Jean Augustine Chair in Education Archives | Faculty of Education /edu/tag/jean-augustine-chair-in-education/ Reinventing education for a diverse, complex world. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:47:06 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 /edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/07/favicon.png Jean Augustine Chair in Education Archives | Faculty of Education /edu/tag/jean-augustine-chair-in-education/ 32 32 JDTAN 11th Annual Education Summit 2026 /edu/events/jdtan-11th-annual-education-summit-2026/ /edu/events/jdtan-11th-annual-education-summit-2026/#respond Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:44:01 +0000 /edu/?post_type=mec-events&p=48116   The Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN) presents The 11th Annual Advancement in Education Summit – A 4-day professional development conference for Jamaican & Caribbean teachers. 2026 Summit Theme: Resilience:The Imperative In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the lasting impacts of global disruptions, the mandate for educational systems has […]

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JDTAN Summit 2026 poster

 

The Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN) presents The 11th Annual Advancement in Education Summit – A 4-day professional development conference for Jamaican & Caribbean teachers.

2026 Summit Theme:
Resilience:The Imperative

In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the lasting impacts of global disruptions, the mandate for educational systems has evolved. True pedagogical excellence now requires more than academic rigor; it demands structural and individual resilience.

This year's theme asserts that resilience is no longer optional—it is an imperative. The 2026 Summit will equip educators with robust strategies to cultivate adaptability in their students, maintain institutional integrity in under-resourced environments, and pioneer sustainable solutions for the future of Caribbean education.

Event co-sponsored by The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at 91ɫ

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91ɫ U scholar supports national study advancing Black health /edu/2026/02/26/york-u-scholar-supports-national-study-advancing-black-health/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:35:30 +0000 /edu/?p=46458 Carl E. James, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in 91ɫ’s Faculty of Education, brings his expertise to a four-year Genome Canada research project focused on Canada’s Black population.

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Edited by Ashley Goodfellow Craig February 25, 2026

Black female nurse holding the hand of a black patient

Carl E. James, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in 91ɫ’s Faculty of Education, brings his expertise to a four-year Genome Canada research project focused on Canada’s Black population.

Genomic Evidence for Precision Medicine for Selected Chronic Diseases Among Black Peoples in Canada – developed through collaboration with the Centre for Applied Genomics, at SickKids Hospital and McGill Genome Centre – is an effort to sequence the genomes of 10,000 Black Canadians to ensure equitable health care for an often-understudied population.

By sequencing the nucleotides that make up the participants’ DNA and RNA, researchers will gain a better understanding of how diseases affect Canada’s Black population and develop better precision medicines to target their conditions.

Carl James
Carl James

“We need to encourage these approaches for research, since medical studies often miss the racial diversity of health care recipients,” says James, a renowned sociologist with a research focus on race and ethnic relations. “In fact, we need to understand differences in all populations.”

The study is led by four prominent medical researchers: Upton Allen, division head at SickKids Hospital’s Infectious Diseases and professor at the University of Toronto; Loydie Jerome-Majewska, McGill University Department of Pediatrics professor and co-founder/program lead for the Canadian Black Scientists’ Network (CSBN); Juliet Daniel, McMaster University cell biologist and cancer researcher; and OmiSoore Dryden, professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University.

Read the full article in the February 25, 2026 issue of Yfile

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Word, Sound, Power: An annual celebration of Black Artistic expression /edu/events/word-sound-power-an-annual-celebration-of-black-artistic-expression-4/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:10:27 +0000 /edu/?post_type=mec-events&p=45728 The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora in the Faculty of Education at 91ɫ–with the support of UPS, presents their annual celebration of Black Artistic Expressions Word, Sound, Power. This year's theme is Centering Our Stories & Communities. All are welcome to attend and we are looking forward to seeing you there! […]

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silhouettes of the heads of Black people including men, women and children with the words Black History Month behind them

The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora in the Faculty of Education at 91ɫ–with the support of UPS, presents their annual celebration of Black Artistic Expressions Word, Sound, Power. This year's theme is Centering Our Stories & Communities.

All are welcome to attend and we are looking forward to seeing you there!

