Mohawk College
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

"The Equity and Inclusion Office, under the direction of the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, was formed in 2021. Prior to this date the ground work for EDI was primarily accomplished by Maxine Carter, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, with support from staff in various departments and with input from external consultants, and in partnership with other senior officials at the college. The college’s commitment to embedding EDI within all aspects of the college required the expansion of the office to support the volume of work required for this undertaking. The current staff compliment reporting to the Chief Equity Officer is 7, with an expected 3 additional hires, 6 students and 2 placement students. Additionally, in 2021 the decision was made to include the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office under Maxine’s portfolio as the work of the office aligns with her expertise in Human Rights, EDI and Student Conduct/Behaviour issues. In addition, the SRRO provides intake, case management and tracking of all issues and complaints raised within the campus community which fall under issues of EDI in addition to support for Gender Based Violence. The current and projected staffing compliment reflects the needs of the department in operationalizing the broader goals and objectives of the organization with a focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and a holistic approach to the needs of the individual and identified groups, including but not limited to, , Indigenous students, students with disabilities, women, gender diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+, and racialized students and employees.

The role of the EDI office is to steer, advise, recommend, educate and implement changes within the organizational structure that remove barriers and increase equity and accessibility to services, programs, education, research and employment for both students and staff. This is being done through education and training, policy review and revision, data gathering tools and systems, consultations and 5 task forces that are inclusive and representative of college demographics which will drive the changes needed to ensure the larger Strategic priorities are met. The office works in partnership will the college community to actionize the strategic plan of the college and the EDI office. The community includes, Human Resources, Accessible Learning Services, Security Services, IT, SIA (Students International and Alumni) as well as external partners within the community who are able to inform, educate and support the work of the office. "

"EDI Sessions, 1 through 4: Presented by Resolve Research Solutions Inc. (Vidal Chavannes)
The sessions are offered throughout the year and usually have waitlists for entry. The entry point into the series is offered at varying times throughout the year as to ensure flexibility and a wide reach to the employee audience. The sessions are sequential in nature and have pre-requisites for attendance. The inclusion of EDI training into the Performance Management process has been a key motivator for attendance as well as the popularity of the sessions through word of mouth between employees. The sessions are facilitated by an external facilitator and educator in EDI issues. The format is one of engagement and discussion that provides opportunities for employees to reflect on, share and address their concerns, as well as address their own biases and attitudes. They have been developed with specific learning outcomes that challenge the status quo and provide deeper insight and awareness into the necessity and benefits of doing EDI work within the college.

Fostering Queer and Trans Inclusive Spaces at Work and Beyond: Presented by The 519

This is a popular and well attended workshop series that is offered during the Academic term. It is facilitated by external SME’s and expressed through lived experiences of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with open dialogue and exchange between participants and learners. The summary of learning is indicated below:
“This interactive workshop will help you and your teams gain a deeper understanding of 2SLGBTQIA communities and how to begin fostering more affirming spaces at work (and beyond) that celebrate the dignity of queer and trans people. You will learn common terms used by and for 2SLGBTQIA folks, deepen your understanding of self-determination, and discuss the importance of using and respecting people’s pronouns. You will learn about discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and explore best practices on interrupting violence and harm and how to be an ally to 2SLGBTQIA communities.”

Speaker Series on Gender Based Violence: Various Speakers
These sessions were open to everyone within the college community and include faculty, staff and students. They included speakers with varying perspectives on Gender Based Violence who addressed the intersectionality of race, gender, class, disability and other Human Rights, legal and cultural issues that problematize Gender Based Violence within the community and within employment relationships. The speaker series were created in partnership with Humber College and as part of the MTCU mandate in addressing sexual assault and sexualized violence on campuses by educating and informing the community of the underlying issues that often precipitate the violence.


Culturally Responsive Teaching & Pedagogy - Workshop Series Presented by Dr. Anne Lopez
The series of workshops is designed to assist faculty, instructors, sessional lecturers in the design and delivery of socially just, anti-racist, culturally responsive methodologies within the classroom. Led by an external service provider, lecturer and professor from the University of Toronto, the goal of the sessions is to increase awareness, deepen understanding and work toward decolonizing the academy. This work is integral to the mission of the college in ensuring EDI principles are embedded into the design and delivery of courses for students so that every student feels included and valued for their experiences and contributions.



Special Events: Various Speakers, Subject Matter Experts, Leaders

Special Events are conducted throughout the year based on the Days of Significance Calendar on the EDI web page. The events are integral to the promotion of awareness and understanding and education within the community and reflective of the diverse and needs and lived realities of individuals and groups. Highlights include: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with filmmaker and speaker Attiya Khan; Black History Month with speaker and author Lawrence Hill and Black Entrepreneurs Virtual Marketplace with Cherie Warner and Moe Sulaiman; Slam Poety and Open Mic Workshop with Dwayne Morgan; International Women’s Month with GoodBodyFeel; International Day of Pink with The Vixen; Asian Heritage Month with Min Sook Lee (keynote); International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
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