The third Annual Report on Black Inclusion is now available. The latest annual report features a comprehensive look at all 86 calls to action items, offering a clear account of progress on each item. It also provides a robust assessment of efforts to advance the action items, as well as insight into what more is needed to substantially shift institutional culture toward the inclusion and affirmation of the vibrance, diversity and depth of Black lives and experience.

鈥淚t is meaningful that over 70 per cent of action items have been completed or are on track. We should celebrate this and thank those who have made it happen鈥� said Laina Y. Bay-Cheng, vice-president Equity, People & Culture. 鈥淗owever, these achievements shouldn鈥檛 be treated as endpoints. I hope we鈥檒l use the progress evident in the report to keep up momentum and engage even more 91亚色 community members in advancing Black inclusion initiatives.鈥�

Some completed activities to date include: 

Action Item: As part of our commitment to review campus security and explore alternative models for community safety, ensure that the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion is central, and that the process will include community consultation (e.g., townhalls, focus groups) with Black community members.

Results: The Security Services Review has been completed and recommendations for changes in service provision and community engagement are already being implemented.

Action Item: Support the development of a Black staff affiliation group and support ongoing activities.

Results: The 91亚色 Black Staff Network (YUBSN) was formed in 2021, with membership open to all Black people of African descent who occupy non-academic staff roles at the University.

Action Item: Hire a minimum of 12 new Black faculty over the next two years (2021-2023). Support departments鈥� readiness and develop their capacity to support Black colleagues.

Results: In fact, 35 Black Faculty members have been hired since 2021, with considerable effort and programming going into ensuring they encounter colleagues and a larger University community ready to support their success. 

Action Item: Support the development of the Black Alumni Network, created in 2020, and its ongoing activities.

Results: The 91亚色 Black Alumni Network (YUBAN) continues to embody Black excellence with an energetic group of graduates, enthusiastic about mentorship and inspiring the minds of emerging thinkers and leaders.

Many additional items are progressing well but are still underway and so are listed as 鈥渙n track鈥� in the report. Some activities were postponed but remain active parts of this strategy. 

Several themes emerged from the progress updates, and the report shares these insights. For instance, those who take on important initiatives often feel burdened by requests to report on it. This is a challenge that Equity, People & Culture and others across the university will try to address.

鈥淚t is important to continue to acknowledge and centre the voices of people from the Black community, some of whom have wondered whether this strategic effort will bring perceptible, meaningful change across 91亚色 campuses for Black students, staff, and scholars,鈥� said Lisa Cocketts, strategy and engagement specialist - Black Inclusion. 鈥淚t is through a dynamic and evolving Action Plan as well as honest, full reporting that 91亚色 can demonstrate its commitment to creating actual, positive change towards Black inclusion,鈥� added Cocketts.

Community members are asked to join together in recognizing the hard work of the many contributors to the work of Black Inclusion and the progress the University has made, as updates such as this report are not possible without the efforts of many.

The 91亚色 community is encouraged to review the Annual Report to learn more. Feedback can be provided by email to epcinfo@yorku.ca.   

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Zoe M. Savitsky, a doctoral candidate at 91亚色鈥檚 Osgoode Hall Law School, was named a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar for work that promises to examine the ways corporations gained the power of expression and how they have expanded and defended that power. The recognition marks not just a professional accomplishment for Savitsky but one reflective of a new chapter in her journey.

Before becoming a PhD student at 91亚色 U in 2023, Savitsky approached her legal work in an altogether different manner. For over a decade, she had a successful legal career in the United States working in high-impact government and non-profit organization litigation and leadership roles, including at the Oakland City Attorney鈥檚 Office, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As a Trudeau Scholar, Savitsky will pursue work rooted in experiences from her legal career, notably her time with the Oakland City Attorney鈥檚 Office. There, Savitsky collaborated with in-house teams, other local and state governments, non-profits, civil society groups, and the private bar on litigation involving local, national and multinational corporations 鈥� such as opioid companies, fossil fuel companies and real estate companies 鈥� whose actions harmed Oaklanders. Many of those cases centred on allegations that the corporations in question had engaged in false, deceptive or misleading speech that caused real-world harm.

