Our View From the Front Line: Black History Month Events at Trent Durham GTA
Trent University Durham GTA starts off Black History Month with a panel discussion focused on health issues facing minorities in the Durham Region.
To commemorate Black History Month (February) Trent University Durham GTA teamed up with the AIDS Committee of Durham Region, a local non-profit, to host “Our View From the Front Line.” An event focused on discussing health amongst minorities in the community and to advocate for the hardship and stigma faced by minorities in and out of their local communities.
“Our View From the Front Line” was hosted by the following youthful leaders in the black community: Nicole Anglin, Harm Reduction Outreach Coordinator from the AIDS Committee of Durham Region, Kyana Graham, Youth Outreach Coordinator from the AIDS Committee of Durham Region, and Ginelle Skerritt, from the Warden Woods Community Centre Scarborough.
The event was attended by students, Trent faculty members and staff, and citizens of the Durham Region.
One of the topics discussed was the difficulty in accessing health care services in the Durham Region for people of color resulting in them migrating to bigger cities like Toronto to receive the same services, the reason for this and proposed solutions.
During the event our hosts also answered a series of questions concerning race, racism, and ignorance faced by minorities, giving their personal views on the status quo and what needs to changed or improved.
“Optimum health is having support systems of people who can relate and who understand you. Those who really get you,” said Kyana Graham while discussing the importance of local support systems.
“Invisibility is the worst form of oppression,” explained Ginelle Skerritt in reference to the lack of services, and recognition of need, for people of colour in the Durham Region.
Events like this shows Trent University Durham and the AIDS Committee of Durham Region’s commitment to play an active role in improving the quality and availability of health care services to people of color in the Durham Region.