Our Work
Parents for Diversity is engaged throughout our communities to create more diverse and inclusive schools, whether it is submitting our views on education reform in Ontario, advocating for issues affecting students in Quebec, or developing workshops for parents and educators on discrimination and bias. We work one-on-one with parents, or collectively with teachers, community-based organizations, trustees and school boards to address issues affecting our children.
Below are some of the activities we have been involved in throughout the year.
2019
2018
OCDSB Parent Involvement Committee Meeting
16 October, Ottawa
As a community representative, Parents for Diversity attended the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's Parent Involvement Committee meeting.
Capital Pride Parade
25 August, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity was in full effect at the annual Capital Pride Parade. This was the first year we marched in the parade as an organization and it was amazing to be surrounded by so much love and pride.
Drag Queen and King Story time
20 August, Ottawa
What a great event enjoying our morning at the Drag Queen and King Story time at the National Arts Centre with Drag Queen Peechez and Drag King Cyril Cinder.
2SLGBTQ+ Family Pride Picnic
18 August, Ottawa
There’s nothing more fun for kids than bouncy castles, ice cream, face painting and arts and crafts. P4D took our families along to celebrate another annual Family Pride Picnic.
Conference on Racism: Courageous Conversations for School Administrators
18 August, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended this thought-provoking conference about racism and equity in the education system, which was supported by the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education.
ACB Health Zone Presentation
15 July, Ottawa
In collaboration with the African Caribbean Black Health Zone, Parents for Diversity participated in a discussion with parents and students about navigating the school system while Black.
Elephant Stories: Our Voices, Our Stories
30 June, Ottawa
P4D’s Mante Molepo was invited to participate in the Sisterhood Garden showcasing storytelling and the untold stories, dreams and aspirations of Black, Indigenous and Women of Color in Canada. Mante talked about the importance of representation in education especially for racialized children.
Consultations on Creating an Equitable City
21 June, Ottawa
The Equity Ottawa partnership hosted a consultation on how to create an equitable and racism-free city. Parents for Diversity participated in the consultation and provided input on strategies to create diverse governance and leadership.
OCDSB Focus Group on Identity Based Data Collection
11 June, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity participated in a focus group to discuss the challenges that our children face and to identify systemic barriers and/or bias in our schools, in particular with respect to the collection of disaggregated identity-based data.
Association Canadienne-Française Conference
27 May, Gatineau
Parents for Diversity presented at the Association canadienne-française pour l’avancement des sciences' annual conference as part of a panel on partnerships between parents. We shared our vision of inclusive curriculum, books and resources and encouraged researchers to study the impact of these and other issues in Quebec.
Ottawa Catholic School Board Adopts UN Decade
23 April, Ottawa
The Ottawa Catholic School Board formally adopted its Declaration in Support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. Parents for Diversity was pleased to have the opportunity to consult on the development of the declaration.
Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators Conference
April, Toronto
Parents for Diversity presented at the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators on the topic of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy to Address Bias Against Students of African Descent.
Press release: cuts to education will negatively affect Black students
April, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity has issued a press release about the implications of increased class sizes and mandatory e-learning courses on Black students. We have written a letter to the Minister of Education . Click below for the link our press release.
Webinar with Action Canada on gender and sexual rights
21 March, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity's Mante Molepo participated in a webinar with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights to talk about issues around gender and sexual rights in our education system. Check it out in the link below.
Workshop for Educators: Addressing Discrimination in Schools
February, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity will be presenting a workshop to teachers in Ottawa on addressing unconscious bias and developing positive engagement with students, parents and communities.
Workshop for Parents: Addressing Anti-Black Racism
16 February, Ottawa
As part of Black History Month, we are delivering another interactive workshop for parents on how to advocate for your children when they experience anti-black racism. This workshop will be available in the afternoon.
Workshop for Educators: Addressing Anti-Black Racism
16 February, Ottawa
We received an overwhelming response from educators and service providers, that we are offering a second workshop of February 16 on addressing ant-black racism. This workshop will be offered in the morning.
Connecting the Dots Film
1 February, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity will be featured in Connecting the Dots Film Premiere at the 2019 National Black Canadians Summit. Mante spoke about the work we are doing to advocate for students in schools.
Black History Month Opening Ceremony
26 January, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended the opening ceremony of Black History Ottawa. In 2018, Canada officially recognized the International Decade for People of African Descent. This year's theme is "Our Canadian Story: Nothing about us, without us!"
Presentation at John McCrae Secondary School
15 January, Ottawa
Mante was invited to present at the parent council at John McCrae to talk about promoting diversity and inclusion in schools and how to set high expectations for students.
2018
Submission on Education Refom
December, Ottawa
As part of the province-wide consultations on education reform in Ontario, Parents for Diversity submitted a detailed submission on education reform, including issues affecting Black students, and 2SLGBTQ+ students under the health curriculum. Click below to read our submission.
Le Droit Opinion on Teaching Indigenous History
18 December, Gatineau
Le Droit published an opinion piece written by Julia Nicol on the importance of accurately reflecting history and the negative impacts of colonialism in the education system after she saw the content of a grade 3 text being used in her child’s Gatineau school.
UN Gender-Based Violence Campaign
27 November, Ottawa
Senator Mary Coyle invited Parents for Diversity to attend the launch of the UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign hosted by South Africa's High Commissioner to Canada, Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo.
