On March 16, 2021, the world witnessed another act of racial violence, this time targeting the Asian community in Atlanta, Georgia. A shooting left eight people dead, six of whom were Asian women. The Halton Children’s Aid Society denounces these violent acts as well as their racist and misogynistic underpinnings. These continued acts of violence emphasize the vital need to continue the work to end systemic racism, sexism and all forms of oppression.
Since the start of the pandemic, racially-motivated violence against the Asian community has been on the rise both here in Canada and in the US. The Halton Children’s Aid Society acknowledges the impact these traumas bring to individuals and communities including the children, youth and families we help, our staff, our volunteers and our resource parents.
Sunday, March 21, 2021 marked the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The campaign aims to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination and calls on each of us to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.
Combating racism requires collective efforts and community solidarity. As we move forward, our Society resolves to affirm and commit ourselves to challenge all forms of racism and discrimination. We must continue to work together to build a stronger and more just world.
Our agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey is guided by the values of caring and kindness, which includes checking in on one another and ensuring all staff feel supported. That support includes connecting with another colleague, a supervisor, a member of the Peer Support Team or our EAP program. Staff can also access resources via our Intranet. In addition, we are examining ways to ensure our service delivery, policies and strategic plan are addressing equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression.