750 Ridgewood Avenue
Nov 20 from 9am to 4pm EST
Overview
Join us at the Ottawa Black Parent Empowerment Symposium for a day of insightful discussions and community building!
The Black Parent Empowerment Symposium is part of a growing collective effort bringing together parents, youth, educators, and community partners to reimagine education through the leadership of Black parents — centering care, belonging, and justice for all children.
This event is part of the Ontario Youth Black Action Plan for Student Family Advocates and will be hosted in Ottawa, led by Centre for Resilience and Social Development (CRSD) and the Britannia Woods Community Services with support from the Community of Practice lead – Durham Family & Cultural Centre (DFCC).
This full-day event will create space for parents and partners to:
- Build collective understanding of educational justice and how to achieve it
- Highlight barriers that Black students and families face in education
- Co-create strategies and solutions for meaningful change
- Connect with other families, advocates, educators, and community leaders
- Help shape a Ontario Parent Justice Agenda to guide future action
The symposium will include dynamic speakers, interactive workshops, creative storytelling spaces, and movement-building activities designed to ensure everyone, especially parents has a voice in shaping solutions.
What is the SFA intiative?
The SFA initiative offers community-based and culturally relevant advocacy supports to Black students and families across:
- The Greater Toronto Area
- Ottawa
- Hamilton
Student and Family Advocates work directly with families to:
- Navigate elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school systems.
- Advocate during disciplinary processes and parent–teacher communications.
- Connect students and families with community resources and services.
- Build trusted relationships both inside and outside of schools.
- Provide leadership, advice, and support to schools on anti-Black racism.
- Cultivate positive outcomes for Black children, youth, and families.
- Amplify voices and experiences to drive systemic change.