BLG Women in Leadership Conference
14 November, Ottawa
Mante Molepo presented at this year’s BLG Women in Leadership Conference about diversity in the legal profession and how to achieve diverse and inclusive workplaces
Workshop on Unconscious Bias
13 November, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity delivered a workshop to teachers at Hillcrest High School on how to identify and address unconscious bias. The workshop also addressed ways in which parents and educators can engage with one another to improve educational outcomes for students.
People for Education Conference
10 November, Toronto
Mante Molepo participated in People for Education’s annual “Making Connections” conference where she presented on a panel discussing race and education.
CECCE Forum des Parents
3 November, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended the annual Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) forum des parents. There were great speakers and workshops on how we can improve the well-being of our children in school.
Meetings with Trustees
November, 2018
Following the municipal elections in October, Parents for Diversity is meeting with recently elected school board trustees in all four of Ottawa’s school boards. To date we have met with OCSD Glen Armstrong and OCDSB Rob Campbell. We also met with Nathalie Sirois, Equity and Human Rights Advisor for the CEPEO. We will continue to meet with trustees in the coming months
Lead Associate Teacher Day Conference
24 October, Ottawa
Mante Molepo participated at the Lead Associate Teacher Day Conference. The conference was about Taking up Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Education, and Mante spoke on a panel on Addressing Bias and Building Equity Together, in particular about how addressing bias in the education system can lead to student success
Interview on CHUO Black on Black
20 October, Ottawa
CHUO’s Black on Black hosts, Sarah Onyango and Patricia Harewood, interviewed Mante Molepo about the work Parents for Diversity is doing in our community to address discrimination in schools
1310 NEWS Ottawa
19 October, Ottawa
Following her op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen, Mante Molepo was interviewed on 1310 NEWS Ottawa host about her thoughts on the role of school board trustees and the upcoming municipal elections
Education Curriculum Town Hall
19 October, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended the interactive education curriculum town hall hosted by MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean, Jeremy Roberts, to discuss the provincial government’s consultations on education reform. Topics included the health curriculum and improving performance in STEM
Ottawa Citizen Editorial on School Board Trustees
18 October, Ottawa
The Ottawa Citizen published an editorial by Mante Molepo on the importance of school board trustees and why voters should pay attention to who they are voting for in the upcoming elections.
Anishinabe Nibin
6 October, Gatineau
Parents for Diversity attended the Anishinabe Nibin (Algonquin Summer) in Gatineau Park and learned about traditional Algonquin way of life, where there were demonstrations and presentations by local artisans, including one by Daniel (Pinock) Smith on building a traditional birchbark canoe
CBC Radio’s “The Fix”
3 October, Ottawa
CBC invited Mante Molepo to participate on “The Fix”, All in a Day’s Storytelling Pop-up. Mante spoke about the challenges she faced as a student when the curriculum did not represent racialized people and what school board trustees can do to fix the lack of diversity in the school system
Workshop on Anti-Black Racism
20 September, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity delivered another successful workshop on how parents can address anti-black racism when it arises, exploring tools and approaches that parents can use to engage with their schools and advocate for their children
CBC Radio Interview
20 September, Ottawa
Julia Nicol and Mante Molepo appeared on CBC’s Ottawa Morning to talk about Parents for Diversity, the workshops we deliver and other activities to improve diversity and inclusion in our schools
Accomplished Black Women Gala
15 September, Toronto
Mante Molepo attended the Accomplished Black Women gala where she was recognized as one of Canada’s accomplished black women for her contribution advocating against systemic discrimination in schools
Workshop on Anti-Discrimination
12 September, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity, along with Amy Wellings, OCDSB school board trustee candidate for Barrhaven Knoxdale Merivale, delivered a workshop for the community on how to address discrimination in schools. We heard from a parent who shared her experience with ableism in her school and what measures she took to address this problem
Capital Pride Parade
26 August, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended the capital pride parade with thousands of others from across the region
LGBTQ+ Family Pride Picnic
19 August, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended the LGBTQ+ family pride picnic with our families and enjoyed an afternoon of beautiful weather and great family activities
Workshop on Addressing Anti-Black Racism
19 July, Ottawa
P4D delivered an interactive workshop on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Schools, exploring different actors in our children’s education, the various forms of anti-black racism, human rights aspects of discrimination; and the standard of care that schools owe to students. We heard from a mother who successfully sued the OCDSB after her son was bullied
Generate U Summit
5 June, Ottawa
Mante Molepo participated as a mentor at the Generate U Dream Team Summit, speaking to high school students about her career path. She shared the story of Diana Nyad who at the age of 64 swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, having learned three lessons: 1. never EVER give up on your dreams; 2. you can chase your dreams at any age and 3. it is a team effort
Town Hall to Address Anti-Black Racism in Ottawa
21 March, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity attended a town hall on Addressing Anti-Black Racism to review progress over the past year since the launch of the “Addressing Anti-Black Racism Report”. We heard from school officials from the OCDSB and CECCE who discussed measures to address anti-black racism, among other issues affecting the black community
Meeting with the Attorney General of Ontario
2 March, Ottawa
Parents for Diversity along with the Ottawa-Gatineau Black Coalition participated in a meeting with the Attorney General of Ontario, Yasir Naqvi on addressing the criminalization of black children in the school system. We called on the Government of Ontario to develop of methodologies for survey and other data collection instruments used in the collection of identity-based data