Honouring Black brilliance - from Laura Bowman, Jewish ERG

I have appreciated Holland Bloorview’s dedication to exploring and considering equity, and in particular, anti-black racism. As an ERG lead myself, I understand the importance of appropriate representation of all communities, and the dangers of not letting those communities shape the narratives themselves. The resources, learning events, and anti-black racism report shared by Holland Bloorview have helped me to consider And reflect my own role as a staff member and as someone who works with data sets in incorporating the Black community’s histories of both oppression and resilience while attempting to shape a meaningful unhealthy future. 

By providing resources and creating spaces to discuss anti-black racism in our workplace, I have felt more supported in asking critical questions and seeking critical opinions. This has been helpful when starting projects, analyzing data, and sharing knowledge within and beyond our walls. In particular, our clinical team has the knowledge and language to strive towards an anti-racist stance in our care and knowledge mobilization, as outlined by the IDEAA team. I look forward to more resources and more shared learning this Black History Month and throughout the year. 

Laura Bowman- Project Manager, Research & Evaluation, Employment Pathways and co-lead Jewish Employee resource groups