Savitsky found herself considering larger questions around how modern systems of litigation sometimes allow corporations to 鈥済et away鈥� with harmful deception. As she noted, it has often taken decades for litigants to win cases about corporate deception, if they ever do, citing as examples cases about how tobacco companies misled the public about the health risks of tobacco; how paint companies continued advertising lead paint despite their knowledge that it was a dangerous neurotoxin; and how the opioid industry understated the risks and harms and oversold the benefits of its products.

鈥淢y current project is very much an extension of all of that work,鈥� says Savitsky of the work she will now pursue through her scholarship, which examines how corporations became legal persons with speech or expression rights, and how corporations have expanded and defended those rights in the litigation ecosystems of the United States and Canada.

鈥淚 hope to understand how things came to be as they are today in the world of transnational corporate accountability and, in particular, to understand the history and context for how it is often challenging to hold corporations meaningfully accountable for their contributions to some of the most existential problems facing the world today.鈥�

The decision to pursue academic work led Savitsky to Canada, eager to grow as a scholar and learn from people outside the United States who were working on corporate accountability, but it wasn鈥檛 easy to move away from a professional and personal support system built over decades. 鈥淟eaving that network 鈥� which includes people who have become not just colleagues but close friends 鈥� for a new country and context was hard,鈥� says Savitsky. 鈥淏ut as my scholarship draws on the issues and themes I had the opportunity to work on in my litigation career, I will continue to get to engage with many of the people I collaborated with and learned from in the past.鈥�

Nonetheless, she saw the move as worthwhile. 鈥淥pportunities like the Trudeau Scholarship will allow me to build anew in this new context, in addition to how I鈥檝e already had the chance to start building meaningful new relationships at Osgoode and at 91亚色 more broadly,鈥� Savitsky says.

The recent recognition from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation should prove a significant stepping stone in accomplishing that.

The Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is a prestigious, three-year leadership program that provides doctoral candidates with skills to translate their ideas into action, for the betterment of their communities, Canada and the world.

It also provides a strong communal element through fellows and mentors who are leaders in respective disciplines and offer scholars important guidance as they move forward in their careers.

鈥淔rom the beginning, my interest in the Trudeau program has been because of its people,鈥� says Savitsky. 鈥淚 appreciate the resources the scholarship provides to PhD candidates, but the people are the fundamental heart, and draw, of the foundation. Of course, I am also thrilled that the Trudeau Foundation鈥檚 scientific cycle centres the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is at the core of my doctoral work.鈥�

Savitsky hopes that through her work, now supported by the Trudeau Scholarship, she can make a positive impact in the field of corporate accountability 鈥� and beyond. 鈥淚 also hope the story I plan to tell through my doctorate is informative to people outside of the legal academy, including to those in other academic disciplines, such as political science, and to those actively working 鈥� whether for governments, for non-profits and NGOs, in civil society, as community leaders and so on 鈥� to make the world a better, safer, healthier place overall,鈥� she says.

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The City of Ottawa has long recognized the pivotal role of skilful leadership in achieving its vision of prosperity, sustainability and resilience. For over a decade, 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich ExecEd has been a trusted partner, helping to equip Ottawa鈥檚 leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the increasingly complex challenges of municipal leadership. This past year, Schulich ExecEd delivered an updated version of its Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership program to 50 City of Ottawa managers.

Customized to meet the diverse needs of both new and seasoned leaders at the City of Ottawa, this 12-day learning program, which unfolded over 12 months, included three modules: Essentials of Municipal Leadership, Strategic Municipal Leadership and 鈥� the new addition 鈥� Future-proofing Municipalities.

