In the spring of 2022, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) offered a series of eight Listening Forums. They engaged families in conversation on issues impacting some of the most vulnerable students.

The purpose of the Listening Forums was to:

• Gain insight from the family and caregiver community about experiences they or their children have had
• Acknowledge the issues and barriers that students and families face
• Discuss potential solutions and how we can move forward together

We are aware of the harm experienced by some WRDSB students and families in the areas of Human Rights protected grounds and social areas. While we continue to address issues as they arise, we want to continue to be more proactive and solutions-focused.

As a school board, we are committed to creating conditions for learning that allow all students to thrive and achieve, especially those most marginalized. We continue to engage families using multiple mechanisms and forums. What they share helps us to keep trying to do better. Our ongoing commitment as a system is to do better. This means creating conditions that promote achievement, well-being and inclusion.

Through these forums, the WRDSB sought to hear the perspectives of the families of vulnerable students. What they shared will help us determine what further actions and considerations should be taken. Our goal is to create safer and more inclusive spaces for students and community members in the WRDSB now and in the future.

What We Heard and Next Steps

Reflecting on the Listening Forums

School Board staff and co-facilitators spent significant time thinking about how best to plan, communicate and facilitate the listening forums. But, it is only after the process has unfolded that we can reflect back and consider what we noticed.

Some caregivers express a lack of trust when engaging with the school board and school staff when attempting to address student issues regarding identity based discrimination.

As a school board, we want to acknowledge the extra burden that marginalized caregivers and families experience in navigating our system. While it is not our intention to cause difficult and harmful experiences, we understand that quite often, that is the impact.

I want to extend great appreciation for the families and caregivers who participated in the Listening Forums. As a racialized parent with children who attend WRDSB schools, I appreciate the vulnerability and sharing that you engaged in, that will not only improve the learning environment for your children, but also my children, and the children of countless families in the Waterloo Region.

Thank you for trusting us enough to be open to this process.

Sincerely,

Deepa Ahluwalia
Human Rights and Equity Advisor

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As a part of our commitment to transparency, I am humbled to provide this final report that is the result of all that we heard from the families, caregivers and community members who shared their voices so generously as part of the WRDSB Listening Forums. The process indicates we have to continue to keep getting better and we are committed to doing so. The wisdom you shared will help us shift practices, better communicate and engage with many families just like you.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for all of the families, caregivers and professionals who made these opportunities possible, and for all of those who shared their knowledge and experiences. I know that they were at times, hard and at the same time heartfelt. I understand that some people felt vulnerable and I am grateful to all those who spent time sharing and/or supporting because for us to do better, we need to know where the issues are as well as where we are making strides. I am also grateful to those who understand that this is an ongoing process and the WRDSB is committed to doing better.

I want to especially recognize the leadership and efforts of Deepa Ahluwalia and the entire Human Rights Branch team, without whom these forums wouldn’t have been possible.

We have heard many times that we consult and people don’t know the outcomes. As such we want to be transparent and share back what you shared with us and how it is helping us to shift practices. The feedback was consistent with feedback we have received from staff, students and families via multiple forums. As we work on transforming education in the Waterloo Region District School Board to better support the achievement and well-being of all students, the only way we can do it is together!.

Thank you for all you have done to get us here. We will keep working to be and do better. We are better and stronger when we are together.

With my heartfelt gratitude,

jeewan chanicka, director of education

Session Information

The session for Indigenous families and caregivers was co-facilitated by:

• Indigenous Community Educator Clarence Cachagee
• Deepa Ahluwalia, Human Rights and Equity Advisor

All other sessions were co-facilitated by:

• Cayla Charles, Senior Consultant at Credence and Co.
• Deepa Ahluwalia, Human Rights and Equity Advisor

All sessions were virtual and were held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The sessions focused on the following historically marginalized groups:

• Indigenous Community and anti-Indigenous Racism
• African, Caribbean and Black People and anti-Black Racism
• Racialized People/People of Colour and Racism
• People with Disabilities and Ableism (e.g. physical, mental health, neuro-diveristy)
• Jewish People and antisemitism
• Muslims and Islamophobia
• Asian People and anti-Asian Racism
• 2SLGBTQIA+ Community and Heterosexism/Homophobia, Cissexism/Transphobia

Focus groups were determined based on both census data and complaints of discrimination received. While focused on some of the most vulnerable student populations, we understand that this will allow us to better serve all students in our system.

Hearing From Many Voices

In an effort to reach as broad a group of participants as possible, an online form was created for:

• those who did not see themselves in the eight identified focus groups
• for anybody who was not able to attend the sessions for whatever reason

It allowed us to reach more families and caregivers, as part of our goal to hear from as many voices as possible

Timeline

This report is the next step in what was committed to the community at the outset of the Listening Forums.

View this timeline in text format:

Eight Listening Forums were hosted between March 3, 2022 and June 8, 2022.

During the summer and early Fall of 2022, transcripts from all of the forums were analyzed in order to determine the major themes that were evident across the sessions. Through the analysis phase, 12 themes were identified.

On November 10, 2022, we invited all attendees of listening forums to hear the 12 themes that emerged. The goal of this follow-up session was to confirm with participants that we listened well and were able to identify the themes accurately. This process is known as “data confirmation” to ensure that we did not miss anything. Participants confirmed that we had been successful in identifying the themes through discussion at the meeting, as well as via a feedback form that was sent via email.

Further Data Confirmation

Another opportunity for data confirmation occurred on February 28, 2022, everybody was invited back for a final time. This time, they were invited to hear the action items that had been identified and to respond to the 12 themes. Participants were given opportunities to share feedback on the action items, including if they felt it was missing something and then offer ideas and suggestions. A feedback form was also sent to everyone to give another opportunity for people to share their thoughts.

Conclusion

Listening forums are one mechanism through which to hear from families. We will continue to reach out to already established ways of hearing from families, through:

• System Navigators
• The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)
• The Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils (WRAPSC)

We will continue to think of new ways to open doors for better communication.

We are very grateful to the families and caregivers who participated in these sessions. Participants shared openly and honestly about their experiences, and that of their children, in the hopes of supporting positive change.

We want to acknowledge the extra burden that families and caregivers from marginalized communities experience through their interactions with the WRDSB. While it is not our intention for you to have negative experiences, we acknowledge the impact that this has had. We are determined to work together with the community to make positive changes.

The planning of, delivery and response to the Listening Forums process has engaged multi-department participation. Staff from across the WRDSB come together to support the forums and the ongoing work to achieve the future action items. This includes:

• The Research and Organizational Transformation Department
• The Communications Department
• The Indigenous, Equity and Human Rights Department
• Superintendents, Associate Directors and the Director

The WRDSB is committed to implementing the action items outlined in this report. We hope that over time, a demonstration of this commitment will result in more trust and stronger, more positive relationships with the broader community.

Categories: Human Rights · Indigenous, Equity and Human Rights Tags: Forums · HRB · human rights · Human Rights Branch · Listen · Listening