The ETT Anti-Racism Ad Hoc Committee invites Members to join a celebration for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, featuring panelists Dr. Vidya Shah, teacher Roilui Sin, and ETT Vice-President Nigel Barriffe. Please fill out the form below to register now.
Event Theme
The theme of this year’s IDERD panel is, Embracing Justice: The Path to Anti-Racist Education in Toronto, featuring the renowned Dr. Vidya Shah, alongside distinguished Toronto teachers. This engaging event is designed to shed light on the critical importance of anti-racism in education and provide actionable insights for educators committed to creating inclusive and equitable learning environments. Dr. Shah, an esteemed scholar in education with a focus on equity and inclusivity, will lead the conversation, drawing from her extensive research and experience. Alongside her, passionate Toronto teachers will share their firsthand experiences, strategies, and challenges in implementing anti-racist practices within their classrooms. Together, they will explore practical approaches to dismantling systemic racism in educational settings, fostering cultural understanding, and empowering students from all backgrounds. This panel is an essential opportunity for educators, and anyone interested in the movement towards a more just and equitable education system in Toronto to gain valuable knowledge and tools for becoming effective anti-racist educators.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Online via Zoom (A link will be shared closer to the event date)
Registration closes on March 21, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Open to: ETT Members, Education workers, and allies in the community.
Panel Participants
Dr. Vidya Shah
Dr. Vidya Shah is an educator, scholar and activist committed to equity and racial justice in the service of liberatory education. She is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University, and her research explores anti-racist and decolonial approaches to leadership in schools, communities, and school districts. She also explores educational barriers to the success and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students. Dr. Shah teaches in the Master of Leadership and Community Engagement, as well as undergraduate and graduate level courses in education.
Roilui Sin
Roilui Sin is in her final year as a PhD candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy at the Onta
rio Institute of Studies in Education (OISE),
University of Toronto. She is currently moving more slowly and her research involves mental health and educational policy. She is also a full-time special education teacher at the Toronto District School Board, for children in treatment programs within the city. She is passionate about teaching, engaging learners, and bringing communities together in educational issues. She is committed to living more mindfully and helping others to do the same.
What is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination?
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960.
In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all States.
Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled. Racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and we have built an international framework for fighting racism, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Convention is now nearing universal ratification, yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings. Click here to learn more about IDERD.
Registration is now closed.
