A NOTE ON OUR ANTI-RACISM ACTION PLAN - Summer 2020
2022 Updates Below
2021 Updates Below
I usually speak to everyone as a “we”—but today I want to speak for myself as the owner of Scout on what we stand for. This last week has really given me an opportunity for deep reflection. I’ve been listening, learning, consuming podcasts, reading, holding conversations, and I know this is just the start to a long, welcome road ahead. Scout has always intended to be a safe space; we welcome anyone who walks through our doors, whether they are a customer, a maker, an employee, anyone we interact with in our day. We have always believed in inclusivity and are against any kind of discrimination. But over this time of reflection and taking stock, I’ve realized that we might be falling short of our intentions. We can do better.
What have I implemented to do better for BIPOC in our communities?:
This is just a start. We believe Black and Indigenous lives matter and I promise to continue doing the work, educating myself to grow both personally and professionally and to integrate what I’ve learned to help the business grow and become an anti-racist organization.
There are a lot of amazing resources out there! Here are a few that have helped me and may offer a good starting point for anyone feeling overwhelmed by options. The resources below are just scratching the surface! Hopefully you will find something here that encourages you to share with others.
BOOKS
We’ve ordered some of these to share with staff and sell in store and online. We encourage you to check Black owned bookstores in your area that may also have them in stock such as A Different Booklist on Bathurst or Nile Valley Books on Gerrard.
“How To Be An Anti Racist” By: Ibram X. Kendi
“So You Want to Talk About Race” By Ijeoma Oluo
“The Skin We’re In” By Desmond Cole (Toronto author)
“This Book is Anti-Racist” (A good one for young adults) By Tiffany Jewell
"Me and White Supremacy " By Layla F. Saad
"I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness" By Austin Channing Brown
"From The Ashes" By Jesse Thistle
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act - By Bob Joseph
ARTICLES
“Why We Need To Stop Saying All Lives Matter” By Rachel Cargle
“Guide To Allyship” By Amelie Lamont
“How To Make This Moment The Turning Point For Real Change” By Barack Obama
“What It Means To Be Anti-Racist” By Anna North
CHARITIES (Canadian Based)
Black Legal Action Centre -”The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is a new not-for-profit corporation set up under the laws of Ontario in 2017. BLAC delivers legal aid services to low and no income Black Ontarians. They work to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism.”
Black Women In Motion - “Black Women in Motion is a Toronto-based, youth-led organization that empowers and supports the advancement of black womxn and survivors of sexual violence. They work within an anti-racist, intersectional feminist, trauma-informed and survivor-centred framework to create culturally-relevant content, educational tools, healing spaces and economic opportunities for black womxn.”
Black Health Alliance - “Their mission is to reduce the racial disparities in health outcomes and promote health and well-being for people from the diverse Black communities in Canada with emphasis on the broad determinants of health, including racism.”
Food Share - “At FoodShare, we aim to centre food justice in our work by collaborating with and taking our cue from those most affected by poverty and food insecurity — Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, People with Disabilities. Our goal is to inspire long-term solutions for a food system where everyone has access to affordable, fresh, nutritious food. We reach over 260,000 people each year.”
Native Women’s Association Of Canada - “The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. NWAC works on a variety of issues such as employment, labour and business, health, violence prevention and safety, justice and human rights, environment, early learning childcare and international affairs.”
Indigenous Residential School Survivor Society
The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization with a twenty-year history of providing services to Indian Residential School Survivors. IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and those dealing with Intergenerational traumas. These impacts affect every family and every community across B.C. and Canada.
PODCASTS
Scene On Radio - Seeing White
Terrible Thanks For Asking - Policing + Racial Trauma
Armchair Expert - Heather McGhee + Ibram X Kendi
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast - Black Lives Matter
You're Wrong About - Tuskegee Syphilis Studies
MOVIES/DOCS
13th (Netflix)
When They See Us (Netflix)
If Beale Street Could Talk
Fruitvale Station
Dear White People (Netflix)