The Better Toronto Coalition webinar on race, newcomers & COVID-19 starts NOW!

Stay tuned to our live Twitter coverage, or watch the webinar here: http://event.webinarjam.com/go/live/1/lx84piyt2s4sk

#Toronto #COVID19 #TheNewPhilanthropy

Welcome everyone to the fifth Better Toronto Coalition webinar – we are grateful that so many of you have joined us again and happy to have several new folks with us online - over 250 registered!

Today we’ll be speaking about how being a member of a racialized community or a newcomer to Canada are factors in how people will fare during the crisis.

One of the challenges we face when writing our annual Toronto Vital Signs report is the inadequate collection of race-based data for quality of life indicators.

While there are reports of how minority groups in the States have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we don’t have those numbers readily available in Canada.

What we DO know for certain is that Toronto was already a city of widening wealth and income disparity.

Data over the last 35 years shows that racialized populations and newcomers have had no income growth, while the rest of the population has often had greater than 50% income growth.

Pre-pandemic Toronto was already a city of widening wealth and income disparity. Racialized populations & newcomers have had no income growth & tend to have more precarious work.

#TOVitalSigns

Fast forward to today with skyrocketing unemployment levels and we can connect the dots to see that racialized groups and newcomers are being harder hit by layoffs – or on the flip side, may feel compelled to keep working in riskier environments.

Couple these conditions with greater susceptibility to pre-existing health conditions, unequal access to healthcare and oftentimes institutionalized racism in the healthcare system.

It seems clear that the impacts of COVID-19 are likely to more adversely affect some Torontonians more than others.

Now, let's dive in with @helenegayle, CEO of the Chicago Community Trust ( @ChiTrust) - a community foundation improving their region through strategic grant making, civic engagement and inspiring philanthropy. They've focused on closing the region’s racial and ethnic wealth gap.

There are many issues in Chicago - health disparities, lack of access to quality education, violence, etc - the @ChiTrust has focused on economic root causes by closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap (particularly in black and latinX populations)

Listening to @helenegayle share that generally, "we know that if the general population catches a cold, communities of colour catch pneumonia" so this #Covid19 crisis is affecting those communities so much worse right now in the US and beyond.

Q: How do we "build back better"? @helenegayle shares that we need to have an equitable recovery - not just one for big business. Have to make sure that the Foundation is strong. Can't just focus on the top of the house.

Need to focus on small businesses, entrepreneurs, workers at all levels - what about the #livingwage conversation as well?

Now we have @sam_chaise, ED of the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre (@cwrcTO) – an emergency shelter and reception centre for refugee families from all ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds.

The @cwrcTO is often the first bed that a refugee sleeps on when they arrive on our doorstep. In some ways this is still happening, but not at the same level - and everything is different in the Centre (eating, housing, etc)

For @sam_chaise the most vulnerable population that he is working with are particularly challenged right now because they often don't speak local language, can't navigate ystem. "Life still happens while you are facing all your precarious status as a refugee even during #Covid19"

Q: How is social isolation affecting your staff? @sam_chaise says that his team is focused on the wisdom from #FridayNightLights: "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose. (Thx @taimhuynh @SKrynitzki @salimah and others for the help )

Now, let's hear from Debbie Douglas, ED of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants ( @OCASI_Policy) - a collective voice advocating for immigrant-serving agencies across Ontario.

Post #Covid19, @OCASI_Policy has had to shift their advocacy priorities. Making sure their populations have access to the various income supports available. Focused on people with precarious immigration status.

Many of their clients are not connected to a formal association or organization so no formal place for them to gather (esp due to physical distancing) - in particular intersectional issues come into play (LGBTQ+, non-binary, women, etc)

Many immigrant and refugee families do not have access to technology. So students are being left behind. As well as adults who need to take skills training classes. This is a problem that needs to be addressed.

From DD at @OCASI_Policy: "Challenges for many clients who don't have access to proper ID. Anyone in Toronto should be allowed to leave their homes and access food or other vital services. Right now, racial profiling is happening and many communities are scared to go out"

DD, @OCASI_Policy, "Unfortunately racism in Toronto and Ontario is alive and well and during a crisis like #Covid19, it is exacerbated for the communities most negatively affected. There is a need for human rights focus on many of the conversations we are having"

Now, please welcome Anna Victoria Wong, ED of Community Family Services of Ontario ( @CFSO_TO) – a multi-service agency that provides professional counselling and settlement services to individuals and families in need.

AW shares that @CFSO_TO was founded 30+ years ago by Asian Immigrants and is still governed and led by Asian Immigrants today - HQ in Scarborough and support Asian families throughout the GTA

Adding layers of visible and invisible disabilities as well is something that need to be thought about - again, that thread of #intersectionality that @sam_chaise and Debbie ( @OCASI_Policy) spoke about earlier

An important thread from our previous webinar - AW ( @CFSO_TO) says that "domestic violence against women/ families is on the rise in ethnic communities - perpetrators of this violence are taking advantage of less checks and balances - feel like they can get away with more now"

AW from @CFSO_TO shares that "workers are being taken advantage of and wages are being used as leverage against workers. They are being coerced/forced into bad conditions. Paying back wages in cash. It's a terrible situation for many that are affected"