IDERD

The ��Ƶ is bringing together perspectives from across the tri-campus community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).

Established by the United Nations, IDERD is observed on March 21, the day that in 1960, police opened fire on a group of peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people.

U of T recognizes IDERD annually as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and racism across the university while promoting a more inclusive learning and working environment.

Presented by the Institutional Equity Office and the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, this year’s event – Faith, Hope and Dialogue: Strengthening Anti-Racism Tools and Strategies for the Path Ahead – will be held in Rotman’s Desautels Hall and broadcast via livestream.

Nythalah Baker, director of U of T Mississauga’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, and Natasha Prashad, adviser in the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, will emcee the proceedings, which are set to open with remarks from Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion in U of T’s Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture.

Glean-Mitchell is also scheduled to speak on a panel about the challenges and opportunities of navigating EDI work alongside Allison Burgess, director of U of T’s Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, Bharat Saini, director, equity, diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and Angela Treglia, executive director, sexual violence strategy, prevention and support at the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre. The discussion will be moderated by Alexie Tcheuyap, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience.

Later, Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, senior director of U of T Scarborough’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, will moderate a discussion featuring the perspectives and reflections of Black women in leadership. Panellists include Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, dean of the School of Continuing Studies, Sharon Grandison, director of human resources in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Janelle Joseph, assistant professor of critical studies of race and Indigeneity at KPE, and Lesa Williams-George, director of equity, inclusion and transformative practices at Victoria College.

There will also be a panel on enhancing community strategies to address anti-Asian racism on campus moderated by Loretta Ho, program and faculty development consultant in the Division of the Vice-President and Vice-Provost. The panellists include Vikram Chadalawada, director, IT strategy, innovations and digital transformation at Student Life, Joyce Hahn, chief administrative officer in the Division of the Vice-President & Provost, David Kim, warden at Hart House, and Afsana Miah, vice-president, academics and student affairs in the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union at U of T Scarborough.

Art therapist and psychotherapist Phuong Nguyen will close out the proceedings with art-centred activities that centre hope, restoration and care.

‘We all need to be changemakers’: U of T marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

mattimar — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:47:37 +0000

‘We all need to be changemakers’: U of T marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

mattimar Tue, 03/21/2023 - 14:47

Cutline

From left: panel members Pardeep Singh Nagra, Hiren Mistry, Umberin Najeeb and Anna Shternshis (photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

IDERD

Alumni

Equity

Faculty of Arts & Science

Meric Gertler

Members of the ��Ƶ community gathered in-person and online Tuesday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).

Presented by U of T’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office, the event held at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy comprised panel and community discussions, and was attended by students, staff, faculty and alumni from the three campuses. It was also available via livestream.

People around the world have observed IDERD since it was established by the United Nations to denounce apartheid and honour the lives of 69 peaceful demonstrators killed when police opened fire on a crowd of protestors in South Africa on March 21, 1960.

U of T President Meric Gertler said IDERD is an opportunity to reflect on the university’s current approach and to determine where improvement is still needed.

He noted that there’s been a “long history of equity work at the ��Ƶ, which is a key part of our institutional-led campaign to eliminate racism and advance inclusive excellence,” and that anti-racism working groups across the three campuses have made tangible progress in addressing racial and religious discrimination in teaching and learning, student experience, faculty and staff recruitment and engagement, and community-based research.

“We know that the entire university community is collectively responsible for addressing all forms of racism and that every member must participate to achieve the deep and lasting change that is needed,” President Gertler said.

U of T President Meric Gertler said the university community is collectively responsible for addressing all forms of racism (photo by Polina Teif)

The event also featured remarks by Nouman Ashraf, an associate professor, teaching stream, at the Rotman School of Management, a panel discussion moderated by Leigh Naturkach, the executive director of the Mosaic Institute and a steel pan performance by Devindra Ramoutar, and a closed session community discussion focused on the themes of faith and racial discrimination.

Members of the public panel included: physician Umberin Najeeb, associate professor and vice-chair of culture and inclusion in the department of medicine at Temerty Faculty of Medicine; Anna Shternshis, director of Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies and Al and Malka Green Professor of Yiddish studies, Pardeep Singh Nagra, human rights and equity adviser at the Halton District School Board: and Hiren Mistry, vice-principal at White Oaks Secondary School.

They discussed their personal and professional experiences with racial and religious discrimination – and how that has shaped their work. Panel members also emphasized the importance of addressing intersectionality, understanding one’s own implicit bias and being an active listener as ways to address discrimination and racism in education and in society.

Najeeb said she remains hopeful in her equity, diversity, and inclusion work because of the changes she’s seen throughout her career.

“In medical education, we never used to speak about faith,” she says, noting that the Temerty Faculty of Medicine now asks students if they require religious accommodations during their studies. “My program never asked me that. I didn’t know I could get days off for religious celebrations like Eid.”

While Najeeb said the work can sometimes be exhausting, she said she is encouraged by the conversations that are now taking place.

“We can all only stay hopeful if positive changes continue to happen,” Najeeb said. “We all need to be changemakers.”

Students, staff and faculty recognized with IDERD awards for anti-racism, equity efforts

perry.king — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 15:49:16 +0000

Students, staff and faculty recognized with IDERD awards for anti-racism, equity efforts

perry.king Fri, 03/22/2019 - 11:49

Cutline

This year’s winners of the IDERD Recognition Award comprise three campus groups and seven individuals, including students, staff and faculty (photo by Luke Ng)

Perry King

Topic

City & Culture

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

Graduate Students

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Seven people and three organizations have been recognized for making strides in equity and anti-racism work with an International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) Recognition Award.

The award celebrates the work of students, staff and faculty to create diverse, equitable and inclusive teaching, learning and working environments. The honour has been awarded since 2012 and is a mainstay of the annual IDERD Conference, which took place on Thursday.

IDERD

U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

‘We all need to be changemakers’: U of T marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Students, staff and faculty recognized with IDERD awards for anti-racism, equity efforts

Read more about the IDERD Conference

Read more about the winners here

View more photos from the event here

IDERD

U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

‘We all need to be changemakers’: U of T marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Students, staff and faculty recognized with IDERD awards for anti-racism, equity efforts

Read more about the IDERD Conference

​Read more about the winners here

View more photos from the event here

Read more about the winners here