FREE admission (you must RSVP to receive your ticket)

 

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In the media: Black youth lead research revolution at transformative TDSB Conference /edu/2025/12/09/in-the-media-black-youth-lead-research-revolution-at-transformative-tdsb-conference/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:54:45 +0000 /edu/?p=45245 The fourth annual Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Conference, hosted by the Toronto District School Board’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement (CEBSA), delivered a powerful showcase of Black youth leadership.

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student presenting at the fourth annual Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Conference, hosted by the Toronto District School Board’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
Photo Courtesy of Halima Elmi

The fourth annual Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Conference, hosted by the Toronto District School Board’s Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement (CEBSA), delivered a powerful showcase of Black youth leadership. Held on Saturday, November 1st, 2025, at Highland Hall on the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, the event brought together students, educators, administrators, and community partners. Their shared goal: elevate student-led research and highlight the issues that matter most to Black learners.

The conference grew out of the Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP), a creative initiative shaped by CEBSA. The program began with ten students in 2019 in partnership with the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora at 91ɫ’s Faculty of Education. Participation expanded to 30 students in 2020 and surged to 100 by 2025. This growth turned the program into a competitive, in-demand experience for students eager to lead, research, and influence their schools. BSSLP affirms Black identity, excellence, and leadership, while modeling how schools and communities can work together to expand access, create career pathways, and drive systems change.

on the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper website

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91ɫ’s Y2 Innovators program builds confidence, community for Black students /edu/2025/07/29/yorks-y2-innovators-program-builds-confidence-community-for-black-students/ Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:44:00 +0000 /edu/?p=43683 Written by Alex Huls (YFile July 25, 2025) It all began with one day. In 2022, Black high school students from the 91ɫ Region District School Board (YRDSB) were invited by 91ɫ’s Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora to the Keele Campus to take part in “A Day at 91ɫ.” The event was designed […]

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Written by Alex Huls (YFile July 25, 2025)

It all began with one day.

In 2022, Black high school students from the 91ɫ Region District School Board (YRDSB) were invited by 91ɫ’s Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora to the Keele Campus to take part in “A Day at 91ɫ.”

The event was designed to help middle and high school students imagine themselves in a post-secondary environment and explore academic and career possibilities. They toured the campus, attended workshops, participated in Black-led panels and networked with Black tudents, alumni and faculty who shared insight on programs, the application process and more.

It was a success. But one day, it turned out, wasn’t enough. Students had more questions. They wanted more time with mentors who looked like them and shared similar lived experiences.

“Many of them had never been in an all-Black classroom or been taught by Black educators. They didn’t realize how impactful that could be, until they experienced it,” says Anika Forde, program director of the Jean Augustine Chair and founding member of the initiative.

“A Day at 91ɫ” began to evolve into a broader initiative to support Black students through culturally relevant, experiential learning opportunities rarely found in traditional high school settings.

Anika Forde & Carl James

To co-develop a more comprehensive experience, Forde and Professor Carl James – who holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora – enlisted Melissa McKay, a co-teacher, PhD student in education and research assistant with the Jean Augustine Chair. Together, with input from Jean Augustine Chair research assistants Alanah Broomfield, LaToya Hinds and Richard Edwards, they developed a summer program that would give students a more comprehensive educational experience.

In summer 2023, they launched the Black Youth Internship Program, a four-week co-op credit course.

The goal was to reimagine what a summer school credit could look like for Black students. “That meant focusing on igniting in the students a sense of self-development, helping them explore who they are, where they see themselves and understanding that despite systemic barriers, there are people and places that will support them,” says McKay.

Initially the program offered creative, culturally relevant activities like art and music, but evolved – guided by student feedback – into a more holistic experience that emphasized mentorship, scholarship support, resume building as well as personal, professional and academic development.

Students also helped co-design future programming, offering feedback so the curriculum emphasized real-world applicability and encouraged students to see themselves as future leaders.

“My interest is in students contributing or giving input into their education," says James. "I see this as what the Chair endeavours to do.”

In 2025, the program expanded again into its current form: Y2 Innovators – Black Leadership and Innovation in Business Management. Delivered in partnership with YRDSB, it offers students in grades 10 to 12 a full Ontario secondary school credit in Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals, which can be included in post-secondary applications.

This July, 25 students came to Keele Campus for the four-week program. They explored leadership styles, financial literacy, human resources and strategic planning. Each module was rooted in community-responsive learning, using case studies – including Black-led and community-based businesses – to demonstrate concepts in action.

