The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5 - 17

DIVERSITY
& INCLUSION
DIVERSITY
& INCLUSION
families secure rent-to-own housing which allows families to build
equity and create generational wealth; and our Youth Committee
works in underrepresented communities to create opportunities
for youth to become active members within those communities.
Our Mentorship and Sponsorship Committee works with students
and graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions. The
program has two main components-a webinar series where Black
professionals share their experiences of overcoming systemic racism
and group mentoring sessions working within the participants'
desired industry.
Our CEO Pledge is also a big part of what we do. It sets targets
that companies have to meet by 2025. For example, taking part
in our unconscious bias training, having a minimum of 3.5% of
Executive and Board roles held by Black leaders, CEOs working
with our Diversity Leadership Council to ensure underrepresented
voices are being heard at the top level, and creating conditions for
success. It's essential that we collect data on race and ethnicity to
understand where the gaps are and where we're making progress.
In your first year of operation, what were some of your
biggest accomplishments? Challenges?
We've accomplished a lot, but there's still work to be done. A few
months after inception, we held our first BlackNorth Summit where
we gathered Executives and staff members from some of the top
companies in Canada to share their thoughts on how companies
can do more in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion. Staff
members shared their own personal experiences with racism and
their thoughts on how corporate Canada needs to step up and play
a leading role in addressing anti-Black systemic racism.
This past summer we held our first annual BlackNorth Ignites
series comprising three separate events-Our Community, Our
Allies and Our Summit. Events each focused on different aspects
of what we're doing at the BlackNorth Initiative. Our Community
highlighted the work we and our signatories are doing in the
community to uplift underrepresented voices and make sure
they're heard. Our Allies highlighted the work we're doing as
allies to all underrepresented groups in Canada-we had elders
from Indigenous, Jewish, Black and Asian Communities speak
and other visible minority leaders participate to amplify their
voices and spread awareness of their cause. The event proved
to be a stark reminder that there are many groups in Canada
who face racism and systemic barriers every day, in all aspects
of life. Finally, Our Summit highlighted our signatories. CEOs
and Executives shared how they're taking steps to eliminate
barriers and announced programs and initiates they're
undertaking internally.
How can Ontario Brokers get involved?
If you're a CEO, sign the CEO pledge. If you work for an organization
or a business, encourage your CEO to sign the pledge. If you're
interested in volunteering for the BlackNorth Initiative, send
an email to info@blacknorth.ca with information about your
background, skillset and how you feel you can best help us reach
our goal and spread awareness. You can also support us by
donating through your business or personally. To keep learning
about the work we're doing, watch for updates on social-@
blacknorthca on Instagram and Twitter, BlackNorth Initiative on
LinkedIn and Facebook.
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 leading
change.
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 5
17

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
The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5 - Cover2
The Ontario Broker - Volume 21, Issue 5 - In This Use
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