PART working groups are made up of at least five individuals from the Community Collaborative (CC), a representative of WUSA, a representative of the GSA, and between 2 to 3 additional members with the expertise and/or accountability for processes by which implementation may proceed.
Their fundamental responsibility is to generate recommendations to address systemic racism for consideration by the Taskforce. Each group’s responsibilities reflect initial thoughts and ideas of where the community would like to see activities accelerated. Read more about each group below.
- Code of Conduct and Safety Working Group
- Educational Environment & The Development of Learners Working Group
- Health and Mental Health Strategy Working Group
- Professional & Academic Development & Mentorship Working Group
- Race, Culture and Ethnicity Awareness Working Group
Code of Conduct and Safety Working Group
Mandate
Generate recommendations to address safety for Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples of campus utilizing environmental scans, data discovery and research resulting in related key performance indicators and outcomes.
Responsibilities*
- Review policies and procedures to recommend how complaints of racism should be addressed, identifying offices responsible
- Provide recommendations on standards of expected behaviour and conduct related to a safe and inclusive campus community
- Provide recommendations for language on anti-racism to be included on the template for every course syllabus, containing a code of conduct and steps which will be taken if that code is violated
- Develop recommendations for dealing with groups with offensive ideologies
- Provide recommendations for training for campus safety and security staff in anti-racism and de-escalation tactics
* some elements of each working group’s core responsibilities may evolve based on discussion and members’ expertise.
Members
- Kevin Bonnell
- Tracelyn Cornelius
- Lili Liu
- Sushanta Mitra
- Arsh Maira Muhammad
- Angeline Ram
- Nadia Singh
- Danicia Maria Solozano
- Anita Taylor
Educational Environment & the Development of Learners Working Group
Mandate
Generate recommendations to enhance the educational environment and the development of learners for BIPOC members of campus utilizing environmental scans, data discovery and research resulting in related key performance indicators and outcomes.
Responsibilities*
- Review programming to recommend approaches to pedagogy in curriculum to create a relatable and inclusive environment
- Make recommendations to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing, content, perspective, discourse, and approaches as appropriate
- Develop recommendations and resources to include Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples scholarship and research in curriculum as appropriate
- Provide recommendations for the development of cultural awareness in language and teaching, including for case studies and examples
- Provide recommendations for the development of Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples entrance and other scholarships
- Advise on strategies related to approaches for introducing a transitional year program for high-school students
* some elements of each working group’s core responsibilities may evolve based on discussion and members’ expertise.
Members
- Arabella Hareem Abid
- Sara Anderson
- Jeff Casello
- David DeVidi
- Jaydum Hunt
- David Lau
- Kim Nguyen
- Colleen Phillips-Davis
- Naima Samuel
Health and Mental Health Strategy Working Group
Mandate
Generate recommendations to address health and mental health for Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples on campus utilizing environmental scans, data discovery and research resulting in related key performance indicators and outcomes.
Responsibilities*
- Research and suggest training opportunities related to anti-racism for health service providers on campus
- Research and suggest training of existing counsellors to understand the psycho-socioeconomic Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples-lens
- Discuss and offer suggestions to provide virtual meeting safe places/healing spaces and approaches to support BIPOC students/staff/faculty who experience racism to learn strategies to address mental health and anxiety, and to provide a venue for sharing stories of hope and encouragement
- Provide recommendations for strategies to increase Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples mental wellness services, supports and resources
- Develop recommendations for where increased support for health and mental health would be most effective
- Recommend how a Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples lens could be included into the wellness collaborative that addresses the social determinants of health
* some elements of each working group’s core responsibilities may evolve based on discussion and members’ expertise.
Members
- Iqra Azhar
- Hossam Bakir
- Kalpita Gaitonde
- Gursharan Kahlon
- Kristine Meier
- Margaret Mutumba
- Chris Read
- Anita Taylor
- Grace Wong
Professional & Academic Development & Mentorship Working Group
Mandate
Generate recommendations to address professional and academic development and mentorship for Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples of campus utilizing environmental scans, data discovery and research resulting in related key performance indicators and outcomes.
Responsibilities*
- Develop recommendations to increase mentorship/sponsorship opportunities for Black, Indigenous and other racialized staff/faculty/students
- Suggest mitigation strategies to address conflicting information on how to navigate the system, provide equitable opportunities and overcome barriers for staff and faculty career advancement
- Develop recommendations to address how funding is support of professional development and mentorship for Black, Indigenous and other racialized staff/faculty/students is allocated and implemented
- Develop communication strategies that increase awareness and foster access to professional development and mentorship opportunities for Black, Indigenous and other racialized staff/faculty/students
- Develop recommended options for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities
* some elements of each working group’s core responsibilities may evolve based on discussion and members’ expertise.
Members
- Pamela Charbonneau
- Tracelyn Cornelius
- Katrina Di Gravio
- Jenny Flagler-George
- Nigel Henriques
- Michelle Hollis
- Ryon Jones
- Jennifer Kandjii
- Derek Leung
- Betty Qin
- Anita Taylor
- Cindy Yeung
Race, Culture and Ethnicity Awareness Working Group
Mandate
Generate recommendations to address race, culture and ethnicity awareness for Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples of campus utilizing environmental scans, data discovery and research resulting in related key performance indicators and outcomes.
Responsibilities*
- Review Waterloo’s mission, vision and values, and guiding principles through a diversity and inclusion lens to develop recommendations that reflect the needs of Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities
- Make recommendations for anti-racism and oppression training for all members of Waterloo’s community to contribute towards a culture of belonging
- Provide recommendations on a module for students on the roots of racism and how to address, prevent and identify systemic racism
- Make recommendations for establishing diversity and inclusion representatives related to the anti-racism file for consultation, with regard to language and culture, who provide advice to staff/faculty/students
- Recommend mechanisms for gathering Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples input at all levels of governance
- Discuss and provide ideas and suggestions for events and opportunities to support Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples in exploring and celebrating their own identities
- Discuss and provide ideas and suggestions for events that educate the university at large, including our alumni community, about an inclusive society, systemic racism and the need for a variety of voices at all levels
- Provide recommendations for race, culture and ethnicity awareness initiatives driven by undergraduate and graduate students, including recommendations on funding for such activities
- Provide recommendations on the creation of a Black Cultural Centre
* some elements of each working group’s core responsibilities may evolve based on discussion and members’ expertise.
Members
- Fatima Awan
- Kevin Bonnell
- Alison Boyd
- Georges Bucyibaruta
- Tracelyn Cornelius
- Anne Galang
- Jasmin Habib
- Philip Hohol
- Patty Mah
- Robin Stadelbauer
- Tamara Zur
Additional members, not listed, are contributing to this work. We thank all members for their contribution.
Last Updated: March 4, 2021