“Mentorship has been more powerful than I could have imagined,” says McKay. “There’s a visible difference in students’ body language and confidence when they feel seen and supported. The need for community in their learning is huge.”

Y2 Innovators has grown beyond a summer program. As part of the Securing Black Futures initiative – funded by RBC Future Launch – it continues to deepen insights into the systemic barriers Black high school students face. These findings inform the long-term work of James, who is principal investigator of Securing Black Futures.

“We need to build supports for Black students over time, not just through one-off exposures,” says Forde. “It’s not just about the supports, but also the learnings that can inform and advocate for systemic change.

“It’s about supporting Black students in realizing that their aspirations are within reach,” Forde adds. “With the right supports, they can absolutely achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves.”

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WORD, SOUND, POWER: An annual celebration of Black Artistic Expression /edu/events/word-sound-power-an-annual-celebration-of-black-artistic-expression-3/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:03:38 +0000 /edu/?post_type=mec-events&p=42083 The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora presents WORD, SOUND, POWER: An Annual Black History Month Celebration! This year's theme, “Past, Present & Future,” honours Black culture's rich history, present, and promising future and achievements. AGENDA: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Welcome Reception) 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Performances) Featured Performances: Talented students and professional […]

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African drummer

The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora presents WORD, SOUND, POWER: An Annual Black History Month Celebration! This year's theme, “Past, Present & Future,” honours Black culture's rich history, present, and promising future and achievements.

AGENDA:
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Welcome Reception)
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Performances)

Featured Performances: Talented students and professional artists will perform diverse works. From soulful spoken words and captivating dance routines to musical acts, our performers will showcase the creativity and resilience that define the Black community.

This event is open to everyone who wishes to celebrate and learn more about Black history and culture. Whether you are a student, educator, community member, or simply passionate about fostering inclusivity and diversity, there is something for you at our celebration.

FREE ADMISSION

RSVP

 

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In the media: Professor Carl James to receive Honorary Doctorate from McGill University /edu/2024/05/14/in-the-media-professor-carl-james-to-receive-honorary-doctorate-from-mcgill-university/ Tue, 14 May 2024 15:02:02 +0000 /edu/?p=39890 Luminaries in their fields, this year’s Hon Docs will be honoured during Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies, running from May 28 to June 5 Ten exceptional individuals will receive honorary degrees from McGill as part of Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies. This year’s recipients represent a diverse array of leaders whose contributions span disciplines, industries, and continents. […]

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Luminaries in their fields, this year’s Hon Docs will be honoured during Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies, running from May 28 to June 5

Ten exceptional individuals will receive honorary degrees from McGill as part of Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies. This year’s recipients represent a diverse array of leaders whose contributions span disciplines, industries, and continents.

“The conferral of an honorary degree, McGill’s highest honour, is both a recognition of the transformative power of individual achievement and a celebration of the values and aspirations that unite our community,” said Deep Saini, President of McGill. “Each a poignant testament to the limitless possibilities of human endeavour, our honorary doctorate recipients are wonderful role models for the Class of 2024, and an inspiration to us all.”

Carl James: Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D.Litt.) Faculty of Education (May 30, 3 p.m.)

Carl James is a distinguished scholar and advocate for equity and diversity in education and society. Coming to Canada from the Caribbean in the early 1970s, he has dedicated his career to researching and addressing issues of race, immigration, and education.

The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora, at 91ɫ, James is a former founding Director of the 91ɫ Centre for Education and Community. He also served as the Senior Advisor on Equity and Representation in 91ɫ’s Office of the Vice-President of Equity, People and Culture; and presently serves as the Equity Advisor to the Dean in the Faculty of Education.

James is renowned for his groundbreaking body of research in Black education in Canada, and in multicultural and anti-racist education worldwide.

Read the full article on the .

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TTC mural honours Professor Carl James /edu/2024/04/03/ttc-mural-honours-professor-carl-james/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:55:42 +0000 /edu/?p=39547 The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC’s) subway system recently became the canvas for a new mural honouring 91ɫ Distinguished Research Professor Carl James and his impact on community and racial equity.

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TTC mural featuring a captivating portrait of Professor James adorned with textbook pages, symbolizing knowledge, literature and the power of education

The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC’s) subway system recently became the canvas for a new mural honouring 91ɫ Distinguished Research Professor Carl James and his impact on community and racial equity.

