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About The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People
In 2020, Toronto Community Housing established a Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Strategy team to develop a company-wide confronting anti-Black racism strategy. The strategy aims to identify systemic barriers, provide recommendations to address anti-Black racism issues embedded in Toronto Community Housing's (TCHC) policies, programs, and service delivery, and help create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for tenants and staff.
The report was approved by the Board of Directors on February 26, 2021. The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People ("The Centre") was established to lead the organization in implementing the CABR Strategy. The Centre officially launched on December 2, 2021.
What is anti-Black racism?
Anti-Black racism is defined as the policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions that reflect and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination directed at people who identify as Black and are part of the African diaspora. Anti-Black racism continues to be rooted in Canadian institutions, policies and practices to the point where it is normalized or invisible to the general population.
For our purposes, it is how Blackness impacts your experience as a Black person living in TCHC. As an employer and a social housing provider, Toronto Community Housing must acknowledge and address systemic barriers affecting tenants and staff.
By taking action, we are working towards becoming a more inclusive employer and social housing provider.
Black Youth Gala
Toronto Youth Cabinet hosted its first Black Youth Gala to recognize and celebrate Black youth and Black-serving organizations dedicated to their empowerment by encouraging collaboration and advocacy and creating a safe space for them to network across and build together.
TCHC Equity and Diversity Award
One of the Equity and Diversity Awards was given to a TCHC resident who has demonstrated leadership, issue awareness and a commitment to community engagement or contributes to creating an inclusive space for racialized, marginalized and vulnerable communities with a focus on working with Black communities.
Joseph Adkinkrah was the TCHC Equity and Diversity Award winner at the Black Youth Gala. Read Joseph's story in
Tenant LOOP+ to learn more about why he was selected for the TCHC Equity and Diversity Award.
Centre Community Funds
The Centre Community funds are resources available to tenants and tenant groups to fund projects and initiatives that respond to the CABR Strategy’s Eight-Point Plan. Applications to apply for the Centre Community Funds
are closed.
Visit the
Centre Community Funds page to learn more about the program.
Resources
Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board
Do you want to help build your community? The CABR Strategy team is looking for tenants and staff to join the Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board. This group will serve as an accountability group to support the Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People and Toronto Community Housing in advancing the CABR strategy.
Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board will: - Provide oversight and ensure accountability on the delivery of the CABR strategy
- Liaise with community stakeholders
- Report to relevant stakeholders on the progress of the strategy
You can download a copy of
the poster (PDF) for more information about the Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board.
Applications for the Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board are
closed. If you have any questions about the Tenant-Staff Oversight and Advisory Board, please email The Centre team at
TheCentre@torontohousing.ca.
Get involved
We must all take a role in shaping the CABR strategy and identifying and eliminating systemic barriers at Toronto Community Housing.
The CABR Strategy Team plans to engage with Black tenants through various channels, including WebEx sessions, phone calls, online submissions and other tools that work for tenants.
If you're a Black tenant looking for more information on how you can get involved or if you want to host a session in your community, you can contact The Centre team at
TheCentre@torontohousing.ca.
The Centre news and updates
Board reports and presentations
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December 9, 2021 - The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People report (PDF)
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July 22, 2021 - CABR Strategy Action Plan report (PDF)
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July 22, 2021 - CABR Strategy Action Plan presentation (PDF)
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June 15, 2021 - CABR Strategy Implementation report – Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People (PDF)
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June 15, 2021 - TCHC’s Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black people (CAIBP) presentation (PDF)
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April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People (PDF)
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April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: Centre for Advancing the Interest of Black People budget (PDF)
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April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: staff roles for the Centre of Advancing the Interest of Black People (PDF)
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November 20, 2020 - TCHC's confronting anti-Black racism strategy development report (PDF)
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November 20, 2020 - TCHC's confronting anti-Black racism strategy development presentation (PDF)
Contacts
General inquiries
Email: TheCentre@torontohousing.ca
Tenant inquiries
Staff inquiries
For inquiries not related to The Centre or the CABR strategy, please contact Client Care Centre at
help@torontohousing.ca or
416-981-5500. Related links
