The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5 - 16

INDUSTRY & MARKETS
REMOVING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS WITH THE BLACKNORTH INITIATIVE
With Dahabo Ahmed-Omer-Executive Director, BlackNorth Initiative
G
lobe and Mail's Inaugural Business
Changemakers Award recipient in 2021, Dahabo
was recently appointed Executive Director of
the BlackNorth Initiative-an organization with
a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism by
leveraging a business-first mindset. Dahabo
participated in our DEI Panel at this year's IBAO Virtual Convention.
Here, we chat about the behind-the-scenes work BlackNorth does to
move the bar on equality across Canada.
How did BlackNorth come together?
The BlackNorth Initiative came together in June 2020 after we were
all deeply shaken by the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery,
Breonna Taylor and so many before them. We witnessed the
demonstrations against racism and police brutality in the United States,
Canada and across the world. It lit a spark in all of us to take action.
For far too long, too many people in Canada have said " this is not
my problem, " with anti-Black systemic racism and hate somehow
distant from the lives we live here in Canada. Truthfully, that's not
the case. Black Canadians face systemic barriers that negatively
affect their lives. The effects aren't constrained to just one
generation, but in fact have multi-generation affects.
We looked at the history of systemic racism in Canada and realized
we've been going about it all wrong-governments alone can't fix
the problem. Both public and private sectors must come together to
take a meaningful role in leading change. This is why the BlackNorth
Initiative takes a business centered approach to solving this societal
problem. Our first step is asking corporate leaders across Canada to
pledge their organizations to policies and targets to help us in our
fight against racism.
What are BlackNorth's key objectives?
Of course, our main goal is to end anti-Black systemic racism and
systemic racism in all its forms across Canada, and every day we're
taking steps to reach that goal. Our 16 Action Committees all have
a different focus-our Housing Committee has a plan to help Black
16
THE ONTARIO BROKER

The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5

In This Use
The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5 - Cover1
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