Together We Rise!
Black Justice
Despite human rights being protected by federal, provincial and territorial laws, racist and discriminatory stereotypes about people of African Descent permeate contemporary society and disproportionally impact the social, economic, educational, and health outcomes of Black men, women and children. Whether they are descendants of those who were enslaved or recent immigrants, people of African Descent are united by a shared, lived experience with anti-Black racism. It is within this tension that the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic launched Together We Rise (TWR)!
Involvements
- Co-chair of the Human Rights and Equity advisory committee with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.
- Hamilton Education Law program in partnership with the charitable organisation Empowerment Squared for youth and parents to learn about their rights and responsibilities regarding suspensions, expulsions, special education, right to attend school, bullying & harassment.
- Recently TWR – SEE started the Black Lunch Network program. Sessions are open to agencies, associations and community members who provide services to the Black community in Hamilton to network and foster relationship.
Objectives of Together We Rise
- To work to combat individual and systemic Anti-Black racism by providing a range of clinic law services;
- To collaborate with community organizations and agencies that serve people of African descent (PAD) to build relationships and trust;
- To provide culturally competent clinic law services to Black/African-Canadian/PAD clients;
- To foster and improve co-ordination and integration with the other legal aid services in Hamilton and across all elements of the justice sector.
- To facilitate access to justice for people who identify as being of African descent in the Hamilton community and increase use of Clinic services by members of the community.
Bilingual Black Justice Coordinator: Gachi Issa. Contact Gachi at the clinic to learn more.
Advisory Committee (AC)
The Together We Rise advisory committee is made up of a maximum of 12 Black community members. The advisory committee actively participates in directing and creating events, facilitates long term visioning and meets regularly. The advisory committee works with the Black Justice Coordinator to realize a more just and equitable environment for Black Hamiltonians. We encourage youth (ages 15-29), self-identified Black elders (age 55 and up) and all Black community members from different walks of life to join this committee.
Apply to be on the Advisory Committee
