Digging In With ONN

The next provincial government is hopefully going to lead us to the other side of the pandemic. But are parties bringing an anti-Black racism lens to their policy commitments? Velma Morgan of Operation Black Vote Canada joins us to talk about why it matters to bring party hopefuls to Black communities to hear issues directly, and why all nonprofits need to get political.   

Guest biography: Velma Morgan has experience in creating and implementing public policies and programs in the Ontario provincial government. For over 10 years she advised Cabinet Ministers in 5 Ministries. Her comprehensive knowledge of government and public policy processes allows her to quickly decipher and analyze complex issues and positively contribute to a solution. As an advocate for gender and cultural representation and inclusion in government, she ensured that the voices of marginalized communities were reflected in the government's policies and communications.

This episode jumps into the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and how the climate movement in Ontario stays agile. Our guest Tim Gray of Environmental Defence shares why the election window is such an important time to advocate for policy, the message collectives are hoping to get across to politicians this cycle, and the work that comes after election day.  

Guest biography: Tim grew up on the shores of Lake Huron and acquired his love of nature there. He has over 25 years of experience developing and implementing environmental policy change efforts. These have included major shifts in land conservation, forest practices and climate change. Starting out his career as a biologist and policy analyst, Tim has spent a lot of time learning skills that move complex environmental issues toward resolution. 

Queer Vote Ontario is an historic coalition of 2SLBTQI+ organizations with an action plan to ensure queer and trans issues and solutions are on the agenda this election. Join us as the coalition’s co-founder Fae Johnstone shares the behind-the-scenes of how one tweet got it all started, and why we speak better and louder when there are more of us in the room.  

Guest biography: Fae Johnstone is executive director and co-owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A) and based on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin territory in Ottawa, Ontario. She is an experienced community engagement expert, diversity and inclusion consultant, and project manager. Over her past two years working with W2A, Fae has led local, provincial, and national initiatives focused on 2SLGBTQ+ community health and wellness, youth mental health, meaningful community engagement, and gender-based violence. 

This first episode of our election mini-series gives a sneak peek of fascinating stories of how nonprofits are getting innovative as they work together to get the attention of parties and candidates on critical community issues and solutions for Ontarians.

In this episode, we discuss reimagining leadership from our current understandings within the nonprofit sector and its connections to Decent Work with Dr. Vidya Shah. Some of the questions we explore are: What are leadership competencies? What are some of the realities faced by Black, Indigenous and racialized leaders stewarding this work within their respective organizations? What role does white leadership play in navigating organizational efforts around racial justice? 

Bio: Dr. Vidya Shah is an educator, scholar and activist committed to equity and racial justice in the service of liberatory education. She is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University and her research explores anti-racist and decolonizing approaches to leadership in schools, communities, and school districts. She also explores educational barriers to the success and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students. Dr. Shah teaches in the Master of Leadership and Community Engagement, as well as undergraduate and graduate-level courses in education. She has worked in the Model Schools for Inner Cities Program in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and was an elementary classroom teacher in the TDSB. Dr. Shah is committed to bridging the gaps between communities, classrooms, school districts and the academy, to re/imagine emancipatory possibilities for schooling.  

Resources:  

Master of Leadership and Community Engagement (MLCE)  

Podcast Episodes - UnLeading  

Indigenous, Black and racialized youth are calling for accountability as part of centring Decent Work practices. In this episode,Shanese Anne Steele breaks down the systemic barriers faced by youth in the nonprofit sector, while also calling for accountability around efforts of decolonization. 

Bio: Shanese Indoowaaboo Steele is an Afro-Indigenous, Fat Femme living between Edopikaang (North York) and Decatur il, both traditional territories of the Anishinaabe (Mississaugek and Potawatomi) People. With roots in the Caribbean (Trinidad/Carriacou) and Métis and Nibisiing Nations, Shanese works to bridge the gap between Black and Indigenous Peoples within Turtle Island through writing, education work and facilitation.

The Enchanté Network is an organization connecting and supporting 2Spirit and LGBTQ+ communities and nonprofit workers across Canada. In this episode, we connect with Roland and Noah to discuss the different dimensions of 2Spirit and LGBTQIA+ realities working within the nonprofit sector including how to make nonprofits more gender-inclusive from a Decent Work perspective.  

Bio: Noah is a Black person of trans experience with a passion for creating dialogue and space for Black queer and trans communities to exist as their fullest selves. Noah received his bachelor's in Social Work from Carleton University in 2014 and has worked with various Black and 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in Ontario including Jaku Konbit, Kindspace, the Centretown Community Health Centre, the LGBT Youthline, Rexdale Pride, and Family Services Ottawa’s Around The Rainbow program. He is currently the Program Manager with The Enchanté Network, where he gets to use his vast experience to support 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and groups across the country" 

Roland Jones is Saulteaux–Cree, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan (Treaty no. 1 & 4) and is currently living on Algonquin Territory in Ottawa. They are a Two-Spirit, Non-Binary and Queer multimedia artist, educator and full spectrum doula in decolonizing our approach to gender, sexuality and sexual health. They are currently the Two-Spirit Coordinator at The Enchante Network.

