It was October, 2020. The World Health Organization had declared the Coronavirus as a worldwide pandemic, and the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police led to protests by Black Lives Matter against police brutality and systemic racism. Amidst all of this, I remember receiving an invitation to serve on the York Catholic Teachers Diversity Committee. The committee is only open to those who self-identify and the purpose is to provide engagement of members from diverse groups, to actively support diversity in the Unit and to provide a safe space within York Unit. Truthfully, I had always been involved with York Unit from being an association representative to serving on various committees. However, this invite resonated profoundly with me. Finally, my chance to truly make a difference.
The Diversity Committee started online during the COVID 19 lockdown. We began very humbly but with lofty goals to promote accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equity in our Unit. Right from the start our Chairperson declared the committee a safe space. During our meetings we do a check in where members courageously share their collective experiences. In those initial meetings, so many things stood out to me. There was a sense of immediate understanding, compassion and validation of our shared experiences. It was uplifting, gratifying and deeply empowering.
The Diversity Committee spearheaded and continues to promote many important initiatives that enrich our Unit. Each year we connect with the Professional Development Committee and organize book clubs for our members. Many ground breaking books have been explored such as White Fragility, How to Be An Anti-Racist, Five Little Indians, and Scarborough. After a successful Scarborough book club, we screened the movie at the Unit office and delighted in local delicacies. This year, we are excited to work with our Professional Development Committee again to host Seven Fallen Feathers as our next book club. Recognizing a need for appropriate resources, our committee designed and organized the Black History Month Challenge with a mandate to encourage teachers to think about this month from a Black Canadian perspective. This year we will embark on implementing an Asian Heritage Month Challenge. We also designed google slides for teachers to use during Black History Month and Asian Heritage Month. Each year we review, revise and update these slides. As we moved on from the pandemic our initiatives became even more impactful. Last year, we joined the Social Committee in organizing an evening to enjoy Cirque Kalabante at Flato Markham Theatre. In conjunction with OECTA provincial, we invited Tia Duke to host Brave Conversations. The workshop provided members with tips on honing our listening skills and building capacity when dealing with difficult conversations. We are planning additional sessions this year with Tia.
I can honestly say that the opportunity to chair this committee and be a member has truly been a rewarding and insightful experience. We look forward to continuing to provide diverse experiences for all our members.
By: Sylvie Mannil Co-Chair Diversity Committee