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National Black Justice Strategy Town Hall

  • Oct 8, 2024

Event Details

National Black Justice Strategy Town Hall: Discussing Recommendations For Canada’s Black Justice Strategy

The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) invites you to attend an important National Town Hall to discuss the Steering Committee’s recommendations for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, which are currently under consideration for implementation by the government (report link)

Oct 8, 2024

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm est

In-person and on-line

Northrop Fry Hall, University of Toronto 
73 Queen's Park Cres E Building 515, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3

Through presentations by the Co-Authors of A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, as well as a panel of issues experts from across the country, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the recommendations, the rationale behind them, the potential government response, and the implications for restorative and reparatory justice.

The event will feature a presentation by External Steering Committee Members and the Co-Authors of A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy who will share insights into the Steering Committee’s process, outline the key recommendations, the expected government response, and engage in a Q&A session.

  • Zilla Jones – Criminal defense lawyer, Writer, and Anti-racism educator
  • Akwasi Owusu-Bempah – Associate Professor at University of Toronto and Director of Research for the Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty

Followed by insights from a panel of esteemed experts, including:

  • Dr. Myrna Lashley – CM, Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Division of Trans-cultural psychiatry, McGill University and researcher at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research
  • DeRico Symonds – Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives, African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) and President & Founder of Ignite Consulting
  • Dunia Nur – President & CEO, African Canadian Civic Engagement Council
  • Craig Wellington – CEO at Black Opportunity Fund

We extend our gratitude to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and the University of Toronto’s Criminology and Socio-Legal Departments for their generous sponsorship and support of this critical discussion on the Black Justice Strategy.

In person registration link

Virtual registration link

BOF Leadership Team -
Bios

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 Zilla Jones

Criminal defense lawyer, Writer, and Anti-racism educator

Link to biography

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Akwasi Owusu-Bempah

Associate Professor at University of Toronto and Sr. Fellow at Massey College

Link to Biography

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Dr. Myrna Lashley

CM, Associate Professor, Dept. of  Medicine, Division of Trans-cultural  psychiatry,  McGill University and researcher at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research

Link to Biography

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DeRico Symonds

Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives, African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) and President & Founder of Ignite Consulting

Link to Biography

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Dunia Nur

President & CEO, African Canadian Civic Engagement Council

Link to Biography

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Craig Wellington

CEO at Black Opportunity Fund

Link to Biography

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Beatrice Jauregui

Associate Professor, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies; Chair, Research Cluster for the Study of Racism and Inequality

Link to Biography

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Professor Kamari Clarke

Distinguished Professor of Transnational Justice and Director, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies

Link to Biography

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Fatma Hassan

Director of Public Policy, Canadian Race Relations Foundation

Link to Biography

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Micheal Cheena

Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre

Link to Biography

Agenda

Topic
Agenda
Time
Opening Remarks

Lesa Williams-George, Director of Equity, Inclusion & Transformative Practices, Victoria University, U of T

6:00 pm - 
Indigenous Welcome & Smudging

Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre

6:03 pm - 
African ancestral acknowledgement and welcome from Black Opportunity Fund

Donna Walwyn, BOF Vice Chair of the Board of Directors

 

6:08 pm - 
Remarks from the Minister

Video from Minister Arif Virani, Member of Parliament

6:12 pm - 
Remarks from University of Toronto

Kamari Clarke, Distinguished Professor of Transnational Justice and Director, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies

Associate Professor, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies; Chair, Research Cluster for the Study of Racism and Inequality

6:15 pm - 
Welcome from Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF)

Fatma Hassan, Director of Public Policy

6:18 pm - 
Presentation by External Steering Committee Members and Co-Authors of A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy
  • Zilla Jones – Criminal defense lawyer, Writer, and Anti-racism educator
  • Akwasi Owusu-Bempah – Associate Professor at University of Toronto and Sr. Fellow at Massey College
6:21 pm - 
Moderated Q & A Zilla and Akwasi

Professor Kamari Clarke, Distinguished Professor of Transnational Justice and Director, Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies

6:51 pm - 
Panel Discussion

Moderated by Craig Wellington, CEO at Black Opportunity Fund

Panelists:

  • Dr. Myrna Lashley, CM – Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University and researcher at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and a member of the Order of Canada
  • DeRico Symonds – Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives, African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) and President & Founder of Ignite Consulting
  • Dunia Nur – President & CEO, African Canadian Civic Engagement Council
7:15 pm - 
Part 2 - Q & A

Moderated by Craig Wellington, CEO at Black Opportunity Fund

Zilla and Akwasi to join the panelists on stage.

  • Zilla Jones – Criminal defense lawyer, Writer, and Anti-racism educator
  • Akwasi Owusu-Bempah – Associate Professor at University of Toronto and Sr. Fellow at Massey College
7:50 pm - 
Closing remarks and thank you

By Craig Wellington, CEO at Black Opportunity Fund

8:05 pm - 

Let's Talk About:

Black Opportunity Fund’s National Black Justice Strategy Townhall Question Submission Form: Link to Fill out the survey.