Durham Region community members invited to apply for Durham Region’s Anti-Racism Task Force

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham is seeking dedicated community members, including Durham Region residents and stakeholders, to apply to join Durham Region’s Anti-Racism Task Force (DRART). Interested applicants can apply until Friday, July 30 at 5 p.m., by completing the online form available at durham.ca/DRART.

DRART is part of the Region’s commitment to develop and implement an Anti-Racism Framework to ensure a healthy workplace and to address racism within the communities the Region serves. The mandate of the DRART is to act in an advisory role to Regional Council through the Finance and Administration Committee on issues related to racism – structural, systemic and interpersonal. The work of DRART will be guided by Council approved Terms of Reference.

This task force will adopt a ‘hub and spoke’ model where working groups will be identified to address disparity in racialized (e.g., Indigenous, Black, Asian) communities. Anti-Black racism will be the initial focus for this task force. Precedence will be given to the lived and living experiences and concerns of all racialized groups in the Region.

Regional Council has appointed Councillor Sterling Lee as the Council representative for the DRART, with Councillor Granville Anderson as the alternate. In accordance with the terms of reference for DRART, Regional Council also appointed Regional CAO Elaine Baxter-Trahair as the staff representative with Don Beaton, the Commissioner of Corporate Services, as the alternate.

Aside from those individuals already appointed, it is suggested that the membership be comprised of 15 to 18 individuals, including:

• Ten (10) Racialized Community members with lived experience and/or specialized expertise, including those with intersectional social locations.
• Three (3) to six (6) representatives from industry, association and public institutions such as:
  • Academia with a focus on anti-racism or critical race theory (e.g. Ontario Tech University, Durham College, Trent Durham University, and/or local school boards).
  • Professional associations
  • Community and socially focused organizations

Applications close July 30, 2021 at 5 p.m. To apply, or to learn more about the Region’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, visit durham.ca/DEI.

Quotes

“Here in Durham, diversity is one of our greatest strengths. The Durham Region Anti-Racism Task Force will help us ensure that voices of our community are recognized and at the centre of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work. By prioritizing those with lived and living experiences and concerns of all racialized groups in the Region, we will be able to work together to make a difference in our communities.”

-        John Henry, Regional Chair

“Your voice matters to us. The Durham Region Anti-Racism Task Force will be integral to ensuring all of Durham Region’s programs, services and supports are equitable and inclusive. By joining this task force, you’ll have the important role of advising Regional Council on issues related to racism in all its forms. We look forward to reviewing your applications.”

-        Allison Hector-Alexander, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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