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June 22, 2022 6:30pM EST
Durham Black Network presents our 1st Black Experience Townhall in partnership with the Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre on June 22, 2022, at 6:30 pm Eastern at the Ajax Business Centre, 274 Mackenzie Avenue, Ajax, ON L1S-2E9. A moving forward community conversation about Systemic Anti-Black Racism and how we move forward together.
Features the real-life experiences of Carion Fenn who will share the Systemic Barriers she among other Women & Persons with a Disability faces at the Superior Court of Justice Oshawa Court House. Our speakers will focus on the Emotional Impact of Racism with Nicole Perryman, Kujenga Wellness Project; Rights & Laws with Janelle Benjamin, All Things Equitable; Justice System with Peter Thorning, Brauti Thorning LLP and the Physical Impact with Dr. Placide Rubabaza with host Greg Frankson at Voice Share Inc. Security by EPS Group Security.
Join the Conversation we should all be having as a community because Together We Are Stronger®. Space is limited, register now to secure a spot. Only selected registrants will be sent a confirmation of invitation to attend. We appreciate and thank everyone who shows an interest to be a part of the conversation. We have other programs coming up that you can join.
NOTICE - Registration closed: our seats were filled in 24 hours of posting this program. Please send us an email to smcm@carionfenn.org in order to get on our waiting list in case someone cancel. We had a great response and we thank everyone for demonstrating how important this community conversation is.
We want to thank everyone involved in making this program a great success and a special thank you to the Federal Government for providing our organization with the Supporting Black Community Innitiative Grant in helping to bring these programs to forward.
Personal Story: CARION FENN
"Her Disability exposed her to Racism. TV Show host Carion Fenn breaks her silence & lend her voice to Women & Persons with a Disability to help break down barriers as a community."
Hear her TRUTH of Anti-Black Racism at the Superior Court of Justice Oshawa. How RACE & DISABILITY impacting Women, Black Women, Minority Women & Persons with a Disability. A BLACK WOMAN WITH A DISABILITY was not AFFORDED her legal right to Disability Accommodation under the Human Rights Code, AODA & Bill C-81 Accessible Canada Act.
Former Minister & Ajax MPP, Rod Phillips and Councillor Deidre Newman has been a great support to Ms. Fenn and her child. Among Durham Black Network, VL, Dr. Ian Horseman, Dr. Sal, Dr. Ashok Mukherjee, Kennedy's Intervention Services Inc., Black Actions Defense Committee, Human Rights Legal Support, ARCH Disability Law Centre and many others. The Discrimination then turned into reprisal, abuse of power and using systems often used to cause harm to the Black Community. It is time to break these chains and free our community. To do so we MUST work together. So let's talk Durham. Together We Are Stronger®
HOst: Greg Frankson
Founder & CEO
Greg Frankson is the founder and CEO of Voice Share Inc., which provides training, coachig/mentorship, and consulting services focused on transformative organizational change through inclusive leadership and effective communication. Prior to creating Voice Share in 2018, Greg was a teacher, arts educator, event producer, corporate trainer, and anti-discrimination facilitator. Throughout his career, Greg has used his voice to create social change as an advocate, award-winning literary artist, and media commentator. Artistically, he published three poetry collections, contributed to five anthologies, edited AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets (2022), and released four full-length audio recordings, among many other achievements. He was also an on-air poetic commentator on Here and Now Toronto on CBC Radio One. In community, his leadership resulted in the overdue commemoration of Robert Sutherland, Canada’s first known university graduate of colour and first Black lawyer, at Queen’s University and across Canada. His words have been published in periodicals and poetry journals on three continents.
Emotional Impact: Nicole Perryman
Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist
Kujenga Family Wellness Project
Nicole Perryman, is a Registered Social Worker, Play Therapist and Psychotherapist practicing in Durham Region. Nicole started her career supporting children, youth, and families in child welfare, social services and has worked within children's mental health, parental contact and parenting time assessments, youth involved in the criminal justice system, trauma centers, and education. Nicole is the CEO and co-founder of "Ifarada [eye -fa-ra-da] Centre for Excellence and Kujenga [cue-jenga]" Family Wellness organizations that provide culturally-informed and trauma-focused approaches for children, youth, adults, and families. She is an occasional professor, and field supervisor for students in social work, child and youth, and counseling psychology. She is also a principal equity consultant supporting organizations across Canada and Internationally on their equity journeys.
Physical Impact: Dr. Placide Rubabaza
Dr. Rubabaza is a practicing Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Rouge Valley Health System, Ajax-Pickering Site, with special interest in minimally invasive surgeries. He is a founding member of the Black Physician Association of Ontario. He brings many years of community involvement, including giving motivational messages to disadvanteged youths. Dr. Rubabaza earned his medical degree at the University of Ottawa Medical School, and completed his specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University. He also earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa.
Justice System: Peter Thorning
Co-Managing Partner & Criminal Defence Lawyer
Brauti Thorning LLP - BT Legal
Peter Thorning is an experienced criminal defence lawyer with more than 20 years representing people and corporations at both the trial and appellate level, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Thorning has successfully defended all manner of charges including: murder; fraud; sexual assault; and drinking and driving related offences. Mr. Thorning has also successfully defended regulatory charges and professional discipline cases, including Occupational Health and Safety and Fire Safety Cases. Mr. Thorning has experience on both sides of the table as he started practicing as a Crown Attorney at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and has also been employed by the Ministry of Labour. Mr. Thorning also conducts prosecutions for the Electrical Safety Authority.
Rights & Laws: Janelle Benjamin
Founder & Chief Equity Officer
Janelle Benjamin is a Juris Doctor with almost 20 years of experience in diversity and inclusion, accessibility, and human rights. She has expertise leading corporate-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, making system-wide improvements to workplace policies and practices, and working with senior leadership to break systemic barriers to inclusion in society, so that everyone may participate fully. Her recommendations for change have resulted in large-scale transformation to organizations and continuous improvement in a multitude of sectors. Janelle previously investigated complaints of discrimination and harassment at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She later was senior policy advisor to the Honourable Jean Augustine, P.C. C.M., in her role as Fairness Commissioner for the Province of Ontario, and played a key role in working with regulators to break barriers for the fair registration and licensure of internationally trained professionals in regulated occupations. Professional and highly-skilled newcomers have had faster, fairer access to regulated professions like the Law Society of Upper Canada and health regulatory colleges like the Ontario College of Pharmacists as a direct result of Janelle’s work.
Durham black network Merchandise
Check our store for Durham Black Network Merchandise to help support our programs for the Black Community.
Health 180 with Carion Fenn
Health 180 with Carion Explore the Black Experience Townhall with host Greg Frankson and Speaker Janelle Benjamin.
Community Program Partners: TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER®
