What began as a pilot project supported by IRCC’s Service Delivery Improvement fund, our Diversity and Antiracism Education Program at CCIS has grown into a trusted model acknowledged nationally and internationally for its unique community-based and action-oriented approach.
At its heart, this program recognizes the voices and experiences of racialized communities. Community members are not just participants—they are co-educators and co-designers of the learning. Their insights shape the training modules, ensuring that lived realities are reflected in the tools and strategies we create. These resources help individuals and organizations alike make meaningful changes, whether in relationships, workplaces, or systems.
The topics explored in our sessions are grounded in real needs and challenges. They range from understanding racism and intersectional identities, to building allyship, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering inclusive spaces.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of this work. By sharing what we learn, we also contribute to the broader conversation on equity and antiracism worldwide. Over the past year, program leads Dr. Sinela Jurkova and Dr. Jingzhou Liu have presented this model at major academic conferences in Canada, Singapore, United States and Austria. In addition, three peer-reviewed articles have been published, each highlighting different dimensions of the program:
- A framework for anti-racism education that is voice-centered, community-based, and action-driven.
- An analysis of systemic barriers faced by racialized newcomers in workplaces, housing, and public spaces—exploring how race, gender, and class intersect.
- A study on the role of personal narratives in driving change, showing how individual stories can be connected to larger structural issues to inspire transformative action.
For CCIS, this program isn’t only about external impact—it’s also a valuable resource internally. Staff, clients, and volunteers alike benefit from the interactive sessions and open conversations it fosters.
With its inclusive and equity-focused approach, the CCIS Diversity Education Program empowers participants, builds stronger connections, and helps turn lived experience into strategies for real change—on personal, organizational, and systemic levels.
To learn more, visit: https://ccisab.ca/diversity_anti-racism_education/
To book a session, please contact Dr. Sinela Jurkova at [email protected].
