February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month – a time to come together to celebrate the unique intersecting identities, culture, language, and way of life of the Black community. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the past and the many contributions that the Black community has made. This month gives us a chance to educate ourselves on the history of Black resiliency, contributions, enslavement, discrimination, and criminalization of people of African descent, and to remember that racism is still active and present in our society today.
This year, York Region CAS, in collaboration with its Black Staff Advisory Council (BSAC), will be celebrating Black History Month by focusing on the theme, “We are a diverse people”. To highlight the diversity of the Black community, the BSAC will be hosting a variety of events within the organization to help educate and remind staff of the rich experiences that each and every one of them brings to the agency.
In addition, York Region CAS CEO, Ginelle Skerritt, is also scheduled to take part in community engagement events hosted by the York Regional Police and the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association to commemorate Black History Month as a keynote speaker.
York Region CAS is proud to recognize and commemorate Black History Month through these initiatives and events to honour the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future.
