b'USING AN ANTI-OPPRESSIVE, ANTI-RACIST FRAMEWORK INFORMED BY AN AFROCENTRIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MODEL, ULU SUPPORTS THE MOBILIZATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF BLACK AND RACIALIZED CITIZENS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND ALLIES TO ADDRESS ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACROSS GREATER SUDBURY.skills-building,mentorship,andleadershipdevelopmentthinking does away with hierarchy. So, the approach opportunities that explore Black Canadian histories, race,also respected cultural thinking and where I come colonialism,socialinequities,oppression,humanrights,from. Miigwetch for including me. and allyship. Local experiences regarding racial discrimina-tion and racial equity informed the development of ULUs- Former Constable Shannon Agowissa, GSPSvision for future race relations in Greater Sudbury. Partnership Between ULU and GSPSWhat started as a three-hour anti-racism training session After the death of George Floyd in May 2020 and the sub- evolved into a full-day training program where members sequent protests across North America, ULU reached out toofULUandtheBIPOCmembersofGSPSwouldjointly the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) to open dialoguefacilitate learning amongst participants. Not only did this and figure out how their organization could engage withtraining program create true leadership and empowerment the police service in a positive way. Given the worlds socialopportunities for members of the GSPS, but it also became climate, a collaboration between ULU and the GSPS wouldanauthenticrepresentationofcommunityengagement hopefully be a way to build a bridge within the commun- and capacity building. ity. The first meeting between ULU and GSPS leadershipThe partnership between ULU and GSPS allowed for washeldonJune9th,2020.GSPSleadershipcandidlyindividual experiences to be shared from a positive welcomed the ideas of ULU facilitating educational work-shopsfortheentiremembership,includinganti-racismplace to foster education, understanding, reflection, and allyship training. GSPS requested that ULU facilitateand growth. The training being co-facilitated by ULU five consultation sessions with their Black, Indigenous, andand GSPS members provided an opportunity to speak people of colour (BIPOC) members to foster a communityabout racism and enabled a better connection with the engagement model.audience to create change. At a time when changeThe most incredible part of this collaboration was theis needed.voluntaryinvolvementoftheBIPOCmembersofGSPS- Constable Josh Rickard, GSPSindevelopingideasfortrainingandtheirwillingness to sharing their lived experiences within the anti-racism training sessions. Breaking new ground, building things that have Teaming with ULU to bring forward the issues ofnever been done before, and moving them forward Anti-Black racism involved self-reflection and growth.is always challenging. We will be judged for doing so, The honest and truthful conversations with them andbut as we bring people together, I pray we will be members of the service leave me confident that wejudged by the content of our character. all want better and that we are all responsible for the- Constable Arlington Mullens, GSPSchange that we want to see.- Detective Constable Mark Renford, GSPSCollaboration between GSPS BIPOC membership and ULU resultedindevelopingandimplementingservice-wide, The part that impacted me the most was theanti-Black racism and allyship training. A total of 219 GSPS opportunity that ULU brought in by gathering andmembershaveattended10trainingsessions.ULUand asking questions about our experiences. I had felt soGSPS plan to continue their partnership and continue to alone until I heard the other members of the serviceemploy this training program to all members of the GSPS. share what they went through. I fully appreciate thatThe collaboration between ULU and GSPS is the beginning the dialogue felt grassroots, rank was not a part ofof what hopes to be a long-standing, impactful, and pro-this conversation. In Indigenous Worldview, circularductive relationship.The Official Publication of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police25'