Burnaby's Black Girl Collective Society has been chosen as one of 60 recipients across B.C. to receive funding from the province in an effort to tackle racism.
"Over the past two years, we've seen a staggering increase in racism and hate incidents in B.C.," parliamentary secretary for Anti-Racism initiatives Rachna Singh said in a news release.
"These grants are one of many steps in our fight against racism, helping organizations on the ground address systemic racism. This is important work, and I am grateful to everyone stepping up to build anti-racist workplaces and communities."
The Black Girl Collective Society has been provided a grant of $5,000 for its Black Girl Brunch which is an annual event that celebrates the existence, resilience and radical joy of Black women, providing a space to meet, exchange ideas and build an authentic and inclusive community.
"People of African ancestry are typically categorized as one group and treated as a monolith, obscuring the vast diversity in their histories, identities, journeys and experiences," BC Black History Awareness Society president Silvia Mangue Alene added.
"This funding builds on 'Worlds Within: Diverse Histories, Identities, and Experiences of Black People of African Ancestry in British Columbia,' the report of the African Ancestry Project released in March 2022, to add a youth-focused component about the rich heritage and diverse cultural identities of Black people in B.C. Connecting with young people is key to building self-esteem and challenging the stereotypes that promote anti-Black racism."
Odihi in New Westminster also received a grant of $5,000 for holistic maternal health in IBPOC women, providing information, support and coaching for IBPOC women who have experienced miscarriage or infertility.
