The Delta School District has been awarded a grant of $10,000 to support an antiracism initiative. The project will help students across the District’s seven secondary schools to provide voice and action against racism in their schools by engaging in anti-racism projects. One of the key deliverables from the project will be an educational video that will be shared across the District’s 24 elementary schools and with the wider community.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant,” said Val Windsor, Chair of the Delta Board of Education. “Education plays a pivotal role in tackling racism, and this grant will support a valuable project aimed at fostering a culture of inclusion for all students and staff, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black or People of Colour (IBPOC). The Board remains committed to eradicating and preventing racial discrimination within our structures, policies, programs and practices.”
The project will leverage a student-initiated study into racism which is taking place at Sands Secondary currently, where students are working with the support of Vice Principal Joanna Macintosh. The project will provide an opportunity for students at Sands Secondary to network across the District in order to create action teams in every high school to carry out similar student-led projects. Guest speakers will be invited to address secondary students via Zoom conferences. In addition, a documentary featuring stories and voices of IBPOC high school students from across the District will be created to help increase community understanding related to systemic racism.
“The vision of education in Delta is one of success for all. All meaning all,” said Nancy Gordon, Assistant Superintendent and Chair of the District’s Anti-Racism Committee. “We all have a role to play in creating an inclusive community where antiracism is the norm. The District has created antiracism resources to help our educators address racism with students, including a website (https://deltalearns.ca/antiracism/). Receiving this grant for our project means students and staff will be able to further challenge racism and work towards equity and inclusion within our schools.”
Delta’s project is one of 190 new projects that is receiving support through the BC Multiculturalism Grants program.