The mural – which features an evocative portrait of James – can be viewed at the 91ɫ TTC subway station, as well as a bus wrap that’s emblazoned on a TTC vehicle deployed from the Queensway Garage, and at various subway stops across the city. It pays tribute to Professor James’ impactful contributions to education, community and racial equity.

Mya Salau, a third-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, was commissioned for the project by AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives, a Canadian organization that describes itself as committed to supporting Black and Indigenous emerging artists in public art and Web3 activities.

Salau’s inspiration for the mural stemmed from her desire to capture the essence of James’ teachings and accomplishments. To create the image, she used acrylic paint on canvas, then had the painting digitized to be displayed on TTC buses and murals. She also incorporated various visual elements to reflect his dedication to educational equality, youth studies, and race and ethnic relations.

“I wanted the artwork to not only celebrate Professor James, but also to serve as a reminder of his profound impact on our community,” Salau explained. “Through this mural, I hope to convey the essence of his teachings and inspire others to continue his legacy of advocacy and social change.”

The mural features a captivating portrait of Professor James adorned with textbook pages, symbolizing knowledge, literature and the power of education. “I also added a futuristic eye lens,” Salau said, “as a lot of his work advocates for future change and improving systems in Canadian society.”

The mural – which features an evocative portrait of James – can be viewed at the 91ɫ TTC subway station, as well as a bus wrap that’s emblazoned on a TTC vehicle deployed from the Queensway Garage, and at various subway stops across the city. It pays tribute to Professor James’ impactful contributions to education, community and racial equity.

Mya Salau, a third-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, was commissioned for the project by AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives, a Canadian organization that describes itself as committed to supporting Black and Indigenous emerging artists in public art and Web3 activities.

Salau’s inspiration for the mural stemmed from her desire to capture the essence of James’ teachings and accomplishments. To create the image, she used acrylic paint on canvas, then had the painting digitized to be displayed on TTC buses and murals. She also incorporated various visual elements to reflect his dedication to educational equality, youth studies, and race and ethnic relations.

“I wanted the artwork to not only celebrate Professor James, but also to serve as a reminder of his profound impact on our community,” Salau explained. “Through this mural, I hope to convey the essence of his teachings and inspire others to continue his legacy of advocacy and social change.”

The mural features a captivating portrait of Professor James adorned with textbook pages, symbolizing knowledge, literature and the power of education. “I also added a futuristic eye lens,” Salau said, “as a lot of his work advocates for future change and improving systems in Canadian society.”

James worked closely with Salau as she shaped the mural over various iterations. “I very much appreciate that Mya was able to share an early version of the painting, and use my comments to develop the final version,” he says. “Her efforts to represent me and my scholarship in the painting reflects her reading of my work.”

Photo of the Carl James mural at 91ɫ subway station
The Carl James mural at 91ɫ subway station. (Photo credit: .)

That work, in a nutshell, is about addressing systemic inequalities in Canadian education and society.

From his early days as a community organizer to his current role as the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at 91ɫ, James has provided research on race, education and immigration that sheds light on the challenges faced by Black students in the Greater Toronto Area. His investigations have catalyzed significant policy changes, including the end of academic and applied streaming for Grade 9 students in Ontario.

“It is not about research for research’s sake, but to inform action,” James said in a recently published interview.

“Community is often a central feature for those who have been marginalized, and it is through collaboration and advocacy that we can bring about meaningful change.”

That work, in a nutshell, is about addressing systemic inequalities in Canadian education and society.

From his early days as a community organizer to his current role as the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at 91ɫ, James has provided research on race, education and immigration that sheds light on the challenges faced by Black students in the Greater Toronto Area. His investigations have catalyzed significant policy changes, including the end of academic and applied streaming for Grade 9 students in Ontario.

“It is not about research for research’s sake, but to inform action,” James said in a recently published interview.

“Community is often a central feature for those who have been marginalized, and it is through collaboration and advocacy that we can bring about meaningful change.”

The unveiling of the mural on Feb. 24 coincided with Black History Month, a time to celebrate the rich contributions of Black Canadians to society. Alongside other honourees, James was recognized during a TTC subway tour honouring Black Torontonians, showcasing their enduring legacies and contributions to the city.

