International Decade for People of African Descent Advisory Committee

The City of Victoria acknowledges and recognizes the International Decade for People of African Decent 2015-2024 for the purpose of promoting respect, protection and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people of African descent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

IDPAD Youth Grant

The IDPAD Youth Grant is an annual grant program to support and empower Black youth in Victoria with up to $10,000 of funding.

The grant is open to individuals of African descent, informal community groups and non-profit organizations led by people of African descent that serve people of African descent. Learn more here.

Advisory Committee Members Announced

To mark the United Nations’ first International Day for People of African Descent, the City of Victoria announced the Council-appointed members to its new advisory committee, which will support the City’s commitment to the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) 2015-2024.

IDPAD Advisory Committee members represent a range of ages and lived experience and/or expertise in issues of Black communities and include:

William Goldiet
Barbara Hudlin
Hissein Idriss
Natalie Justin
Dr. Christian O. Kumi
Dominique Makay
Aziza Moqia Sealey-Qaylow
Kenny Panza

Advisory Committee members met for the first time in September 2021 and will serve a three-year term to the end of 2024.

About IDPAD Advisory Committee

To advance Council’s commitment to acknowledging and recognizing the International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024, the City of Victoria has established a new advisory committee to support the Decade’s three themes:

Recognition: Support efforts to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Victorians as part of the City's contributions to mark the decade.
Justice: Support efforts to promote equitable outcomes for Black Victorians on issues relating to policing. Designing, implementing and enforcing effective measures to eliminate the phenomenon popularly known as “racial profiling” and eliminating institutionalized stereotypes concerning people of African descent.
Development: Support efforts for positive outcomes for Black Victorians in area of housing, employment and entrepreneurship

Purpose

The purpose of the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Advisory Committee is to provide Council with recommendations on the following:

The recommended approach to implementing the IDPAD proclamation within the City of Victoria and community at large, including the development of a three-year action plan
Receive and communicate out City activities and updates related to the IDPAD implementation to “parent” organizations the member represents, where applicable
Best practices to raise awareness in the general public about the heritage and culture of people of African descent and around the IDPAD broader goals and actions
Advise Council on emerging issues and trends of significance to Black communities as they relate to City services and programs through semi-annual reports
How to ensure the interests and needs of Black communities are reflected in City programs and service delivery.

The Committee will also engage people of African descent and other community members through a series of at least three public workshops and one town hall meeting, to include the ideas of the broader community of the work of the IDPAD Advisory Committee and the City of Victoria’s work in implementing the IDPAD proclamation.

For more information, please read the Terms of Reference.

Eligibility

The Committee is comprised of up to nine voting members of African descent, appointed by Council for just over a three-year term (September 2021 – December 2024). If possible:

Three elder members, who self-identify and represent the wisdom of Black communities
Three youth members between the ages of 18 to 29
Three members that represent Black lead organizations and business
Have knowledge or previous experience in racial equity and/or anti-discrimination work or a strong commitment to learn and contribute to this work
Assume an allyship role in removing systemic barriers racialized and marginalized communities and the African diaspora encounter
Collectively reflect a range of interests of the Black community in fields such as, but not limited to:

Arts/media/sports representation/Black Identity
Access to justice and community safety
Education
Inclusion and Immigration
Black ownership/wealth
Access to affordable housing and shelter
Mental/physical health
Democratic engagement

Time Commitment

The IDPAD Advisory Committee meets every month or at a frequency as determined appropriate by the Committee. Members should expect a minimum time commitment of approximately six hours per month for the first six months, including meeting time.

The first meeting of the IDPAD Advisory Committee took place in September 2021. The IDPAD Advisory Committee will be disbanded at the end of 2024 to coincide with the conclusion of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Compensation

Committee members receive an honorarium for their participation set at the rate equivalent to the Living Wage in British Columbia.

Background

The City of Victoria joins the Government of Canada, several other Canadian cities, as well as cities worldwide in acknowledging and recognizing the International Decade for People of African Descent.

The United Nations proclaimed 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent to recognize that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

Whether as descendants of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade or as more recent migrants, people of African descent constitute some of the poorest and most marginalized groups. Studies and findings by international and national bodies demonstrate that people of African descent still have limited access to quality education, health services, housing and social security.

The International Decade aims to celebrate the important contributions of people of African descent worldwide, advance social justice and inclusion policies, eradicate racism and intolerance, promote human rights, and assist in creating better, more prosperous communities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals spearheaded by the United Nations. Learn more.