Responding to Systemic Racism

In 2020, we saw a global response to systemic racism. This pervasive racism has existed for centuries against Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC). We were horrified at the events as they unfolded. Many organizations showed their support and issued statements in solidarity and support against systemic racism.

At Housing Central, the events compelled us to hold a mirror to ourselves and reflect on our efforts to address racial inequity as a community. Our work is focused on strengthening and growing the community housing sector. We have done some incredible work since we created our alliance in 2015. Building on that work and with our united efforts, we believe that sharing the rich cultural heritage and positive contributions of Black Canadians in our province will be a tangible step toward ensuring the goal of racial equality remains at the forefront of our work.

Celebrating of Black History Month

This February, we are celebrating Black History Month with our Housing Central partners at the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. Together, we will be sharing stories of prominent Black individuals who made a positive impact on our communities. In the process, these individuals helped shape this province and blazed a trail for the Black community. This year’s theme is inspired by the novel, Hidden Figures. This is a true story of Black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space.  On Feb. 16, we will host a free event to further explore the impact of these BC “hidden figures” and the significance of sharing their history more prominently.

We hope that you stay connected with us online through social media. We will be featuring resources and fun facts of 28 “hidden figures” and how these individuals have shaped our communities and sector as a whole. Each week, we will also be doing a deep dive into notable Black leaders and why knowing this history impacts us all.

Weekly Spotlights

• Week 1: Emery Barnes
• Week 2: Rosemary Brown
• Week 3: Joe Fortes
• Week 4: Charles & Nancy Alexander

See you online and stay tuned for all the exciting things we have planned!

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