Centre for Black Student Excellence
YRDSB is pleased to launch the Centre for Black Student Excellence, a space committed to the promotion of Dismantling Anti-Black racism and amplifying voices that have been historically marginalized.
We invite you to explore our new online presence at www.yrdsb.ca/blackexcellence to:
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Access videos, resources and information about community partners.
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Learn more about our work to dismantle anti-Black racism, guided by our strategy.
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Celebrate Black excellence through video, feature stories, podcasts and more.
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Find out about programs available to Black students and families.
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Check out our new community newsletter.
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And much more.
Please take a look at our promotional video for K-3 Student Conference, which outlines the program’s vision and goals.
Meet the Identity Specific Social Workers from Community Care Team
YRDSB Mental Health Supports for Black Identified Students
Within the department of Social Work and Attendance Services, are a team of School Social Workers that have been tasked with supporting identity specific groups within our system. These workers make up the Community Care Social Work Team (CCT), a two year pilot of staff supporting 2SLGBTQI+, African Canadian Caribbean, Tamil Diaspora, Chinese Canadian, and Indigenous students.
Supporting Black identified students are Tracy Thomas-Elleston, RSW and Melanie Beckford, RSW.
As Black Social Workers, we lean on our lived experiences and common understandings of the oppressive system within which we all experience Anti-Black Racism, encouraging students to share their lived experiences, speak out against ABR, be engaged in activism and promote self-care.
Our goal is to encourage students and their families to practice actions that lead to personal change, growth and healing. We continue to work towards building greater connections within our community, so that all parties have a reduced sense of isolation and a deeper understanding of where they can go to access relevant support, including connections to community partner organizations who may be able to provide more intensive ongoing resources.
Our roles continue to support the Black identified community, primarily by building capacity to deliver affirming mental health care within the Social Work Department, developing resources and professional learning for board staff in the system at large and direct support to students and their caregivers.
Referrals for direct support will begin with School Administrators bringing forward a request for consultation and meeting with the home school assigned School Social Worker through an In School Team Meeting (ISTM). Caregivers and students interested in this service can then alert school staff to their interest in Identity Specific Social Work support.
Why do we have Black identified Social Workers on the Community Care Social Work Team in YRDSB?
We understand and recognize racism is traumatic and is both a mental and public health issue.
We understand most major systems (including Education) are rooted in colonialism and were designed to maintain and perpetuate racial injustice.
We understand that racism is strongly associated with detrimental mental and physical health effects, such as depression, anxiety, and physical ailments disproportionately present among Black communities living in Canada.
Our role is to mitigate some of the above-noted mental health impacts. Through advocacy and support we centre student and family voices and hope to positively impact the school community, such that safe, inclusive and affirming learning environments are available to all.
YRDSB Programs
Black Excellence Program
The vision of the Black Excellence Program, (BEP), is to advance the achievement, wellbeing and sense of belonging of Black students in YRDSB schools through responsive programming that affirms their identity, builds on their strengths, and enhances their access to academic opportunities after high school. Students will have opportunities to learn from each other, experts from diverse fields, and mentors who will uplift, inspire and encourage them.
The Center for Black Student Excellence is pleased to announce that in the 2022-2023 school year, the program will be extended to 100 students from YRDSB secondary schools who self-identify as Black or African descended.
This year’s programming includes:
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3-Full-day Master Classes in November, February and May
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Five After school “We are Wednesdays” workshops in December, January, March, April and June
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The sharing of Black-affirming books, resources, and networks. Please share information about the Black Excellence Program with your school community and encourage your students to sign-up for this Black affirming experience using the
Apply with BEP Registration Form.
Ascending Sisters Pilot Project
In alignment with the Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Ascending Sisters serves as a mentorship program that connects Black girls and non binary students with self-identified Black YRDSB staff (e.g., teachers, educational assistants, Child and Youth workers, support professionals, administrators). Cisgender girls, transgender girls and non binary students from grades 7-10 in selected pilot schools are all welcome to participate.
Through targeted wellness, health and mentorship opportunities, students will be provided with the opportunity to develop a stronger sense of self, promote healing, increase ability to advocate, communicate effectively and further enhance their leadership skills.
Please contact the Black Excellence Planning Team at Blackexcellence@yrdsb.ca if you have further questions.
Rise Brothers
Rise Brothers is committed to supporting Black male elementary & secondary students from grades 7 to 12. Through school contacts, participating schools will be asked to recommend Black male students who fit the following new criteria:
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Black male-identified
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Presently achieving level 2 or below (elementary) or credit deficient (secondary)
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Have experienced attendance challenges
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Have a problematic school discipline history
Have a look at our promotional video, which outlines the program’s vision and goals.
Please contact the Black Excellence Planning Team at Blackexcellence@yrdsb.ca if you have further questions.
Partners
The Alliance of Educators for Black Students (AEBS) is committed to promoting well-being and excellence in achievement for students of African/ Caribbean heritage. You can follow them on Twitter @AEBSyrdsb.
Learn more about Black community agencies that provide supports in your area:
ANCHOR (Formerly Vaughan African Canadian Association (VACA)
Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association (MACCA)
Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA)
The Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN)
York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities (YRAACC)
Upcoming Community Events
NACCA presents T.E.A.C.H. | Six week mental health foundational program for Black Youth (ages 12-25)
This six week program offers a variety of topics centring Black youth, their experiences, identity, mental health and so much more
Date: November 9th to December 14th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: 449 Eagle St., Newmarket
Contact: info@naccacommunity.ca or 905-781-6222
Parents of Black Children | OMO Africentric Virtual Campus
Black students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 and jump on ourOMO Africentric Campus to get free 20-minute drop-in homework help.
Date: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Time: 4:00pm -7:00pm
Parents of Black Children | York Region Townhall
Date: November 10, 2022
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Aaniin Community Centre, 5665 14th Ave, Markham
Parents of Black Children | Annual General Meeting
Date: November 29, 2022
Time: 6:30pm -8:00pm
Location: Aaniin Community Centre, 5665 14th Ave, Markham
Parents of Black Children | SFA Workshop: Child Welfare
Join us for our upcoming Student and Family Advocate Workshop. In this workshop, we will discuss services designed to ensure that children are safe and that families have the necessary support to care for their children successfully.
Date: December 2, 2022
Time: 7:00pm -8:30pm
Location: To be announced
YSSI Youth School Success Initiative | After School Program for Grade 6-8 Students
Youth School Success Initiative (YSSI) is an ethno-specific collaborative made up of 7 York and Toronto-based agencies working together to empower the educational and holistic success of black youth in York and Toronto regions. YSSI will deliver a wrap-around program that best meets the needs of identified Black youth in the York Region and Toronto District School Boards.
York Region Partners: Anchor, MACCA, NACCA, Parents of Black Children, YRAACC
Date: Sessions offered throughout the week
Time: Evening sessions
Contact: support@macca1987.com
SHINE Podcast
Listen to the SHINE Podcast
SHINE is a YRDSB podcast that features voices from the Black community. It introduces conversations that inspire and challenge. Guests share their lived experiences, advice, industry expertise and more.
SHINE is a production of Tune In YRDSB. Tune In YRDSB is the first podcast of its kind in Ontario, featuring a wide range of topics related to education. Tune In YRDSB is available on all major podcast platforms.
Request for Support
To request support from a member of the Centre for Black Student Excellence team please email: BlackStudentExcellence@yrdsb.ca