Rhonda Lenton, York鈥檚 president and vice-chancellor, made the announcement at the virtual launch for Securing Black Futures: A National Partnership to Advance Youth Academic & Career Success program, a major initiative to address barriers Black youth face in Canada.

The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora is a university chair in the Faculty of Education that aims to advance access, equity and inclusivity to education through community engagement and collaborative action. The Chair is one of only two endowed university chairs in Canada dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black and African-descended communities and seeks to:

• Foster an understanding of the diverse cultural and educational needs of students
• Facilitate leadership on matters of access, equity, inclusivity and social justice
• Strengthen university-community partnerships and engagement
• Build educational and social capacity among students, junior scholars and community members

Established in 2008 at a time when stakeholders were pondering the state of education for marginalized youth, the Jean Augustine Chair is an endowed Chair established by 快播视频 and the Honorable Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada, and champion of the unanimous vote in 1995 that saw February designated as Black History Month. An endowment goal of $3 million was set to fund the Chair in perpetuity.

The Chair was relaunched in August 2016 with the introduction of Faculty of Education Professor Carl E. James as the new Jean Augustine Chair, and to renew community interest in the initiative. To date, approximately $2,044,871 of the fundraising goal has been met.

Fundraising for the Jean Augustine Chair in Education continues, and support is welcomed. To make a contribution to this worthy initiative, please聽听丑别谤别.

The post York to match contributions to Jean Augustine Chair endowment appeared first on Faculty of Education.

This donation will create and build on James鈥� education initiatives for Black youth in priority areas including student success, pathways to education, and support for Black scholars.

Established in 2008, the Jean Augustine Chair is an endowed Chair established by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada, and champion of the unanimous vote in 1995 that saw February designated as Black History Month. The Chair is one of only two endowed university chairs in Canada dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black and African-descended communities.

鈥淢y research, academic and community work has long been guided by the urgent need to support Black youth as they strive for success in the face of longstanding systemic barriers in education, and in society,鈥� said James. 鈥淩BC Future Launch, designed to support a variety of community-centred initiatives for young people, is a deeply appreciated contribution; and I鈥檓 pleased that the work of the Chair 鈥� particularly its programs that seek to support Black youth across Canada 鈥� will benefit significantly from this generous donation.鈥�

RBC Foundation鈥檚 $1.2-million donation will provide direct support to the Chair鈥檚 programs in four key areas, including:

1. Hosting the first ever National Conference for Black youth in Canada.
2. Supporting student pipeline initiatives at York and up to four other universities across Canada that will bring high school students unto university campuses, thereby enabling them to imagine themselves participating in post-secondary education.
3. Establishing a new Canadian data hub that will strengthen research and information capacity and inform better public policy.
4. Creating new opportunities, supports and training for young Black scholars who as graduate students and post-doctoral fellows will engage in research, teaching and mentorship activities that will serve as resources to local Black communities.

It is anticipated that up to 900 high school and university students, and postdoctoral scholars could be served through the various initiatives and serve as a pipeline for many of these youth鈥檚 post-high school ambitions. The accompanying research will serve to inform feasibility and productivity.

RBC Future Launch is a 10-year, $500-million commitment to empower Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow. With a focus on networking, skills development, practical work experience and mental wellbeing supports and services, the initiative aims to help break down the barriers facing young people. In 2020, RBC a series of actions against systemic racism 鈥� including a commitment to invest $50 million by 2025 through RBC Future Launch to create meaningful and transformative pathways to prosperity for up to 25,000 BIPOC youth with investments in areas such as skills development and mentoring.

Building on previous work, and working with all university community partners, York has re-doubled efforts to advance specific initiatives and strategies to support Black scholars, and directly address anti-Black racism. Through innovative programs, including the research and scholarly work of James, the Jean Augustine Chair, York's unique Black Canadian Studies Certificate, and the new , 快播视频 is putting this responsibility at the center of its teaching and research.

鈥溈觳ナ悠� is committed to offering a diverse student population access to a high-quality, research-intensive university committed to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of society,鈥� said Rhonda L. Lenton, 快播视频 president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淭his generous donation, made possible by the RBC Foundation, will support Professor James鈥� trailblazing work to build pathways for Black youth to pursue their educational goals, and provide new opportunities for current and future Black scholars to drive positive change at York, across Canada, and beyond.鈥�

Article from the March 3, 2021 issue of

The post 快播视频 receives $1.2M donation from RBC Foundation to support Black students appeared first on Faculty of Education.

