Regional Youth Forums

Overview

UNA-Canada's Youth Forums Against Racism project consisted of four regional forums and a national forum. It is our strong belief that beyond any other demographic, Canadian youth are best positioned to develop and disseminate an anti-racism education model that would be most appropriately suited for and appeal to their peer groups. We also believe that the diversity in backgrounds and experiences of the participants has ensured relevancy and effectiveness, and without a doubt enriched the overall education model.

Structure

Bearing this in mind, the forums were given a flexible structure so as not to confine the boundaries of ideas and discussion. We believe that youth will respond well to a safe and productive environment where they can be vocal about their perspectives on racism and anti-racism. While information sessions were included in each forum's agenda, the main components were made up of intense brainstorming and working sessions regarding what forms of education work best for youth, what are the important messages that should be targeted and conveyed, and how youth can be engaged.

Recruitment

In an effort to engage a diverse range of individuals - by way of age, racialized group membership, gender, language, educational background, community involvement, and regional background - promotion and recruitment took place through schools, universities, ethnocultural organizations, youth groups, and other organizations concerned with anti-racism and youth, as well as through the web, listservs, and local media.

Location

For a detailed look at each forum, click on the forum of interest: Ottawa, Quebec City , Halifax and Edmonton. You can also consult a summary of the outcomes for each regional forum by reading the overview.