The Halton Region is giving funding to the Halton Equity & Diversity Roundtable.
The group is working to help eliminate racism in the community.
The Coordinator for the Roundtable, Samina Zubairi, says the money will help them with what they do best.
She adds that recent circumstances, whether it’s COVID-19 or the anti-racism protests, have shown how much work still needs to be done to end racism.
We’re about three months removed from the major anti-racism protest in Milton.
Zubairi says these protests do a lot of work.
She says the protests are needed as the issues of discrimination have persisted for ages. The experiences of marginalized people play a major role in their lives, and often, the people continue to feel and be marginalized. You can read more on the June 6th Milton anti-racism protest here.
Zubairi says the funding will mean that they will be able to gather experiences from the community, focus in on systemic racism and why it continues to exist. They want to undertake activities to show the value of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the community. They are developing what they are calling an ‘Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Charter’ for Halton. It’s a tool for individuals to use and endorse, and is built on feedback from Halton residents and community stakeholders. You can find the document here.
myFM News received the following statement from the Halton Region regarding the funding:
“The Halton Region Community Investment Fund supports local, non-profit organizations that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents. The Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable works with community partners to strengthen equity and inclusion within programs and services within the region. We are proud to support the Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable as they work to build more inclusive communities for everyone.”
The Halton Equity & Diversity Roundtable is always looking for new members. They continue to hold events and meetings through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roundtable also wants to partner with more local partners. You can learn more about the HED Roundtable by visiting their website.