Engagement and Connectedness

Explicit and deliberate actions are urgently required to address inequities in our systems, structures, policies and practices that continue to impact student and staff success and well-being and to build trust with students, families, staff, and communities that we have been under-serving. 

The OCDSB Indigenous, Equity and Human Rights Roadmap, 2020-2023, focuses on six key areas. The following outlines how we intend to focus on engagement and connectedness.

Goal

To build and strengthen collaborative relationships with Indigenous, Black and minoritized students, parents and staff to create a community of belonging, promote excellence and inform actions to eliminate disparities and disproportionalities in service delivery.

Key Indicators

  • Increase number of partnerships established and maintained with Indigenous, Black and minoritized communities
  • Increase number of youth forums established and maintained with Indigenous, Black and minoritized youth
  • Increase percentage of Indigenous, Black and minoritized students reporting a sense of belonging at school

Priorities

  • Co-create and implement Community Partnership, Parental Engagement and Communication Strategy to include translation, interpretation services and outreach
  • Expand leadership and networking opportunities for Indigenous, Black and minoritized students i.e., expanding annual youth forums and establish digital networking platforms
  • Establish annual multimedia Speakers Series on Indigenous knowledge, anti-Black racism, Black Excellence, cultural competency, and human rights for students, staff, parents/guardians and communities
  • Establish Community Engagement Coordinator

Highlight on Indigenous Knowledge

  • Work with Indigenous Education Advisory Council in order to apply an Indigenous lens for reviewing policies, procedures, practices, programs and materials
  • Indigenous community gatherings in schools are supported in collaboration and partnership

Highlight on Black Excellence

  • Increase community partnerships to support ABC students
  • Work with Community Equity Partners Group and the
  • Advisory Committee on Equity to ensure the District is aligned with the Ontario Ministry of Education Equity Action Plan

Milestones

By 2020-2021

  • Community Engagement Coordinator position established
  • OCDSB formal partnerships with Wabano and Inuuqatigiit

By 2021-2022

  • Indigenous community gatherings in schools are supported in collaboration and partnership
  • Strategy for Community and Parental Engagement and Communication co-developed and implemented, including translation and interpretation services, collaborative engagement and outreach
  • Anti-racism, anti-Islamophobia, anti-transphobia and anti-homophobia communication campaigns are developed and implemented
  • Annual network events include Indigenous knowledge, equity and human rights themes for students, staff, parents/guardians and communities (Date with Diversity and Speakers Series)
  • Youth Leading Youth workshops (digital and face-to-face) rolled out led by students from equity-seeking groups
  • Establish annual Muslim and Newcomer Youth Forums
  • Annual Indigenous Youth, Black Student and Rainbow Youth Forums expanded to include school-based youth digital networking groups

By 2022-2023

  • Establish annual Conference for Girls
  • Measurement of progress on Community Partnership, Parental Engagement and Communication Strategy
  • Measurement of progress on establishing and developing Community Partnerships/Relationships

 

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