This year's theme is
Reclaiming Social Justice in EDI*
This Inclusion Week, the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion will feature key events such as a keynote speaker, workshops and fire-side chats, and several events and activities in collaboration with different faculties, offices and student organizations across YorkU.
REI invites everyone in the YU community to submit proposals to conduct activities and events that further inter-disciplinary engagements that focus on one or more key questions under this year’s theme.
*Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Note that universities including YorkU have also added a "D" to EDI (Hence, DEDI) to stand for decolonization or adding a decolonization lens/framework to doing EDI.
Theme Description and Key Questions
Over the last decade, Canadian institutions started taking equity, diversity and inclusion more seriously. YorkU and other post-secondary institutions now include the goal of decolonization (Decolonization + Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) as part of their overall strategy. Following the tumultuous summer of 2020, more Canadian PSEs are finally undertaking EDI/DEDI plans.
Recognizing that EDI/DEDI incorporates rhetoric popularized by social justice movements without necessarily sharing identical social justice analyses and approaches, this Inclusion Week, we ask the following key questions (plain text version of the key questions below the graphics):
RECLAIMING SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDI/DEDI
DECOLONIZATION
SPACES FOR ALLYSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY
LINKS & TENSIONS
Q1 How might we reclaim the transformative roots of equity & inclusion projects?
- What does EDI/DEDI have to do with social justice movements? Are they separate or are they contradictory? What are the tensions between EDI/DEDI and social justice frameworks?
- Q2 How do universities that seek to decolonize education define decolonization ? How do advocates define/approach decolonization?
- Q3 Are there spaces and opportunities to work across institutional EDI/DEDI initiatives and social justice focused movements and projects?
- How do we create and foster spaces for accountability – those that give advocates and allies room to grow, learn, unlearn and to change?
Given the corporatization of EDI, which is now a growing (and highly profitable) industry, we also ask:
- Q4 What are the tensions between EDI/DEDI and social justice frameworks? How can we ensure that EDI/DEDI projects do not end up enabling evasion and resistance by the institutions they serve?
Submission
REI is unable to provide funding for initiatives, but we will provide promotional support for all approved activities/events.
- Submit a proposal for an activity or event that tackles one or more questions under our theme by filling out this form. Word version available below:
- Dates for key events such as the keynote speaker, REI workshops and panels will be blocked off, but participating organizations and faculties are going to be given several available schedules throughout the week of March 6-10, 2023.
- Every proposed activity/event will be reviewed by REI’s Inclusion Week Committee and will be accepted on a rolling basis. The earlier you submit, the more time you will have to promote the event.
- The deadline for submissions will be February 6, 2023.
- Questions about submitting a proposed activity/event? Email us at chrwkshp@yorku.ca
Accepted Proposals
- If your activity/event proposal is accepted, you will receive an email with instructions from REI. We may ask you for additional information about the event.
- We will finalize the dates and schedules with you to ensure key events do not overlap with your event.
- The activity/event will be added to the REI website and your activity/event will be advertised and included in the Inclusion Week promotions (email campaigns and social media).
- You will also be given access to an Inclusion Week Media packet to promote the activity within your own networks.
Watch the REI website and follow us on social media for full event details coming out soon.
