The first of what could be several Sarnia-Lambton Social Services Network community conversations about anti-racism is happening Tuesday.
Hosted by the network, Future Black Female, and the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce, Anti-Black Racism: A Community Conversation is scheduled 7-9 pm at the Gateway Room in the St. Clair Corporate Center in Sarnia.
No registration is required, and the agenda includes discussions about racism research in Sarnia, speakers with Future Black Female, and a panel conversation hosted by city Coun. and United Church minister Adam Kilner.
“The whole point of this is to learn,” said Andrew Bolter, co-chair of the network’s anti-racism committee.
“To really engage in a deep conversation about how we as a community can be better.”
The network that includes more than 30 social service agencies publicly committed about two years ago to equity and anti-racism.
“How we can make our own agencies more reflective of our community and aware of the barriers that might be there unseen — (that) we’re not aware of,” Bolter said.
After some Sarnia-Lambton network members received diversity, equity and inclusion training through St. Catharines-based Future Black Female, the executive director of the agency focused on creating opportunities for Black female youth suggested the community discussion, Bolter said.
“Because she could see that our community was engaging in looking at how we can better be inclusive, better be more open and inviting for all folks who choose to live her or work here,” he said.
Results from a survey of 363 Lambton residents, that found 81 per cent of Indigenous respondents and 71 per cent of Black respondents reported they had experienced discriminationare part of an information session via the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Partnership and the Sarnia-Lambton Alliance Against Hate that’s part of the event.
Social service providers have seen “some issues arising generally in our community in terms of racism,” Bolter said, also noting issues of racism in botched diversity, equity and inclusion training for city council.
“Very unfortunate incidents were going on, and we realized it’s very important to have a community that’s welcoming and inclusive to everybody, regardless of their background,” he said.
Sarnia is currently probably the most diverse it’s been as a city in its history, said Kilner, noting he saw a marked difference in the community even in 2013 when he returned after an 11-year absence.
“It’s vitally important, if you love another person, it’s vitally important to know their story and their history, because that’s part of who they are,” he said.
“So this becomes a platform for us to hear the faithful and authentic witness of some black female leaders in our community. And to hear what the challenges have been, what supports have helped them along the way, and their general sense of what it means to be a resident of Sarnia-Lambton.”
Bolter said there will be opportunities “down the road to look at how other people, other groups, other ethnicities are treated in our community.”