joined us at the national dialogues in october this is when... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 The Scarborough Charter represents a collective commitment to addressing anti-black racism and promoting black inclusion within higher education institutions in Canada.
• 😀 The charter emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and concrete actions to dismantle systemic barriers faced by black communities in academia.
• 🖤 Institutions need to actively involve and support black staff, alumni, and community partners in their efforts to foster an inclusive environment.
• 💄 The charter provides a framework for actionable steps, such as diversifying decision-making structures, rethinking curriculum, and engaging in community partnerships.
• 🤗 The success of the charter requires ongoing commitment, open dialogue, and continuous assessment of progress towards achieving its goals.
• 🖤 Institutions need to recognize and address the challenges of racism, foster a sense of belonging, and create an equitable and supportive environment for black staff and students.
• 🖤 Data collection and analysis are crucial for tracking progress, identifying gaps, and informing evidence-based approaches to addressing anti-black racism.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Scarborough Charter and why is it significant?

The Scarborough Charter is a collaborative effort among Canadian academic institutions to confront anti-black racism and promote black inclusion within higher education. It is significant because it acknowledges the systemic barriers faced by black communities and commits to concrete actions to address them.

Q: How can institutions ensure follow-through on the commitments made in the charter?

Institutions can ensure accountability by actively implementing the actions outlined in the charter, setting measurable goals, and regularly assessing progress. They can also engage and involve stakeholders, including alumni and community partners, to contribute to the continuous improvement of their initiatives.

Q: How can higher education institutions create a supportive environment for black staff?

Institutions can create a supportive environment for black staff by actively diversifying decision-making structures, recognizing and valuing black voices, and implementing inclusive hiring and promotion strategies. They should also provide resources and support for career progression, create spaces for collective healing, and establish accountability structures that address anti-black racism.

Q: How does the Scarborough Charter promote collaboration with black alumni?

Institutions can engage black alumni by involving them in decision-making structures, creating mentorship and sponsorship programs, and recognizing their experiences and contributions. Black alumni can provide valuable insights and support the efforts to promote black inclusion and equity within institutions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Scarborough Charter is the result of a year-long co-creation process among black students, staff, faculty, and allies to address anti-black racism and promote inclusion in higher education.

• The charter acknowledges the existence of anti-black racism within institutional structures and policies and commits to transparency, accountability, and concrete actions to foster black communities' success in academic institutions.

• The charter emphasizes the importance of transparent data collection, diversifying decision-making structures, rethinking curriculum, and fostering community engagement to achieve its goals.