The initiative, launched by Jean Augustine and Bridge for Change on Feb. 1, aimed to highlight the 25th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada by raising $25,000 in 25 days from community sources to match a $25,000 donation by Accenture Canada.

Augustine is a former MP and the first Black Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons. She is an advocate for social justice. Bridge for Change is an initiative to raise the remaining $1.2 million to fully fund the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora endowment at 快播视频. Since 2007, with York and community support, $1.8 million has been raised thus far towards the $3-million goal.

During the 25-day drive, $26,665 was donated, bringing the total to just over $50,000. An additional donation of $50,000 was made by the Wes and Christine Hall Family Foundation, bringing the community donations to $101,655. 快播视频 announced it will match the donations raised during Black History Month, raising the total funds through the 25K in 25 Days campaign to $203,330.

鈥淭his is a proud moment for me 鈥� especially because we did this in Black History Month,鈥� said Augustine. 鈥淭he community and our corporate allies stepped up and their investment in the Chair will improve the education and the lives of Black students and their families.鈥�

快播视频 President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton congratulated the Bridge for Change committee on their "extraordinary efforts" in the success of the campaign.

"The Jean Augustine Chair has been an incredibly important part of the York community, with its unique focus and dedication to advancing scholarly research, programs, partnerships, and new opportunities for Black communities in Toronto and beyond," said Lenton.  

Wes Hall, the executive Chair and founder of Kingsdale Advisors, challenged others with the means to meet or better his $50,000 contribution.

鈥淥n behalf of my family, we are proud to be able to contribute to funding that supports the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at 快播视频. Dr. Augustine has been a true trailblazer and instrumental in creating positive change for Black Canadians,鈥� said Hall, who is also Chair of the Black North Initiative. 鈥淚t is an honour to be part of this initiative to further advance the education and the lives of Black students and the overall enrichment of our community.鈥�

At the age of 83, Augustine has raised $1.8 million in community donations for the endowment of the Chair. A total of $3 million is needed for it to continue in perpetuity. Accenture Canada is the first corporation to join Augustine with a significant contribution, and she is hoping that other allies will help her reach the $3-million goal.

鈥淒iversity makes us stronger, smarter and more innovative, and that鈥檚 why Accenture is honoured to support Dr. Augustine 鈥� an inspirational force who continues to make an immense impact on the lives and education of Black and other racialized Canadians through research, policies and programs,鈥� said Jeffrey Russell, president of Accenture in Canada.

This month鈥檚 $25,000 challenge was impactful as this is the 25th anniversary of Black History Month becoming officially recognized by the Canadian government 鈥� a motion that was single-handedly pushed by Augustine and received unanimous consent in the House of Commons.

The Jean Augustine Chair is one of only two university endowed Canadian Chairs dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization efforts in Black and other racialized communities. In recent years it has become an important research hub accessible to community agencies to actively inform policies and programs across Canada. 

holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora in the Faculty of Education at 快播视频. He is a professor in the Faculty of Education and holds cross-appointments in the Graduate Programs in Sociology, Social and Political Thought, and Social Work. He is also the University鈥檚 Affirmative Action, Equity and Inclusivity officer, and was the director of the York Centre on Education & Community (2008-16) which he founded and director of the Graduate Program in Sociology (2007-08). He was one of six advisors to the Ontario Minister of Education and Premier (2017-18).

To learn more or support the future of聽The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora visit .

The post Donations surpass goal to raise $25K in 25 Days for Jean Augustine Chair appeared first on Faculty of Education.

When former MP Jean Augustine (LLD '11) was elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1993, she brought with her the hopes of her community, the voices of those she advocated for and the aspirations of her ancestors. As the first Black woman elected as a Member of Parliament, she was automatically catapulted to the status of role model for the millions who would come after her.

In 1995, Augustine single-handedly championed the unanimous vote to officially designate February as Black History Month in Canada.聽

Now in her 80s, Augustine continues to advocate for the causes that are important to her, including the initiative to fully endow the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at 快播视频.

