Over the last 3 years, our small yet growing committee has participated in the following endeavours:
Letter Writing Advocacy i.e. supporting an inquiry and requesting a coroner's inquest into the death of a young Indigenous woman Heather Winterstein at St. Catharines General Hospital December 14, 2021
Supporting BIIMPOC Initiatives - Monetary gift to Christmas party at Niagara Native Centre
Supporting BIPOC Businesses - creating a listing of BIPOC businesses and shopping with them
Being Brave - Exploring, Preparing and Delivering Spirit Led Discussions on Anti-Racism matters
Using the Community Guidelines created by Vanessa Julye to ensure respectful yet challenging honest conversations.
For example, facilitating:
A workshop with Darlene McIsaac, A Métis Elder's Personal Story and how to become an ally to Metis people, in January 2021
Gathering to advocate the passage of Bill C-15 SUPPORTING THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, throughout 2021
Vanessa Julye’s video Radical Transformation – Long Overdue for the Religious Society of Friends, and discussion, based on her and Donna McDaniel's book Fit for Freedom Not For Friendship, in November 2021
The Psychological Toll of Racism (and How to Work With It) - a Virtual Worship Sharing and Discussion on racial traumas, in November 2022
Tom Kuneshs' presentation and discussion on Decolonizing Monolith and Emquire (Decolonizing the Quaker Peace Testimony) in January 2023
Being An Active Bystander workshop led by Madelyn Mackay, as the afternoon program for Pelham Half-Yearly Meeting in April 2023
Anti-Racism Affinity Group at Canadian Yearly Meeting sessions in July 2023
Workshop on "Sacred Space - Beyond Safe and Brave Spaces" with guest speaker Diego Navarro, co-author of the article Sacred Space in Friends Journal. Topics: how our Meetings can support the unique spiritual gifts arising from marginalized experiences, and to foster a more inclusive and spiritually enriched community. A resource from this workshop was 20 minutes of a presentation offered to Baltimore Yearly Meeting, shared with permission.
Workshop with Friend Parfaite Ntahuba, a seasoned Peace Leader from Burundi, to learn about her approach to preventing violence and enhancing reconciliation with Nonviolent Accompaniment teams. Resources:
FWCC Plenary Meeting Study Guide on “Living the Spirit of Ubuntu: Responding with hope to God’s call to cherish creation and one another”
An Introduction to Retrospective Justice written by the Black Quaker Project
Donate to one of FWA’s projects, helping girls and young women in Burundi’s Bujumbura slum
Donate to the ARC Speaker's fund for Friends Women's Association in Burundi (see the bottom of this page for donation instructions).
Contributions are always appreciated to the ARC Speakers Fund for future events. You can do this via Niagara Quakers on Canada Helps and in the space for "Send a message to this charity", specify it is for the ARC Speaker Fund. Thank you!