Anti-Racism Virtual Town Hall
As an organization, Calgary Arts Development has committed ourselves to bettering our systems regarding equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA). This summer Calgary Arts Development hosted a series of virtual town halls to discuss issues around the deep-seated racism that exists within our communities and systems, and how we can further develop anti-racist policies and practices governing our work.
The work to confront and dismantle racism falls on everyone of us as we try to build equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our institutions, systems, communities, and networks.
The town hall on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 will explore the relational complexities of anti-racist change. Advisory group members from the Anti-Racist Organizational Change (AROC) project through CommunityWise Resource Centre, Tyson Bankert, (also a member of the Black Caucus) and jaqs gallos aquines are facilitating on the distinction of allyship versus accompliceship, and community care.
Whether through organizational change, or as individuals, developing skills as active bystanders in the face of racism is a part of the continual work of building the self-awareness to shift culture in our workplaces and communities. As an organization undergoes an effort to create anti-racism change from within, expect to be uncomfortable and how to show up for one another.
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” – Angela Y. Davis
And, to wrap up our summer series, we will close the session with reflections on what we heard, what we learned, and what we are thinking about as we move forward.
The August 26 virtual town hall takes place through Zoom from 3:00 to 4:30pm MDT and will be interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) with a live transcription available. Register at zoom.us to take part.
Registering for this town hall confirms that you have read and agree to our group agreements as amended for this meeting. If you have questions, please send them to edia@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
