City of Toronto launches consultations to inform new 10-Year Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism

Today, the City of Toronto in collaboration with Black communities, leaders, Black-serving agencies and partners is beginning public consultations to inform Toronto’s next Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

The new Plan will build on the achievements of the inaugural Five-Year Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism and aims to deliver improvements to the lives of Black Torontonians and deepen culture and systems change by expanding the City’s commitment to delivering outcomes over the next decade.

The development of a 10-Year Action Plan is the longest anti-Black racism mandate and strategy in Canada. Some accomplishments of the Five-Year Plan include:

• The delivery of incubation support for Black-owned businesses through the development of a 10-week program to support early-stage Black entrepreneurs and individuals in increasing their business viability and scalability. This includes strategic investments in Black food and public market initiatives through the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan. A copy of this Plan is available on the City’s website.
• Improved representation of Black leadership in City governance and at decision-making tables. This includes establishing Toronto’s first Confronting Anti-Black Racism advisory body that directly advises Toronto City Council on strategic city-wide and intergovernmental action to dismantle anti-Black racism.
• Investments in youth training, employment and leadership development through the creation of stable employment opportunities across 13 City divisions for Black queer and trans youth and investing $520,000 to improve outcomes for the Black Youth Leadership Project Grants.
• Expanded culturally appropriate programming for Black children and families by deploying $1.6 million at EarlyON sites as well as designing a case management pilot providing mental health supports for Black and Indigenous youth.
• Increasing accountability, transparency and access to all open data collected by Toronto Police Service Race-Based Data Collection Policy and supporting alternatives to policing that include creating and expanding the Toronto Community Crisis response.

This work aligns with the City’s observance of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent and advances its three themes of recognition, justice and development.

More information about the program and upcoming consultations is available on the City’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism webpage.

For more information on progress to date, the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism – Year Four Update is available on the City’s website.

Quotes:

“I am proud to play a role in the development a new 10-Year Action Plan that will build upon the achievements of the past five years and deliver meaningful progress for Black communities across the city. Alongside our community partners, we remain steadfast in our commitment to eliminating anti-Black racism in Toronto and creating a city where everyone can live, work, and play with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

– Mayor Olivia Chow

“In the spirit of ‘Sankofa’ – taking from our past what is good and bringing it into the present – I am proud of the work our staff and community stakeholders have done to craft our 10-year plan, which reaffirms our unwavering commitment to confronting anti-Black racism and champions the strength and resilience of our Black communities. Our comprehensive plan draws wisdom from history to foster a more equitable tomorrow by delivering on our commitment to advance justice, recognition and development as we enter the final year of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.”

– Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre), Chair of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee

“The continuation of this work is integral to making the city a welcoming, accessible space for all Torontonians. We are proud to continue advancing anti-Black racism work with extreme gratitude to Black Torontonians, many of whom work at Black-led and Black serving organizations and deep within community in grassroots collectives.”

– Denise Andrea Campbell, Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, City of Toronto

“I stand firmly in the belief that unity and concerted community service are the bedrock of societal transformation. In collaboration with the City of Toronto — we are not just charting a course, but pledging to elevate and empower our communities through the extension of the 10-Year Action Plan. Together, we can continue to convert aspirations into tangible outcomes and dreams into solid achievements. Let’s embrace this unity to enact meaningful change and secure a future where every Black individual can reach their full potential.”

– Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca