About the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism
The Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism is a group of close to 50 dedicated individuals from across the university who are creating an action plan to implement the 14 recommendations from the university's (PDF file) Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report, published by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) in 2020.
The work of our committee is centered around our university, re-imagined. At the core and throughout this process of re-imagination are the guiding principles of inclusive excellence and Black flourishing that are aligned to the global and academic mission of the university.
These principles are foundational to the implementation of the 14 recommendations we are advancing. The recommendations are specific to one of four key areas/groups but are also complementary and intertwined with one another. Together, they give rise to the conditions and overall environment where Black students, faculty and staff are prioritized, valued, and respected; and where others also flourish and prosper.
Co-chairs
In July 2020, the OVPECI released the university’s (PDF file) Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report. To help address the 14 recommendations included in the report, President Mohamed Lachemi formed the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism who are responsible for working with the university community in a collective effort to make each recommendation a reality.
The committee is led by three executive co-chairs:
Project team
The committee’s daily operations are led by the project team:
Background
The Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report
The (PDF file) Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report outlines the experiences of Black students, faculty and staff on campus, and its findings confirm that anti-Black racism is prevalent at the university. The 14 recommendations in the report aim to build on our university’s leading role among Canadian post-secondary institutions, and create a more inclusive and fully-participatory environment for Black students, faculty and staff to prosper and flourish. The report also places social justice and equity for the Black community on the university’s agenda.
The Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism was established at the time of the report’s release (external link) , illustrating the university’s deep commitment to meaningful change.
Release of the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report (July 2020)
"Anti-Black racism continues to be a problem on college and university campuses across Canada, and TMU is no exception despite our continued efforts to improve the situation for Black students, faculty and staff."
—Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report, 2020