Article originally published in the April 2, 2024 issue of

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Becoming Professor Carl James /edu/2024/02/26/becoming-professor-carl-james/ Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:55:00 +0000 /edu/?p=39217 Now a prominent academic, 91ɫ's Faculty of Education Jean Augustine Chair reflects on experiences of Black community in 1970s Toronto

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Professor Carl James standing in the lobby at the TIFF Lighbox with large mural images reflecting Black History in Toronto displayed on the walls of the lobby
Professor Carl James in the lobby of the TIFF Lightbox

Now a prominent academic, 91ɫ's Faculty of Education Jean Augustine Chair reflects on experiences of Black community in 1970s Toronto

It was at the now-closed Brockton High School near the new Dufferin Mall on what was then called Awde Street, where a young Carl James met with other community organizers on a September Saturday. That morning they launched the Caribbean Alliance Council (CAC) and that evening they celebrated with dinner and dance at the Soul Palace Restaurant, just north of what is now Sankofa Square.

Like other Black immigrants of his generation from Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands, James came to Canada in the post-1967 period after the state had removed race-based immigration restrictions.

While pursuing his education, James engaged in youth work, volunteering with organizations such as the Black Education Project. Located just north of Davenport on Bathurst, James describes the organization as “central” to the education experiences of Black parents and students at the time. He also worked with Harriet Tubman Centre at St. Clair and Oakwood, which still operates today as the Harriet Tubman Community Centre close to Don Mills subway.

A young Carl James, pictured with a student outside Central Tech school at Bloor and Bathurst.
A young Carl James, pictured with a student outside Central Tech school at Bloor and Bathurst.

“I was at the time going through school, volunteering and working with the other volunteers – an adolescent working with younger Black adolescents,” recalls James. “I came to the work that I do through working on issues of Black life. The situation that I was observing and trying to understand with regard to Black youth informed my work.”

Later, he worked in Regent Park, a neighbourhood located in Toronto’s east downtown that’s now a mix of condominiums and social housing. Back then it was exclusively a public housing project – Canada’s first and largest. Many of the youth with whom James worked saw their participation in sports as the key to their future success and were not often going into academic areas because of streaming practices in their schools. 

This inspired his early research at 91ɫ. Today, James is a prominent academic who has dedicated his career to studying some of the very issues he first observed and experienced four decades earlier.

“I'd been noticing that the education and schooling system had not been as helpful in educating or schooling Black immigrant students as we would have expected,” recalls James. “That happens today; and happened then. So, I'm very interested in, well, ‘How can this change? If over and over again, we keep finding and seeing the same thing, what have we not been doing to change the situation?’”

In addition to being a professor in 91ɫ’s Faculty of Education and an author of many books on race, education and immigration, James currently serves as the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora.

His 2017 report highlighted the systemic racism Black students face in GTA schools. This work helped to bring about an end to academic and applied streaming for Grade 9 students in Ontario, a decision that was announced in 2020.

Current include community outreach, such as the Day at 91ɫ programming that helps Black high-school students see themselves in post-secondary, the Jean Augustine Mentorship program that pairs Black students at 91ɫ with those entering the university, and Word, Sound, Power, a free annual event that takes place during Black History Month with dance, music and spoken word performances. It also includes partnerships with Black researchers across Canada that will serve to create better data on race and education, and collaborations with health science researchers looking at the health conditions and needs of Black individuals.

James is also a frequent figure in the media, commenting on recent news headlines from the renaming of Dundas Square, to new rules banning the N-word from use in the Toronto District School Board system, diversity in the city’s emergency services, and the provincial government mandating Black history in the Ontario curriculum.

However, it is not about him, James insists, nor the research, but working in the interest of community and using advocacy work to address and bring about the wider changes needed.

“It is not about research for research’s sake, but to inform action,” says James. “Community is often a central feature for those who have been marginalized. Of course, I think you can’t think of someone independent of their communities. And I'm thinking of communities not only in geographic terms, but as ethnic communities, gendered communities, class communities, and how all these might be operating in individuals’ lives.”

I'd been noticing that the education and schooling system had not been as helpful in educating or schooling Black immigrant students as we would have expected. That happens today; and happened then."

Professor Carl James, commenting on his early experiences working with youth in Regent Park

James adds that community is often a central construct of how Black youth imagine their future lives.

“You might find them highly represented in social services, social sciences, and education because they are ‘giving back’ to community,” he says. “They feel an obligation to respond to the needs of the community that has supported them. So, it's understandable that Jean would think that community is central to the work that’s been done through the Chair and for the Chair to engage community.

