Confronting anti-Black racism - reflection by Lisa Kakonge

“I have appreciated Holland Bloorview’s responsiveness and commitment to tackling anti‑Black racism in meaningful ways. The Roadmap to Confront Anti-Black Racism has opened the door for staff to begin - and continue - difficult yet necessary conversations, such as what it means to actually deliver equity and trauma-informed care. 

One of the most encouraging shifts I’ve noticed is a growing willingness across teams to deepen our understanding and curiosity about each other and the clients and families we serve. For example, the many talks and video learning series hosted by the IDEAA staff, highlighting the stories of resilience and ongoing advocacy from equity‑deserving communities, appear to be well attended and serve as a powerful testament to our collective commitment to meaningful change. I am also seeing more openness to reflecting on and confronting our own biases. These may be subtle changes - more work is needed - but they represent important steps toward a more inclusive and equitable work environment.” - Lisa Kakonge, collaborative practice leader, and member of the Black Employee Resource Group (BERG)