Symposium 2009 a success!

The Health and Racism Working Group extends many thanks to its membership, audience participants, and allied networks who helped make Symposium 2009 a success. Special thanks to our vibrant, knowledgeable and passionate speakers: Anthony Templer, Peel Aboriginal Network, True Daley, performer/artist/actor/poet, Uzma Shakir, Atkinson Economic Justice Fellow/Advocate/Activist, and Dr. Erin Psota, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.


On May 27, 2009 at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre, the Symposium 2009 provided an opportunity to explore anger, racism, and health. The Symposium 2009 started with the premise that systemic racism in Canada and in Peel Region exists, so what are we going to do about it?

A room filled with people committed to and curious about anti-racist social change is a wonderful first step. We will be publishing some of the recommendations from the symposium on the blog shortly.

The PhotoVoice Exhibit: Invisible Reality...Anger Hurts captured the essence of the Health and Racism Working Group's work. There can be no meaningful social change if we do not recognize the personal as political. The Exhibit was an expression of the group's frustration with being anti-racist agents of social change and the need for allies. Many members expressed in their photos the plight of being the 'angry woman of colour' at tables or networks when raising issues of race. The need for allies has never been more important in Peel Region, than in 2009 with continued growing economic disparities amongst racialized communities.

The PhotoVoice healing exercise isn't complete until the group members have a chance to reflect on what it was like to share their photos with an outside audience and reflect on the process as a whole. A report will be published in the near future and will include additional photos and stories that were not available for exhibition.

The day included an interactive healing arts excessive for participants, using Collective Body Mapping to symbolically release any negative emotions that were aroused during the day. This is the second collective Body Map, the first taking place on IDERD. For more info about Body Mapping see earlier posts.

If you are interested in becoming an Auxiliary Member of the group, please email healthandracism@gmail.com to request an application. Auxiliary membership includes googlegroups subscription, advance access to registration for workshops, exclusive access to selected events and trainings, and opportunities for partnership on special projects related to anti-racist/anti-oppressive change.

The Symposium is an annual event, we hope to see you next year!