“Essentially, the idea is for us to work with community, and invite them to do the needed education work together.”

One of his current research projects looks at how individuals’ social capital ⁠–⁠ racialized individuals in particular ⁠–⁠ mediates access to employment, careers and occupational mobility once they land a job. Like much of James’s other work, the study follows research participants over a number of years, with a particular focus on periods of transition.

“I'm very interested in the differences between transitioning through high school to college and/or university, or from university to college, and to work,” says James. “All those permutations are very useful to look into in order to capture the ways in which young people are navigating life and negotiating the world around them.”

Woman taking picture with her cell phone of original artwork of Carl James displayed at the 91ɫ subway station TTC with original artwork that can be can be seen at 91ɫ subway station.
Carl James is being celebrated by the TTC with original artwork that can be can be seen at 91ɫ subway station, a wrap on a bus deployed from the Queensway Garage and on subways across the city.

The Chairship is of course named after Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black woman Member of Parliament, who made the motion that was unanimously passed in the House of Commons in 1995 for Black History Month to be officially recognized in Canada. She later established the Chair in her name at 91ɫ. James became the second Chair after the role was restructured and reimagined from the original framing of ‘Education in the New Urban Environment,’ which was held by . Thanks to a combination of a $1.5 million gift from the federal government and grassroots funding, the Chair is now fully endowed. (Her actual, physical chair, that she once sat in as an MP, now sits in the Dean’s Office at the Faculty of Education). 

James’ initial connections with Augustine go back to his early years in Toronto and their mutual involvement in community organizations such as the CAC.

Some documentation of this can be found in the Jean Augustine collection hosted through the at 91ɫ’s Scott Library, such as a letter regarding the founding meeting, written and signed off by James on behalf of Augustine, then the secretary of the CAC. At that meeting, James asked the group about working with high school students and recommended a summer research project looking into the experiences of immigrant children from local communities.

James is being celebrated in two pieces of art this Black History Month – one by 91ɫ alumni Robert Small as part of the Legacy Collection, and the other by Mya Salau as part of this year’s Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Black History Month campaign, Salau’s mural can be seen on an oversized mural at the 91ɫ TTC subway station, a wrap on Bus #3349 that operates on various lines deployed from the Queensway Garage, and on subways across the city.

A lot has transpired in the decades since James began his work, but it was in those early experiences with Black communities in Toronto that set him on his life path.

“I always say, suppose I never worked with those downtown youth. Would I have been able to think of the questions I have today?” he reflects. “Suppose they never answered my questions, or even sat with me for half an hour to share their experiences.

“So, while I look earnestly at the people who have worked with me, and given me mentorship, I have to also remember the research participants or even those who just simply entertained my conversations and my questions to think through more of what I might want to eventually contribute to life.”

Join James, mural artists, other honourees and their family members and youth from the TDSB this Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at 91ɫ subway station for the kickoff of a TTC . The tour will then make five more stops down the line and end at Union Station. James is not the only member of the 91ɫ community to be celebrated by the TTC as part of Black History Month. Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipient Itah Sadu, who is helping to organize Saturday’s event, is featured in a mural at Bathurst station.

Jean Augustine's story teaches us about Canada's domestic workers’ scheme

Cover page of a document entitled "Advice to West Indian Women Recruited for Work in Canada as Household Helps" which is the first item in the Jean Augustine archive collection held by 91ɫ.
Advice to West Indian Women Recruited for Work in Canada as Household Helps is the first item in the Jean Augustine archive collection held by 91ɫ.

Augustine had come to Canada as a domestic worker from Grenada during a time of political upheaval in her home country, with Grenada achieving independence in 1974. These early days are documented in the hosted through the Clara Thomas Archives at 91ɫ’s Scott Library located at Keele Campus.

The first item in the archive is a pamphlet entitled Advice to West Indian Women Recruited for Work in Canada as Household Helps. A lot of the space in the pamphlet is devoted to advice on what behaviour is expected: Be truthful, courteous and polite at all times in your dealings with your employer and their children; unmarried women who get pregnant in their first year could be deported and may never be able to return.

“The women who have been sent to Canada in previous years have not let down West Indian womanhood and it is confidently expected that you will do the same,” a passage reads.