鈥淭his program has challenged the participants to think about the type of leader they want to be 鈥� someone who encourages and develops people, who listens, who models integrity, who puts others first, and who acts with courage and care as we work together to build a truly great city,鈥� said Wendy Stephanson, city manager. 鈥淚t has also presented a wonderful opportunity for our leaders to broaden their skills and explore new and innovative ways of thinking.鈥�

The new module epitomizes the City of Ottawa鈥檚 forward-looking vision, challenging participants to embrace complexity, leverage data, and lead through change with strategic foresight and digital acumen.

The cohort-based learning experience also provided networking and collaboration opportunities among leaders across different departments, fostering a culture of peer-to-peer learning and building collegial relationships to last beyond the program.

鈥淭he content was like a reassuring reality check,鈥� said one participant. 鈥淓veryone is facing similar struggles and challenges, but all we have to do is redefine how we look at these and give ourselves some leeway in terms of how we define success.鈥�

Last month, the City of Ottawa hosted a Celebration of Learning event, recognizing the 50 program participants for their dedication and accomplishments. With leaders from both the city and Schulich ExecEd in attendance, the celebration served as a testament to the transformative power of education and collaboration in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

鈥淚n an era of unprecedented uncertainty, the need for skilled and agile leaders in the public sector has never been more apparent,鈥� said Rami Mayer, executive director of Schulich ExecEd. 鈥淓xecEd鈥檚 Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership program delves deep into the psychology of leadership, effective communication, cultures of innovation, political acuity and agile decision-making. Those are skills that municipal leaders of our future need to harness today to nurture their leadership strengths, and those of their teams, and deliver on their commitment to provide exceptional service to their communities.鈥�

Through strategic partnerships like this one, municipal professionals are being empowered with the skills and knowledge necessary to continue to shape the future of the communities they serve.

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Isaac Garcia-Sitton, a recent PhD graduate from the Faculty of Education, has been honoured with two prestigious national awards for his doctoral dissertation in the field of international higher education.

Garcia-Sitton received the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award by the Comparative & International Education Society of Canada and the George Geiss Award by the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education for his dissertation titled 鈥淧olicy Making in Times of Crisis: The Case of Immigration and International Students in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic.鈥�

Informed through analysis of policy documents and interviews with policy actors, the study examines how immigration policy measures introduced in Canada during the pandemic affected international student recruitment and retention in the nation鈥檚 post-secondary education institutions.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive these awards from national academic societies that have significantly contributed to the fields of higher education and international education,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton, who has over 20 years of experience in international relations and business development as a former diplomat and within the higher education sector. He currently serves as the inaugural executive director of international student enrolment, education and inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Professor Roopa Desai Trilokekar, Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 dissertation supervisor whom he credits for her guidance on his work, commended his achievement, noting: 鈥淚saac鈥檚 work and its recognition through two national awards is a reflection of the fruits of humility, hard work and dedication."

Exploring the various immigration policy measures introduced in Canada from March 2020 to December 2022 to ensure the continued recruitment and retention of international students, Garcia-Sitton's dissertation highlights how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for policy change, leading to significant adaptations in travel regulations, study provisions, work-related measures and pathways to permanent residency.

The research illustrates, too, the interplay between federal and provincial jurisdictions and how lack of co-ordination can further complicate policy making in uncertain conditions. By identifying and investigating the role of institutional constraints and the alignment of policy actors in decision-making processes, the dissertation provides insights that can inform high-impact and rapid-response policy changes to support the international education sector in Canada.

Garcia-Sitton's research identifies key factors that facilitated policy changes during the pandemic and highlights the significance of policy entrepreneurs, clear communication and the widespread collaboration in shaping effective policy responses. In addition, by identifying the interconnectedness between global geopolitical shifts and internal policy decisions, the study illustrates how external factors can shape a country鈥檚 attractiveness in the international education arena, and advocates for a more comprehensive and holistic approach in policy analysis.

