TORONTO, ON – Alongside community partners, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) will host Generation Black: You’re Next!, a public symposium to address the urgency of recruiting Black teachers, and the necessity of retaining Black educators to improve the representation of Black people in education. 

An agenda, session descriptions and bios are available on ETFO’s website. 

DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. 

LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Toronto, 370 King St. W., Toronto

OVERVIEW

Moderator: Nastassia Subban

Keynote (2 to 3 p.m.): Wes “Maestro” Williams

Welcome and Introductions (9:30 to 10 a.m.)

Theoretical Framework Panel (10 to 10:45 a.m.)

This panel will draw from research about why Black teachers matter, and the positive impacts that Black teachers have within their classrooms, learning communities, and the broader educational system. Panellists include:

• Dr. Andrew Allen, University of Windsor
• Dr. Andrew Campbell, University of Toronto
• Dr. Carl James, York University
• Marva Wisdom, Black Experience Project

Black Excellence Panel (10:55 to 11:40 a.m.) 

This panel will showcase diverse perspectives within the education system. The following panellists will share why they chose teaching as a path, and the challenges they experience as Black teachers: 

• Wesberlyne Avril, Teacher Candidate
• Jhonel Morvan, Superintendent of Education
• Tyrone Russell, Occasional Teacher
• Pierrette Walker-Enniss, Vice-Principal

Seminar Session One (11:45 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.) - Session descriptions can be found on ETFO’s website.

Lunch (12:25 to 1:05 p.m.)

Parent, Student and Community Voices Panel (1:05 to 1:50 p.m.)

This panel will present different experiences of navigating the education system, and the personal impacts that Black teachers have within their learning communities. Panellists include:

• Rihanna Harris, Student Activist
• Stephen Mensah, Executive Director, Toronto Youth Cabinet
• Natasha Shakespeare, Founder, Parents Against Racism Simcoe County

Call to Action (3 to 3:30 p.m.)

Seminar Session Two (3:30 to 4:10 p.m.) - Session descriptions can be found on ETFO’s website.

Note to Media: An ETFO spokesperson will be available to speak with media at the symposium between 9 and 10:30 a.m. Media are asked to register at the Registration Desk located near Regency Ballroom ABC.