The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People

About The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People

In 2020, Toronto Community Housing established a Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Strategy team to develop a company-wide confronting anti-Black racism strategy (PDF). The strategy aims to identify systemic barriers, provide recommendations to address anti-Black racism issues embedded in Toronto Community Housing's (TCHC) policies, programs, and service delivery, and help create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for tenants and staff.  

The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People ("The Centre") was established to lead the organization in implementing the CABR Strategy. The Centre officially launched on December 2, 2021. 

TCHC employees talk about the achievements of The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People (“The Centre”) in 2023.

What is anti-Black racism?

Anti-Black racism is defined as the policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions that reflect and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination directed at people who identify as Black and are part of the African diaspora. Anti-Black racism continues to be rooted in Canadian institutions, policies and practices to the point where it is normalized or invisible to the general population. 

For our purposes, it is how Blackness impacts your experience as a Black person living in TCHC. As an employer and a social housing provider, Toronto Community Housing must acknowledge and address systemic barriers affecting tenants and staff. 

Get involved

By taking action, we are working towards becoming a more inclusive employer and social housing provider.

We must all take a role in shaping the CABR strategy and identifying and eliminating systemic barriers at Toronto Community Housing.

If you're a Black tenant looking for more information on how you can get involved or if you want to host a session in your community, you can contact The Centre team at TheCentre@torontohousing.ca.

Human Rights complaints involving anti-Black racism

TCHC’s interim Tenant Human Rights Complaint Procedure is now in place.

If there are potential anti-Black racism elements to a tenant complaint, TCHC will consult with the Centre. We will do this to identify any issues related to anti-Black racism, unless the tenant indicates that they do not want the Centre involved.  

Centre Community Funds

The Centre has established the Centre Community Funds to help support tenants or tenant groups who need resources for community initiatives or projects. Centre Community funds are resources available to tenants and tenant groups to fund projects and initiatives that respond to the Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Strategy’s eight-point plan. To learn more about the Centre Community Funds, including how to apply, visit the Centre Community Funds page. The deadline to apply is Monday, October 21, 2024.

Photo highlights from The Centre events

Resources

Black 2SLGBTQ+ community resources

The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing’s PRIDE Network, has compiled a list of resources for the Black 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Across Boundaries: Inhale/Exhale program
Free programming focusing on creating self and collective care opportunities for Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP)
Culturally relevant outreach and support services for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Black Queer Youth Collective
A grassroots organization that focuses on filling the gap between Black youth support systems and those available to Black 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Blockorama 2023
The largest Pride Toronto event that represents African, Black and Caribbean 2SLGBTQ+ community members.

2SLGBTQ+ BIPOC Wellness Group
Weekly two-hour sessions aimed to develop mutually-supportive peer relationships and access support that meets the unique psycho-social needs of the 2SLGBTQ+ BIPOC community. Email wesal@riverdalehub.ca to register for the group.

Historic Black 2SLGBTQIA+ Community in Toronto (Edit: no longer available)

The 519 Black Collective’s LGBTQ2S-owned/run Businesses list

U of T postdoctoral scholar documents Black queer health and wellbeing