[van-announce] Youth of Colour in Consultation Against Systemic Racism

[Resist! Collective]

*** Please distribute widely ***
YOUTH OF COLOUR IN CONSULTATION AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM
Consultation
March 27-28, 2004
BC Government and Service Employees' Union
4911-4925 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC

The Need for the Consultation
Systemic racism has intensified the struggles that all
youth of colour and indigenous youth have to face on a
daily basis. We see systemic racism as the racism
embedded in Canada's institutions that uniformly
and methodically keep communities of colour and
indigenous peoples in the margins of political and
economic power. Systemic racism is a complex concept
that some people even deny exists. But it is high time
that the discussion on systemic racism continues.

After the death of Mao Jomar Lanot, a Grade 11 student
who was brutally attacked by a larger group of youth
at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School, a community
forum took place on December 6, 2003. Members and
representatives from various communities of colour
came together to discuss with youth themselves about
their experiences with personal and systemic racism,
violence, and discrimination. The forum created a plan
of action with several recommendations, one of which
was to hold this upcoming consultation.

You are invited to participate in the consultation,
"Youth of Colour in Consultation Against Systemic
Racism."  This consultation will be held on Saturday,
March 27, 2004 and Sunday, March 28, 2004.

This consultation will seek:
a. To gather youth of colour and members of the
community to deepen our understanding of systemic
racism through discussion and analysis of our
experiences of racism and discrimination;
b. To empower, strengthen and build our communities of
colour;
c. To understand our experiences with racism as a
result of globalization.

The short-term goals of the consultation are to bring
together marginalized youth from various communities
to discuss issues important to them, their
communities, their peers and their fellow
Canadians. This consultation will allow youth to
develop a statement of unity and outline an action
plan to address systemic racism.

The long-term goals are exponential. At this
consultation, the development of a Statement of Unity
and a feasible Action Plan is of the utmost
importance. These ideas will be developed by the youth
and put into practice in a way conducive to their
experiences.

Hosted by:
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa
Canada/Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC)
UKPC is a grassroots Filipino youth and student
organization formed in 1995 through the assistance of
the Philippine Women Centre of B.C. UKPC seeks to
build a just and free society where people are no
longer exploited and oppressed.

Endorsed by:
BC Government & Service Employees Union, South Asian
Youth Alliance, Native Youth Movement, Greater
Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens Association, Bus
Riders Union, UBC Colour Connected, Grassroots Women,
Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Advocates, SFP!RG
(Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group), BC
Human Rights Defenders, Vancouver Association of
Chinese Canadians, South Asian Network for Secularism
and Democracy, Centre of Integration for African
Immigrants, Black Historical and Cultural Society of
BC, PICS - Surrey (Progressive Intercultural Community
Services), Palestine Community Centre, City Councillor
Ellen Woodsworth (City of Vancouver)

Registration fee: $25
For further information and to register, contact us
at:
c/o Kalayaan Centre
451 Powell St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1G7
Tel: 604-215-1103
E-Mail: yccasr at yahoo.ca