One of only two endowed university Chairs in Canada dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black and African-descended communities, the Jean Augustine chair seeks to:

• Foster an understanding of the diverse cultural and educational needs of students;
• Facilitate leadership on matters of access, equity, inclusivity and social justice;
• Strengthen university-community partnerships and engagement; and,
• Build educational and social capacity among students, junior scholars and community members.

Recent world events have brought to the forefront the need for leaders, communities, businesses and individuals to take action to combat systemic racism and advocate for social justice issues globally. Canada is not immune to the reality of racism and how it can marginalize and disenfranchise those most vulnerable. Education is one of the keys to driving long-lasting, fundamental change in Black and other racialized communities across Canada.

Learn more about the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora and how you can contribute here. To read more about Jean Augustine鈥檚 life and work, .

This is a modified version of the original article published in the February 8, 2021 issue of .

The post The Jean Augustine story: Claiming a seat at the table appeared first on Faculty of Education.

When former MP Jean Augustine (LLD '11) was elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1993, she brought with her the hopes of her community, the voices of those she advocated for and the aspirations of her ancestors. As the first Black woman elected as a Member of Parliament, she was automatically catapulted to the status of role model for the millions who would come after her.

Now in her 80s, Augustine continues to advocate for the causes that are important to her, including the initiative to fully endow the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at 快播视频.

That鈥檚 why, when Augustine contacted Sheldon Pitt 鈥� better known as Solitair, a recognized music producer and community activist 鈥� in June 2020, to ask him to revive the campaign to fully endow the Chair, he knew to take her request seriously. Having grown up referring to her as his 鈥淎untie Jean,鈥� Solitair had seen her advocacy and determination firsthand and had heard her stories about the challenges and successes she had experienced as he grew up.

鈥淢y parents grew up with 鈥楢untie Jean鈥� in Grenada, so I had spent many holidays as a child listening to them reminisce and share stories over meals,鈥� said Solitair. 鈥淥ne thing that always resonated for me was the idea that having a voice on the important issues really matters. So when my 鈥楢untie Jean鈥� explained the significance of the chair, I knew it was an opportunity for me to help ensure that the voice she, and as so many others, had given to issues like diversity and education could continue indefinitely.鈥�

To assemble his team, Solitair wanted people who he knew would be just as passionate about continuing Augustine鈥檚 legacy as he was, so he recruited long-time friends, Jennifer Seif and Willona Fraser, both York alumni, to form the Jean Augustine Chair Endowment Fund (JACEF) Committee. In October 2020, the team of volunteers launched a social media campaign called "Bridge for Change" to help build awareness, educate the public and start a discussion about the work of the Chair.

Augustine envisions a Chair that is 鈥渇or the people, by the people鈥�, so the JACEF Committee launched the campaign into high gear with the 鈥�25K in 25 Days鈥� initiative, which aims to highlight the 25th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada by raising $25,000 towards the endowment fund in 25 days from community sources during the month of February. To strengthen that goal, corporate sponsor Accenture will match all community donations to the fund throughout the month.

One of only two endowed university Chairs in Canada dedicated to research and knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black and African-descended communities, the Jean Augustine chair seeks to:

• Foster an understanding of the diverse cultural and educational needs of students;
• Facilitate leadership on matters of access, equity, inclusivity and social justice;
• Strengthen university-community partnerships and engagement; and,
• Build educational and social capacity among students, junior scholars and community members.

Recent world events have brought to the forefront the need for leaders, communities, businesses and individuals to take action to combat systemic racism and advocate for social justice issues globally. Canada is not immune to the reality of racism and how it can marginalize and disenfranchise those most vulnerable. Education is one of the keys to driving long-lasting, fundamental change in Black and other racialized communities across Canada.

鈥淐ontinuing Jean鈥檚 legacy is much bigger than the committee or 快播视频,鈥� said  Solitair. 鈥淚t falls to all those she has motivated to claim their seat at the table with her boldness, her strength and her ability to think beyond the bounds of what is expected to what is possible.鈥�

Learn more about the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora and how you can contribute聽here. To read more about Jean Augustine鈥檚 life and work,聽.

Article from the February 8, 2021 issue of .

The post The Jean Augustine story: Claiming a seat at the table appeared first on Faculty of Education.