National pan-university program backed by $1.2 million from RBC Foundation as part of RBC Future Launch

TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2021 鈥撀�91亚色 is launching聽a three-year initiative聽to enhance the representation of Black youth at universities across Canada by supporting upper-year high school students as they plan for their future such as pursuing post-secondary education or work 鈥� and aiding in the transition and retention of those who pursue university. The initiative is led by Professor Carl James, 91亚色鈥檚 Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in the Faculty of Education. James has focused on addressing systemic barriers and racial inequities for over a decade and a recent聽聽from the RBC Foundation, as part of聽, is allowing this work to go national.

鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to see some attention to streaming 鈥� the process of placing students into academic or non-academic oriented classes based on their assumed intellectual abilities. The Ontario government鈥檚 announcement about ending academic streaming starting with the Grade 9 math curriculum this September as well as a ban on suspending young students is an okay start. However, we have a long way to go. Black students across Canada continue to report racial inequities and experience barriers in the education system,鈥� says聽, whose 2017 groundbreaking research revealed Black students are being disproportionately streamed away from academic programs and suspended at significantly higher rates than white or other racialized students.聽The report,聽, used data to show poor outcomes for Black students and that current students were experiencing worse outcomes than their parents and grandparents.

James is bringing together Kevin Hewitt, Physics Professor from Dalhousie University; Juliet Daniel, Associate Dean of Research from McMaster University; Jennifer Adams, Canada Research Chair in Creativity & STEM and Associate Professor from University of Calgary; and Annette Henry, Professor, Language and Literacy Education from University of British Columbia, who share a commitment to addressing the educational issues of Black youth to further the systemic anti-Black racism work of individual institutions, including interventions and research. The research component will build on existing Canadian census data with a longitudinal study of grade 11 and 12 students over a three-year period, informing the development of new community-based and student-support programs, and will for the first time facilitate the sharing of documentation and data across Canadian universities 鈥� allowing for geographical and contextual comparisons to be made. For example, James is particularly interested in the experience of second-and-third generation Black students and how the impact of generational status compares between Toronto and Halifax.

In 2020,聽RBC聽聽to address the inequity and systemic bias that have disadvantaged Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals and youth. As part of this commitment, RBC committed to providing $50 million in focused funding through RBC Future Launch to create meaningful and transformative pathways to prosperity for 25,000 BIPOC youth by 2025.

鈥淓nsuring聽that Black students have equitable access to opportunity is critical to building strong, inclusive communities,鈥� says Mark Beckles, Vice-President, Social Impact & Innovation, RBC. 鈥淲e are working closely with our partners, including many BIPOC-serving organizations, to enable access. RBC鈥檚 support of the now national work of the Jean Augustine Chair will help to ensure that present and future generations of Black talent can reach their fullest potential.鈥�

The initiative will kick off on Oct. 6 with a national conversation hosted by 91亚色 and the RBC Student Success Initiative and Data Hub.

奥贬础罢:听Securing Black Futures: A National Partnership to Advance Youth Academic & Career Success

奥贬贰搁贰:听This event will be livestreamed via YouTube聽. Questions can be submitted in advance to聽yuevent@yorku.ca.

奥贬贰狈:听Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at 7 p.m.

About 91亚色

91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.聽

Media contact:聽Kayla Lewis, 91亚色 Media Relations, cell 416-455-4710,聽lewiskay@yorku.ca

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TORONTO, June 2, 2020 鈥� As anti-Black racism protests rip across North America in the aftermath of George Floyd鈥檚 death, 91亚色 professors can discuss some of the systemic issues that have led to anti-Black racism in Canada and the U.S., its impact and the weaponization of race.

What can we learn and how do we ensure change starting with children? What are some approaches teachers can use in the classroom and do schools have the necessary materials that reflect diverse communities and celebrate their successes?

Associate Professor , 91亚色 Research Chair in Youth and Contexts of Inequity in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the provincial academic director of the Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange, can discuss:

• Anti-Black racism
• The impact on the well-being of Black youth, their families and communities

Associate Professor , an expert in race and gender in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, can comment on:

• Anti-Black racism in Canada and the United States
• Weaponization of race and racial fear
• Construction of protest, violence, and patriotism
• Constructions of Black masculinity

Associate Professor of the Faculty of Health and director of the Interpersonal Perception and Social Cognition Laboratory looks at why children show implicit racial bias from a young age.

鈥淩acism continues to be a pervasive issue in North America and around the world. Racism directed at people of colour, and specifically Black Americans, creates inequities that are not consistent with our purported meritocracy,鈥� says Steele. 鈥淭he protests in response to George Floyd's needless and tragic death reflect people's frustration with a system that treats people differently based on the colour of their skin.鈥�

She can speak about:

• The effects of systemic racism and discrimination, and dehumanization
• Why children need to be exposed to diversity in their lives for them to learn to appreciate diversity
• Why educational systems need materials that reflect increasingly diverse communities and why it is important that children learn about successful, contributing members of society from all walks of life
• Approaches for the classroom

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91亚色 champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥� our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

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