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.  

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.   

2026 Bloom Where Planted event

The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People ("The Centre") is excited to announce an open call for tenants to participate in its second annual "Bloom Where Planted: Cultivating Legacy" event on on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 3 to 7 p.m. at 2195 Jane St. 

This year, "Bloom Where Planted" will highlight intergenerational growth, tenant impact across time, and how communities can keep thriving.

The Centre team is seeking creative and talented individuals to take part in the event as a guest speaker, a performer, or as part of a panel. This is your opportunity to share your story, inspire others, and celebrate Black heritage in our community.

Requirements

• You must be a Toronto Community Housing tenant.
• All performances and presentations must highlight the theme of the event.
• You must be able to perform on Saturday, March 28, 2026. 

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 16, 2026. 

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 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. Applications for the Centre Community Funds is now closed. Keep an eye out on this page for information about the 2026 Centre Community Funds. 

To learn more about the Centre Community Funds, visit the Centre Community Funds page. 

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

Board reports and presentations

• February 15, 2024 - CABR update and 2023 divisional highlights (PDF) 
• February 24, 2023 - CABR update and 2022 divisional highlights (PDF)
• December 9, 2021 - The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People report (PDF)
• July 22, 2021 - CABR Strategy Action Plan report (PDF)
• July 22, 2021 - CABR Strategy Action Plan presentation (PDF)
• June 15, 2021 - CABR Strategy Implementation report – Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People (PDF)
• June 15, 2021 - TCHC’s Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black people (CAIBP) presentation (PDF)
• April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People (PDF)
• April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: Centre for Advancing the Interest of Black People budget (PDF)
• April 27, 2021 - CABR Strategy implementation report: staff roles for the Centre of Advancing the Interest of Black People (PDF)
• November 20, 2020 - TCHC's confronting anti-Black racism strategy development report (PDF)
• November 20, 2020 - TCHC's confronting anti-Black racism strategy development presentation (PDF)

Related links

• City of Toronto's Confronting Anti-Black Racism unit

• Anti-Black Racism Analysis Tool for a Radically Equitable COVID-19 Response (PDF)

• City of Toronto’s Indigenous Affairs Office

• Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy (2023–2026) Toronto’s Infant, Child, and Youth Mental Health Sector

• Province of Ontario’s Anti-Black Racism Strategy

• Ted Rogers School of Management's Diversity Institute’s Experiences of Discrimination at Work 2022 report

• TTC’s 10-Point Action Plan and Five-year Diversity and Human Rights Plan

• United Nations: International Decade for People of African Descent