The pamphlet also contains practical advice on life in Canada: While it is easy to get credit, it is also easy to get in trouble with it if you can’t keep up with payments; bring warm clothes, but no more than is needed as it will be cheaper to purchase winter clothes after you arrive; if your lips get chapped, try Vaseline or Camphor Ice.

There are warnings of “useless correspondence courses,” especially in nursing, that will take large sums of money, but won’t be of any use either in Canada or back home.

Canada needed more immigrants in the post WWII period when Europeans were staying home, and it was in that context that the Canadian government allowed workers from certain territories in the West Indies entry to Canada beginning in 1955, and the total lifting of race-based immigration restrictions in 1967. Caribbean domestics came to Canada to take care of other people’s children so those people could go to work, explains James. And people like Augustine who were teachers back home, not only provided domestic duties, but also the socialization of Canadian children.

“Beyond simply thinking of Jean coming here and becoming a Parliamentarian, what does Jean's story also tell us about Canada? To me, it's a big or national story,” reflects James.

“Her story represents Canada’s relationship with the Caribbean, and Caribbean women’s, and people’s contributions to the social, cultural, economic and political development of Canada. Her story is important; and there are many things we can learn from it.”

Members of the 91ɫ community and public can access the Jean Augustine collection by appointment by contacting the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections at archives@yorku.ca.

This story was republished with permission from News at 91ɫ

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Annual Jean Augustine Chair event shines spotlight on Black artists /edu/2024/02/06/annual-jean-augustine-chair-event-shines-spotlight-on-black-artists/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:14:33 +0000 /edu/?p=39018 Members of the 91ɫ community are invited to celebrate Black artistic talent during a showcase of performances on Feb. 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., when the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora presents Word, Sound, Power: An Annual Celebration of Black Artistic Expression.

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Dancer Coco Murray and 3 drummers performing at last year's (2022) Word, Sound, Power Black History Month event at 91ɫ

Members of the 91ɫ community are invited to celebrate Black artistic talent during a showcase of performances on Feb. 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., when the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora presents Word, Sound, Power: An Annual Celebration of Black Artistic Expression.

The annual event celebrates the rich and diverse world of Black aritistic expression, promising to be a vibrant showcase of talent, creativity and cultural pride.

Pictured left to right: Carrington Christmas and Isaac Crosby
Carrington Christmas and Isaac Crosby

The event is open to the community and is free to attend. It begins at 5:30 p.m. with a welcome reception in the CIBC Lobby, Accolade East Building at the Keele Campus, and performances will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Tribute communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building.

The event’s land acknowledgement will be provided by Carrington Christmas, a 91ɫ alumna, who is an Indigenous anti-racist educator and self-described “Aunty Extraordinaire” with Black Scotian-Mi’kmaw and German ancestry.

Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis

The ceremony will then be closed with an Afro-Indigenous blessing from Isaac Crosby, an agricultural expert of Ojibwe of Anderdon heritage.

Hosting and providing opening remarks will be Andrea Davis, a professor in the Department of Humanities, who in recognition of her work advancing equity, access and justice in post-secondary education.

Also providing remarks before the performances begin will be Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada; Samia Hashi, Ontario regional director of Unifor, which sponsors the event; and Robert Savage, dean of the Faculty of Education.

Among the featured performances this year are:

  • solo performances, including song and instruments, dance and spoken word, from students from Greater Toronto Area school boards;
  • a performance from the Oscar Peterson Jazz Ensemble;
  • a performance from the 91ɫ R&B Ensemble;
  • a spotlight artistic performance of the evening from Ian Kamau, an artist and designer;
  • a performance from the 91ɫ Gospel Choir; and
  • an Afro-Caribbean dance performance by students from James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School in the CIBC Lobby during the welcome reception.
Pictured left to right: Anika Forde and Karen Burke
Anika Forde and Karen Burke

This year’s Word, Sound, Power event is put on in partnership with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, with primary sponsorship from Unifor. 91ɫ’s Division of Equity, People & Culture has also provided funding support. The Faculty of Education – home to the Jean Augustine Chair – and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, through faculty member Davis, also play a critical role in the event.

Anika Forde, research project manager for the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora, and Karen Burke, Chair of Music, were co-conveners of the event this year.

Those interested in attending can .

Article originally posted in the February 2, 2024 issue of

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