Black Futures Month: Cultivating Safer Workplaces for Black Employees

Black Futures Month:

Cultivating Safer Workplaces for Black Employees

Since the first person of African descent first arrived, in 1608, on the soil of what we now call Canada, the Black population in this country has grown to over 1.2 million people. This growth has not been without adversity and discrimination in both community and workplace environments. Recognizing past, on-going and systemic anti-Black racism embedded into institutions and accepted practices is a key step in building a different type of future – one that is equitable, empowering and inclusive. As the end of the UN declared International Decade for People of African Descent quickly approaches in 2024, HRx offers this session to support individual dialogue on how each of us can contribute to that future.

In this session, we will explore:

• How anti-Black racism has been established within a Canadian context,
• The impact it has on Black individuals, particularly within the workplace settings,
• Concepts like the Black Tax and silent labour,
• Considerations for building safer environments where Black colleagues may often still be “the only”, “the first”, or one of “very few”.

Facilitated by Shalyma Cambridge from HRx and delivered by Shelley-Anne Vidal

Learn more about HRx here

About the Presenter: Shelley-Anne Vidal

Shelley is a professional educator, facilitator, advocate, and compassionate leader who approaches life with curiosity, kindness, and an open mind. She facilitates training in intercultural leadership, intercultural communication and social justice (equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism). As someone who is passionate about community developmentand projects that connect people as well as amplify the voices and accomplishments ofBlack, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), she is the co-founder of Kaiso Careers a platform and training company that amplifies the voices and work of BIPOC people. Additionally, Shelley sits on the following boards, The Langara Faculty Association, the Black Business Association of BC (Advisory Board), as well as Sisters Leading Sisters (Advisory Board). She is also an active member of Black CAN (formerly Black Voters Matter) and recently completed work as a community advisory member to support the development of the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Redress and Addressing Anti-Black Racism report.

Shelley earned a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Sociology. She completed a BC Provincial Instructor Diploma in Adult Education, a Career Development Practitioner Certificate, the UBC Certificate in Intercultural Studies (CIS) Program and she is presently pursuing her executive coaching certificate.

Read Shelley's full bio here

These sessions will be facilitated online via Zoom and you will receive a link the day before the session takes place.

For more information about this training and other professional development and training opportunities offered by York Region, please visit our Eventbrite Page or email capacitybuilding@york.ca.

York Region Integrated Children’s Services