“To me, black brilliance means the world. It means that we are able to showcase who we are in all of our authenticity and talents. 
An amazing way of seeing the world because of our position in it. Black, brilliance, is Black excellence. It's in the stories we read, the stories we tell, the ways in which we present ourselves to the world, the love that we share in our communities and so much more...” - Jay, Holland Bloorview ambassador and a member of the National Disability Initiative Working Group (Listen to the full reflection)

Read more about Jay

“I think that before anything else, we need to ensure that we are truly listening to Black individuals. There is so much that we can learn from the community; about history, culture, and what we can do to be better as allies, which is so essential to be heard from their perspective. 

As a lover of the arts, I really admire many aspects of Black culture and its many artistic contributions… Art becomes so much more beautiful than it already is when such deep meaning, in culture as well as in resilience and perseverance is considered. 

I am so honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate here. I’d actually like to say that I look up to Jay a lot; they are so passionate in their work, all of which is so important. I really resonate with what they have spoken for regarding disability, as well as intersectionality, and I’m sure that many other people do, too!”- Jackie, Holland Bloorview ambassador

Read more about Jackie

“For me, celebrating Black History Month is significant because it’s a time to intentionally pause and recognize stories that haven’t always been centered or told in full. Growing up, I didn’t always see Black excellence reflected in my textbooks or in leadership spaces. A lot of what I learned about Black history came from family conversations” - Iman Elzinie, divisional coordinator, senior executive assistant, Quality, Safety and Performance & Experience, Transformation and Social Accountability (Read the full reflection)

“Black History month allows me to reflect on the past as we move forward. To me it means not forgetting the past but continuing to push ahead. It is a time when I look back on the processes and sacrifices, while remembering the people who pushed the envelope that gradually got us to where we are today. It is an opportunity for me to honour their legacy.

Fighting racism, Black or otherwise should always be on everyone’s To-Do list. As we say, ‘No man is an island’.

Our contributions should always be acknowledged, Black History Month or not. We should all be confident in celebrating our individual identity and always affirming our contributions.” - Cherrell Williams, senior executive assistant and governance lead

“When I reflect on the words Honoring Black Brilliance Across Generations, I am deeply grateful that I’ve always been grounded in my Caribbean culture as part of my journey. In my family, brilliance looked like persistence. It looked like values being passed down quietly through example, not speeches.” - Lorraine Thomas, manager, IDEAA (Read the full reflection)

“To me, being an ally to Black communities means many things. For one I am a strong believer that allyship is not a point you reach but a constant, active effort. As a white woman, for me this means using my white privilege to challenge anti-Black racism as often as I can and taking direction from Black people in my life, as well as from Black writers and thought leaders on what it looks like to have daily practices of dismantling white supremacy and the systems of oppression that are tied into it.” - Stephanie Moynagh, family support specialist and co-lead, 2SLGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG) (Read the full reflection)

“Holland Bloorview’s commitment to anti‑racism is strengthened by inter‑ERG solidarity and allyship.

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.” - Laura Bowman (Hartman), project manager, Research & Evaluation, Employment Pathways and co-lead, Jewish Employee Resource Group (Read the full reflection)