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| Illustration by Len Kurosaki |
I'm a big fan of shopping local, supporting small businesses, and giving my money to companies that give back to the community and do good. I also have spent my time in quarantine doing a lot of online shopping and needed something to help me justify all my purchases. And so I bring you Monthly Mains, a series where I’ll highlight three things that have made my life better (and will probably make yours better, too).
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Some of the information shared in this post may be triggering or bring up unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Please know there is help available. If you need emotional support or are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to one of the following resources:
Some of the information shared in this post may be triggering or bring up unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Please know there is help available. If you need emotional support or are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to one of the following resources:
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
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June is an important month. Personally, it's when I celebrate some of my favourite people (including one of my sisters) on their birthdays. On a much larger scale, June is significant for many reasons, including being Pride Month, National Indigenous History Month and the anniversary month of Juneteenth. (To be clear, this is not a full list of things that make June important, these are just the three I'm touching on in this post.)
June is a month where we focus on celebrating, learning about and supporting those in the Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ communities. And this year, the headlines and social media posts made it clear that we all have quite a bit of learning left to do to support these communities. From the (very unjust, not long enough) sentencing of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd in May of 2020, to a homophobic attack on a man in a typically safe space for LGBTQ2S+ members in Toronto, to the hundreds of unmarked graves (and counting) of Indigenous children finally being discovered at former residential schools across Canada, it's been another month where I've been wondering how I can do better, and how I can help others do better as well.
So this month, rather than focusing on products you can buy, I'm highlighting three Canadian charities that are doing great work within their respective communities that we can support - financially or otherwise - year-round.
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| Illustration by Len Kurosaki |
These inequities in our healthcare system aren't surprising or new to the Black community, which has advocated for decades for racism to be recognized as a major factor of inequitable health outcomes for Black and other racialized people. One of those advocates was Dr. Christopher Morgan, who founded Black Health Alliance (BHA) in 2000.
The goal then was to advocate for and improve the health and well-being of Black Canadians. Since then, the organization has led major research studies, built strong partnership, worked with post-secondary institutions on health-related projects, and created innovative solutions that have positive, long-lasting impacts on the Black community.
BHA focuses on four key areas, including anti-Black racism in the healthcare system. The organization also works to find solutions for some major issues that hinder optimal health in the community. They take on issues such as systems change, research and public policy and championing health equity.
Donating to BHA means supporting the organization's goal to reduce racial disparities Black people face in Canada's healthcare system, in turn improving lives nation-wide. You can learn more about Black Health Alliance, and make a donation, on the organization's website.
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| Illustration by Len Kurosaki |
Canada's residential school system, which lasted for more than 160 years and had more than 150,000 children go through it, continues to have a major impact on Indigenous people.
The history of the residential school system was, for many years, watered down in education curriculums. It's only in the past decade that more Canadians (and people around the world) are finding out that Canada not only has a dark past, but that past continues to impact its present.
But for many of the Indigenous people who survived the system, and the generations that came after, the trauma from the atrocities and cultural genocide committed by the Canadian government and residential school system continue to have a lasting impact. That's why the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is such an important organization.
Initially established in 1994 as an organization to help residential school survivors with the litigation process for abuse faced in the system, IRSSS has grown to become a resource for survivors and their families who are looking to heal from intergenerational trauma. IRSS offers essential services including counselling, court support and workshops. It also operates a 24-hour, toll-free crisis line.
Donating to IRSSS means supporting the organization's goal to offer survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities across Canada access to culturally sensitive, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual care. You can find more details and make a donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society by visiting the organization's website.
The history of the residential school system was, for many years, watered down in education curriculums. It's only in the past decade that more Canadians (and people around the world) are finding out that Canada not only has a dark past, but that past continues to impact its present.
But for many of the Indigenous people who survived the system, and the generations that came after, the trauma from the atrocities and cultural genocide committed by the Canadian government and residential school system continue to have a lasting impact. That's why the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is such an important organization.
Initially established in 1994 as an organization to help residential school survivors with the litigation process for abuse faced in the system, IRSSS has grown to become a resource for survivors and their families who are looking to heal from intergenerational trauma. IRSS offers essential services including counselling, court support and workshops. It also operates a 24-hour, toll-free crisis line.
Donating to IRSSS means supporting the organization's goal to offer survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities across Canada access to culturally sensitive, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual care. You can find more details and make a donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society by visiting the organization's website.
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| Illustration by Len Kurosaki |
Canada has made a lot of progress in the last 50 years when it comes to accepting the LGBTQ2S+ community. However, despite the progress that has been made, there is still a lot of work to be done to erase all forms of oppression members of that community face.
When it comes to Canadian LGBTQ2S+ youth, research shows they are more likely than the general population to face extreme poverty or homelessness, attempt suicide and abuse drugs. Calgary-based Skipping Stone is trying to change those statistics.
Skipping Stone was created in 2016 as a scholarship foundation that offered trans gender and gender non-conforming youth positive opportunities through scholarships and community events. In the last five years, the organization has grown into one that directly supports LGBTQ2S+ youth and their families by providing mentoring, employment opportunities, legal assistance and health services.
Skipping Stone's mission is to "connect trans and gender diverse youth, adults, and families with comprehensive and low barrier access to the support they need and deserve." By donating to the organization, you're helping create a positive, accepting environment free from discrimination for LGBTQ2S+ youth, and giving them access to the free vital services they need.
You can learn more about Skipping Stone, and make a donation, by visiting the organization's website.
When it comes to Canadian LGBTQ2S+ youth, research shows they are more likely than the general population to face extreme poverty or homelessness, attempt suicide and abuse drugs. Calgary-based Skipping Stone is trying to change those statistics.
Skipping Stone was created in 2016 as a scholarship foundation that offered trans gender and gender non-conforming youth positive opportunities through scholarships and community events. In the last five years, the organization has grown into one that directly supports LGBTQ2S+ youth and their families by providing mentoring, employment opportunities, legal assistance and health services.
Skipping Stone's mission is to "connect trans and gender diverse youth, adults, and families with comprehensive and low barrier access to the support they need and deserve." By donating to the organization, you're helping create a positive, accepting environment free from discrimination for LGBTQ2S+ youth, and giving them access to the free vital services they need.
You can learn more about Skipping Stone, and make a donation, by visiting the organization's website.
Supporting organizations like these is just one of many steps that need to be taken to truly make life better for everyone - no matter what race, gender, sexual preference, religious belief, etc.
I ask that you continue to pay attention to what is going on in the world, even if you're not directly impacted. It's not easy, but it's necessary.
Continue to look for credible resources you can learn from, even on issues you think you understand. Give marginalized people the platform to speak. Bring them to the tables where decisions are made.
Have the humility to admit you don't know it all (none of us do). Be prepared to get it wrong (we all will at least a few times), and to find out in a way that might not be kind or feel good. Be willing to get uncomfortable, to feel bad and angry and upset. Use all these feelings and experiences to learn more, to listen more, to use your own privileges to help others, and to create real, long-term change that benefits everyone.
Side dishes
Podcast:Something was wrong
Quote:
"Millions of people have decided not to be sensitive. They have grown thick skins around themselves just to avoid being hurt by anybody. But it is at great cost. Nobody can hurt them, but nobody can make them happy either."
— Osho
Read:
Avoid spiritual bypassing
— Anti-Racism Daily
Avoid spiritual bypassing
— Anti-Racism Daily
Song: