Terms of Reference for the Anti Racism Committee (ARC) Hosted by PEM
Passed by Committee: October 13th, 2022
1 – ARC has evolved from an ad hoc to a standing committee. The new terms of reference can be changed at the time of its Annual Report to Pelham Executive Meeting (PEM). ARC’s Annual Report will be submitted before PEM’s annual State of Society report.
2 - These terms of reference establish the committee and its duties. Whenever possible, minutes will be taken after each ARC meeting to document the decisions made, and the duties/ responsibilities each member has committed to . The Minutes will serve to ensure that ARC members are in agreement with respect to decisions and assigned tasks. The Minutes may be of use in the drafting of the Annual Report, and for future members to know what has been tried in the past.
3 – ARC is an open committee that welcomes visitors to observe and to nominate themselves to join at any time. Members are not required to be attenders of the Religious Society of Friends. Members must commit to the Community Guidelines, as appended to these Terms of Reference.
4 – As its mandate, the ARC committee creates, shares and discovers documents, events, media and actions to further social and economic justice, equity and inclusion for members of racialized groups whether they are Black, Indigenous, Inuit, Metis and People of Colour (BIIMPOC) not excluding those that are not identified (i.e the Jewish Community). We seek to bring opportunities to create and share this social and economic justice, equity and inclusion efforts with other F/friends through our existing communities and Meetings.
Clerk:
The Anti Racism Committee has no set clerk, but relies on each member to share responsibility for determining meeting dates, sharing research and duties to bring events to fruition. Each ARC member will clerk meetings on a rotating basis, and will create the agenda for the meeting they clerk. Members of the committee hold themselves and each other accountable for fulfilling duties, obligations and responsibilities they have undertaken to fulfill its mandate.
All members of the committee are responsible TO bring their concerns forward to both the other members of the committee and to PEM clerk and Meeting attenders/members.
ARC Committee Duties and Responsibilities
To identify, record and share local businesses owned and operated by BIIMPOC entrepreneurs and leaders
To identify and interact with social justice causes led by BIIMPOC communities and other stigmatized communities to offer our support and solidarity at public demonstrations against racism and other forms of discrimination
To provide moral and other forms of support to members of BIIMPOC communities and other stigmatized communities facing difficulty due to racism and other forms of discrimination
To discover, create and share events that educate and illuminate the role of racism and how to counter it with acts of witness, lovingkindness and political/social action.