The Student Equity Leadership Collective was developed in order to make positive changes within the TDSB. These students aim to collaborate with their peers to address and tackle racism, hate and discrimination within their school environments. The Student Equity Collective gathers monthly to participate in workshops and collaborative leadership planning, each focusing on the varying equity issues impacting the lives of students.
Since it’s first meeting in April 2022, students have engaged with:
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The Resource - This Book is AntiRacist by Tiffany Jewel
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Collaborative working sessions with Ontario’s first Poet Laureate
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Retreat in August: Focusing on Strengthening Community & Preparing for our work in 2022-23.
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In September 2022: Attended the opening celebration of Shadows of Racism, Voices Unheard project, a collaboration with Alpha Education, Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board. The art exhibition brought into a public forum, community voices which are often silent or overshadowed, and helped the members of the Student Equity Collective explore messages of hope and optimism found within the juxtaposition of bias, discrimination, and racism with identity, belonging and diversity.
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Monthly meetings with community based artists to develop educational resources for use with students across the TDSB.
The Student Equity Collective has been tasked with documenting their experiences and recommendations for addressing issues of race, racism and hate within the education system. Students have been divided into four groups working with local artists to refine their messaging through creative art expressions. Students are linking their ideas and recommendations to various TDSB policies. The groups are as follows:
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Expressed through Spoken Word, Human Rights
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Expressed through Podcasting, Equity Policy
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Expressed through Videography, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)
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Expressed through Visual Arts,Caring and Safe Schools Policy