International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination Thursday March 21st, at Langara 6:30 pm A130A
March 21st, 201The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is observed on March 21, to collectively work towards the elimination of all forms of racism and inequalities, will be remembered on Thursday March 21st at Langara’s 15th “Stop Racism” event organized by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, at Langara College and Asian Pulse TV. Come to listen, learn and join in the dialogue on personal, institutional and structural racism, and solutions. The event will open with an Aboriginal greeting, a drum ceremony and an opening prayer from well-respected Rosie White Elk, First Nations elder, medicine woman followed by a Key note, panel with a question and answer period. Topics covered will include, racism in Canada and current geopolitical climates, The Neo-Nazi movements, youth strategies working towards solutions and personal narratives of lived experiences.
The event will be moderated by Langara’s own, Indira Prahst from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Kamilla Singh, Director and Producer of Asian Pulse TV and the Kamilla Singh Show and sponsored by philanthropist, Perminder Chohan, Managing Director of DFSIN.
Some of the panelist’s include: Minnijean Brown-Trickey, World renowned Civil Rights activist and Congressional Gold Medalist recipient, Inspector, Baltej Singh Dhillon. His story made Canadian history when in 1991, he became the first member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police permitted to wear a turban as part of his Sikh religion.
Deputy Chief of Vancouver Police, Steve Singh Rai, Shenan Charania, Transformative leadership and performance coach for youth, and Sukhmeet Singh Sachal, Founder of “Break the Divide,” international network of students that connect to create change. Poetry Slam artist, Jenifer Williams will treat the audience with some of her top anti-racist slam poems and a Key note speaker.
Ten one hundred-dollar certificates will be given out in a draw for any student at the event towards books. Lastly, three awards of recognition towards anti-racism work will be handed out including one Langara student. Award Recipients are:
Fatima Jaffer, Activist and Photojournalist, In recognition of her deep commitment in tackling racism and in preserving history through photography.
Ray Goldenchild, Soccer Coach, in recognition of his deep commitment in inspiring youth through outstanding coaching and tackling racism in sport.
Jenifer Williams, Langara Student and Poetry Slam artist, in recognition of her commitment to tackling racism through creative Slam Poetry.
