Zeroing in on marginalized & racialized youth

1. Zeroing in on marginalized & racialized youth Anita Stellinga – VP of Community Investment and Suelyn Knight – Community Outreach Coordinator United Way of Peel Region

2. What is Marginalization and Racialization? • Marginalization the social inequalities experienced and applied to individuals who are socially devalued based on particular characteristics that render them powerless by society… socially vulnerable • RACIALIZATION is the process through which groups come to be designated as different and on that basis subjected to unequal treatment. Racialized groups include people who might experience differential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, language, religion or culture.

3. Equity vs Diversity What’s the difference? Diversity Equity • [plural noun] “the state of being diverse” • there was considerable diversity in the style of the reports • [in singular] “a range of different things” • newspapers were obliged to allow a diversity of views to be printed • [mass noun] cultural diversity • “the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society” • cultural diversity has increased, exposing kids to new tastes and experiences di·ver·si·ty “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization <programs intended to promote diversity in schools>”

4. What is Peel’s story? • Who is doing well? • Who is not doing well?

5. Racialized Population in Peel • 2001 – Total Population 985,580 • Racialized population 379,105 (38.4% ) • 2006 – Total Population 1,154,070 • Racialized population 576,665 (48.97%) • 2011 – Total Population 1, 289,015 • Racialized population 732,805 (56.9%)

6. Youth in Peel • 24.6% (roughly 320,000)– youth population in Peel up to age 18 (2011 Census data) • Ages 10-18 account for 13% of that 24.6% range • Youth unemployment rate

7. NEET Youth “refers to a youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. Youth at risk are most likely to fall into this category, and they are at a higher risk of being disengaged, discouraged, or socially excluded.” Ex: • Ontario’s Aboriginal youth have an unemployment rate of 21.9%8 • Young African Canadians have the second highest rate of unemployment (21.2%) (CivicAction: FAST FACTS BARRIERS TO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT June 2013) 9% of youth in Ontario are NEET youth (Ontario Stepping Up strategic framework 2013) Do we know what this looks like in Peel? And what does it mean for all youth & racialized youth?

8. Challenges faced by Marginalized Racialized & communities

9. Education and Employment Challenges for Racialized Individuals Education • Higher disproportionate school drop-out rate • Curriculum not reflective • Staff not reflective *People for education – June 2008 Report Employment • Pay gap • Higher levels of unemployment • Earn less income • Precarious Employment *Canada’s Colour Coded Labour Market Report, Block & Galabuzi, 2011

10. Income Challenges • Dianne Patychuk, Steps to Equity, Prepared for Access Alliance, April 2009

11. Income Challenges • Dianne Patychuk, Steps to Equity, Prepared for Access Alliance, April 2009

12. This work can be challenging • It is uncomfortable to speak about it • Requires shift in power, culture, behaviours, awareness • Requires vulnerability and humility in admitting that maybe what we are doing is not working and this creates fear • We have limited data on racialized populations and this limits our understanding of what is happening • Can’t see the advantage/disadvantage without adequate data

13. Why is this focus important? • Affects economic development – Federal Reserve Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin stated: “This inequality is destabilizing and undermines the ability of the economy to grow sustainably and efficiently.” • Implications for universal goals with targeted strategies • There are youth that are left behind • Implications for service delivery models • Implications for resources & doing things differently – Fair Share

14. Why is this focus important? • Necessary to create change if what we’re aiming for is impact and making a difference for youth & their families • What does this mean for the future of Peel? • What kind of Peel Region do we want to have for our collective future?

15. What is our vision for all youth in Peel Region?

16. Why is UWPR championing this? • UWPR Values & Enablers • Looked at what we were doing & moved to what we needed to do in our vision of being a community impact organization • Intentionality came from data, listening to the community & working with community • Voice of the Community Advisory Councils influenced strategy and depth in focus on poverty reduction • Beginning data collection on racialized populations in UWPR funded programs • Partnership with Region on collective impact

17. Collective Impact approach • There is work unfolding across Peel to support racialized and marginalized youth • Regional Diversity Roundtable Curriculum • Peel Diversity Charter • Examples on today’s agenda • CAMH service collaborative • Facilitating Access, Change & Equity in Systems (FACES)

18. FACES priorities • Facilitating Access, Change and Equity in Systems (FACES) • Focus on Afro-diasporic youth • Vulnerable youth within black population – not the entire black youth population • 3 priorities: • Data collection & reporting • Equity framework • Responsive & proactive to vulnerable youth

19. How do we turn the curve? • First Step - understand that there is a difference in outcomes for racialized/marginalized youth • Need discussion on why disparities exist before we turn to solutions • Focus on universal strategies that are targeted and deliberate

20. How do we turn the curve? • Have a conversation about it and consider implications for each of our organizations • Ask ourselves who is “in” our organization and who isn’t? Staff, volunteers, clients, community, donors, community leaders • Create space for asking and thinking about the demographics and how are we changing?

21. How do we turn the curve? • Consider implications of programming and service delivery in racialized populations..beyond samosas, halal meat and hiring gender appropriate staff…. • Increasing capacity of programs to respond to racialized/marginalized groups • Partnerships with culturally diverse grassroots agencies

22. Equity Lens • If we are ready to use an equity lens: to always ask if what we are doing, planning or deciding will benefit the people who need it the most and who have existing barriers; and, to take steps to mitigate consequences, reduce barriers, tailor strategies to ensure that what we do reduces rather than widens existing disparities; • …. then we can measure our efforts using available data and simple tools available to us. • Dianne Patychuk, Access Alliance, “Who are we serving?” What is possible using the information we have April 2009

23. In summary… • Demographics of Peel speak for themselves • Need universal strategies with a targeted approach for racialized/marginalized youth to address gaps & create positive outcomes • Use an equity framework to build bridges to equal access and opportunity • Values & economic case • Collective Impact

24. Roundtable discussions 1). How can using a common agenda approach influence our work on this issue of supporting racialized / marginalized youth? 2). What service delivery enhancements, helpful approaches, best practics and support would assist organizations in engaging racialized/marginalized youth? 3). How can youth-lead organizations/initiatives be better supported to strengthen their efforts?