The forward-looking nature of Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 disseration are something both awards singled out.

"Isaac's dissertation presents a compelling case for the significance of analyzing policy changes during times of crisis," noted the 2024 committee for the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award, which recognizes outstanding research in the field of comparative and international education. The committee for the George Geiss Award, which has the same goal as the Michel Laferri猫re Award, echoed that, noting that Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 work provides 鈥渁 valuable case study to guide future analyses and practices."

鈥淎s an immigrant and a scholar-practitioner, this recognition underscores the importance of my journey and the impact of dedicated research on shaping inclusive and supportive policies for international students,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton.

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When political science major Sara Harsini heard 91亚色 was hosting a Model European Union (EU) for university students nationwide, she signed up to participate and convinced her third-year classmate, Nawal Alhawari, to join her.

The Model EU, a simulation of the work done by the European governing body, was held this spring and organized by Heather MacRae, an associate professor in 91亚色 U鈥檚 Department of Politics. Sponsored by the Delegation of the European Commission in Canada, it brought 55 students from across the country to the Keele Campus to experience politics and diplomacy in action.

鈥淚t was an excellent experiential education exercise,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭he students had to do advance work, both reading and research, and then they put it into action. They learned a lot about how the EU works and a lot about climate change.鈥�

The event was the second of its kind to be held in Canada; last year, it was held in Ottawa. According to MacRae, the goal going forward is to have universities assume the role of hosting.

The Hungarian Consulate hosted the opening reception, an event that brought students and diplomats together to hear an opening speech by EU ambassador Melita Gabri膷 and to discuss the issues of the day. Many of the conversations centred around the European Green Deal 鈥� the EU climate law requiring a 55 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 鈥� since it was the focus of the weekend鈥檚 sessions. The students were tasked with creating a resolution, addressing how they would achieve its goals.

Students worked in pairs to represent the governments of the 27 EU nations. Alhawari and Harsini chose to represent Austria, because they wanted to embody a nation that was forward thinking in its environmental policies. After researching green policies and Austria鈥檚 contribution to the EU, they were delighted to meet a representative from the Austrian Consulate at the reception.

鈥淚t was fantastic to meet him and discuss Austria鈥檚 green policies,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淎 major part of our success came from his commentary and insights.鈥�

Gabriele Alexandru, head of the political, press and information section at the EU Delegation to Canada, gave the opening talk the following day, before the students got to work on their Green Deal resolutions. The event was entirely student run, with a pair from the University of Victoria acting as Chairs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to hone so many skills, including negotiation, co-operation, public speaking and research,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an extra benefit getting to know people interested in similar issues from across the country. We鈥檙e building a community of European scholars.鈥�

This was the first time Alhawari and Harsini had participated in a simulation exercise. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are considering trying a Model United Nations simulation next.

鈥淲e always have a notion that government work takes too long, but this shed light on the fact that every nation鈥檚 voice had to be heard,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淣ow, I understand why it takes time.鈥�

Added Alhawari, 鈥淭he actual Green Deal already exists, so we were just adding to it. I realized that if the real EU was able to forge an agreement, so could we.鈥�

MacRae liked the idea of giving students a sponsored opportunity to learn more about the EU.

鈥淭here is an EU study tour each summer, which our students can take part in, but it is expensive,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince not all students can afford to go to Europe, we bring Europe to them.鈥�

J.J. McMurtry, dean of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), believes the exercise was extremely valuable.

鈥淧articipating in opportunities such as the Model EU simulation is a vital component of experiential learning and internationalization at LA&PS,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese experiences enhance students鈥� understanding of global affairs, cultivate critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills. By actively participating in these activities, our students not only enrich their academic pursuits but also develop the necessary competencies to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.鈥�

By giving students a greater understanding of European governance, MacRae is helping to fulfil the University Academic Plan's goal of advancing global engagement and bring its new Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy to life.

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Social sciences and humanities research at 91亚色 has received a boost of more than half a million dollars from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), awarding Partnership Development Grants to three researchers in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS).

The latest round of Partnership Development Grant funding supports short-term partnerships (one to three years) between research teams from post-secondary institutions and organizations in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

鈥�91亚色 is grateful for SSHRC鈥檚 investment in our outstanding faculty and their mission to create positive change through community-engaged research,鈥� said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淎s an institution that excels in social sciences and humanities research, these three 91亚色-led projects exemplify our commitment to research excellence driven by impact and rooted in meaningful collaboration with our partners.鈥�

Through their combined efforts, the research teams develop projects in the social sciences and humanities or design and test new partnership approaches for research and related activities, including knowledge mobilization.

The 91亚色 U recipients include:

Annie Bunting, a professor in the Law & Society program in LA&PS, for a project titled 鈥淵outh-led initiatives for gender justice and peacebuilding,鈥� which received $199,850. The project will bring together researchers, filmmakers, artists and others to study the long-lasting impacts of violence on youth, aged 15 to 29, in places affected by war and conflict. The project looks to gain a deeper understanding of how young people cope in such situations and involves multiple collaborating partners, with groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Kenya.

Marcello Musto, a professor in the Department of Sociology in LA&PS, for a project titled 鈥淲ar and the Left: A Global History,鈥� which received the maximum $200,000. The project will examine how left-wing political forces and theorists have responded to war, deepening understanding of the intellectual and political history of numerous progressive social movements and political parties around the world. It aims to be the most comprehensive study of the topic to date and involves researchers from 91亚色, five archives, six research-focused organizations and two museums, from eleven countries across four continents.

Miguel Gonz谩lez, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Science in LA&PS, for a project titled 鈥淓mancipatory Horizons for Self-determination of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples in Central America,鈥� which received $199,840. The project will gain insights into the struggles and strategies of these peoples to protect their land, rights and way of life. It will promote the political and legal efforts of civil society organizations to advocate for autonomous self-governance and will involve a dozen Indigenous and Afro-descendant groups in Costa Rica, Panama and the San Andr茅s archipelago.

The three 91亚色-led projects were among 75 projects across Canada to receive the new funding. A full list of the Partnership Development Grant recipients can be found .

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Htet Min Lwin, a PhD candidate in 91亚色's Department of Humanities and a graduate associate at the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research, has been awarded a to advance his dissertation work in Buddhist studies.

Htet is one of 11 scholars from universities around the world who have been awarded $30,000 each in support of their dissertation fieldwork, archival research and writing. This fellowship program is administered by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and made possible by a grant from the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global, which aims to promote the understanding and interpretation of Buddhist thought in scholarship and society, strengthen international networks of scholars in the field, and increase the visibility of new knowledge and research on Buddhist traditions.

The award builds upon 鈥� and looks to advance 鈥� Htet's doctoral research at 91亚色 which explores the Myanmar government's attempts in 1958, 1962 and successfully in 1980 to institutionalize the country's monastics 鈥� people who renounce worldly pursuits to devote themselves fully to spiritual work 鈥� under a centralized, state-backed authority.

Arguing against the triumph of the state鈥檚 political secularism, his work demonstrates the monks鈥� Buddhist logic and the sources of power within the tradition that led to them finally accepting this centralized authority. He shows how the state鈥檚 attempt to regulate religion resulted not only in the monastics being put under state control but the state ultimately being transformed by religion 鈥� creating a more orthodox society and resulting in an authoritarian, nationalist Buddhist state and communities.

"I am extremely delighted and looking forward to the field research," says Htet, "as my work has potential to provide significant theoretical intervention on how the other-worldly ideal of the Theravada [Buddhist] tradition and protection of Buddhist teaching can get entwined with the 'political secularism' of the modern nation-state."

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