Resource: 

Driving Transformational Change: A Funder’s Guide to Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations

In this episode, Ingrid Palmer breaks down the framework of Disability Justice and Access centered practices within nonprofits, especially for BIPOC workers. She outlines the different ways nonprofit organizations within the sector can use affinity group models as a means to integrate intersectional solutions to advancing Decent Work. 

Bio: Ingrid Palmer is the Director of Networks and Relationships at Toronto Neighbourhood Centres as well as the CEO and founder of Focus On Ability - a motivational campaign designed to inspire triumph over adversity. As a visually impaired storyteller, advocate and award-winning inspirational speaker, Ingrid Palmer enjoys spotlighting traditionally unheard narratives to build community and connection between diverse groups. 

Resource: 

TNC Relationships, Belonging and Anti-Oppression Charter

It’s no secret that pay transparency is a vital aspect of Decent Work practices within the nonprofit sector. In this episode, we speak to Paul Taylor of FoodShare about the different ways nonprofits can ensure that pay equity, transparency and accountability are central to creating thriving work environments for Black, Indigenous and racialized workers.  

Bio: Paul Taylor is the Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto, and a lifelong anti-poverty activist. Growing up materially poor in Toronto, Paul has used his experience to fuel a career-focused not just on helping others, but dismantling the beliefs and systems that lead to poverty and food insecurity, including colonialism, capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchal structures. Each year, FoodShare provides a quarter-million people with fresh produce and fights for their right to have access to “good” food on their own terms, rather than charity on someone else’s. Paul’s experience includes Executive Director roles at Gordon Neighborhood House and the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood House.  

Resource:  

FoodShare's Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation

Making pay transparency a reality | FoodShare

Accountability in the context of racial justice and equity practices draws attention to power and privilege. In this episode with Mojdeh Cox of Pillar Nonprofit Network, we break down the ways in which organizations and individuals can adopt practices of radical accountability to help advance Decent Work in the nonprofit sector.

Bio: Mojdeh Cox, Executive Director- Pillar Nonprofit Network 

Mojdeh Cox believes in the power of collective compassion, creativity and action to work towards solutions to complex social issues. Her dynamic 10+ years of experience working in co-visioning, co-designing and executing political and issue-based advocacy campaigns, and her social policy work equipped her with the analysis and practices needed in community-based leadership roles designed to bring people together.At a time when government, businesses and nonprofit organizations look to contribute to the dismantling of systemic barriers, Mojdeh brings forward expertise in labour relations, human rights, and equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. For over a decade, Mojdeh has coached organizational and community leaders, businesses and not-for-profit organizations on re-imagining their work through a heightened equity lens rooted in social justice.

Resource: 

Open letter to the sector: A call for radical accountability in social impact | Future of Good

Nonprofits need to be asking bold questions and re-examining how governance is done; the status quo isn’t working for everyone. In this episode, project lead for Reimagining Governance, Erin Kang, shares how taking an expansive view of governance can open up space for asking different questions and deeper dialogue around issues of racial justice and equity. She also discusses how nonprofits could design their governance to align with their unique circumstances.
 

Guest biography: Erin (she/her) has a background as a facilitator, curriculum writer, independent educator, event producer, and storyteller. She joined the ONN in 2019 as Project Lead for our Reimagining Governance Initiative. She is the founder of Stories of Ours, a grassroots project that uses creative arts and storytelling to challenge dominant narratives. Erin's work lies at the intersections of anti-oppressive pedagogy, community collaborations, and creative arts.
 

Over the last decade, Rudayna Bahubeshi has tirelessly advocated for racial justice and equity. In this episode, we unpacked systemic and interpersonal realities of anti-Black racism and racism within the nonprofit sector, while exploring formal and informal solutions for change within the sector.

BIO: Rudayna Bahubeshi is an advocate for advancing equity and justice and has nearly ten years of experience in nonprofits, charities and government. She is Black and Arab, of Eritrean and Yemeni descent, and lives in Tkaronto. She has led programming, communications, and stakeholder engagement strategies at various nonprofits and charities, and has worked on a number of political campaigns. Recently, she completed her Master of Public Policy at McGill University’s Max Bell School. 

Resources:

Over-scrutinized, underfunded, and unsupported: How systemic anti-Blackness affects who gets grants and sector workers' well-being

Tema Okun: White Supremacy Culture

Vu Le: 20 subtle ways white supremacy manifests in nonprofit and philanthropy  

The Decent Work movement building has been part of ONN’s fabric for the last several years. Join us as Pamela Uppal, Policy Advisor at ONN breaks down how nonprofits can lean into creating equitable conditions for workers in the nonprofit sector using Decent Work practices.  

Bio: Pamela (she/her) cares deeply about how women experience the world and so her work over the past 10 years has focused on creating gender equitable systems by bridging frontline work, research initiatives, and policy advocacy. Currently, she is a policy advisor at the Ontario Nonprofit Network leading its decent work, care economy, and future of work portfolios.

This inaugural episode of Diggin In with ONN sets the intention for the series on Decent Work and gives a preview of what’s to come as we dive into topics of racial equity, Truth and Reconciliation, organizational and individual systems change as it relates to diversity & inclusion within the nonprofit sector and more with leaders who are working to reshape the sector.   

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