Navigating Racism in Workplace: Unveiling the Experiences and Strategies of Black Urban Planners in Canada
The “Navigating Racism in Workplace: Unveiling the Experiences and Strategies of Black Urban Planners in Canada” report, prepared by the Black Planning Project, offers an invaluable investigation into the experiences of Black urban planners within Canada, highlighting both the challenges they face and the strategies they employ in response when navigating racism in their workplaces. This research gains significance against the backdrop of a recognized need for greater diversity in urban planning, a profession that greatly benefits from diverse perspectives, especially in multicultural urban environments. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program, this study illuminates the nuanced barriers to entry and advancement for Black professionals in the field, alongside their impact on mental health and professional development.
Research Goals
This report embarks on an exploratory journey to shed light on the landscape of diversity within the field of urban planning, with a special focus on Black professionals in Canada. Recognizing the existing knowledge gap aims not only to map out the current state but also to serve as a catalyst encouraging further research and understanding of ways to improve anti-racist support in the field. By delving into the underrepresented area of Black professionals’ experiences and contributions within urban planning, this report seeks to illuminate paths toward a more inclusive and enriched field where Black Planners have their challenges and barriers recognized and, consequently, tailored support toward an anti-racist work environment. It invites stakeholders at all levels to learn from its findings and recommendations, fostering a collective movement that embraces and enhances diversity.
Findings
The narratives of Black planners illuminate anti-Black racism as a critical and multifaceted obstacle in their professional journeys. This racism manifests both subtly and overtly, affecting not only the individual planners but also the wider profession. If unaddressed, the profession risks losing valuable talent, exacerbating the existing mistrust Black planners bear towards the planning associations meant to support and advocate for them. Thus, the Black Planners Project (BPP) initiated this groundbreaking study, acknowledging the necessity for action and dialogue in tackling these pervasive issues.
Participate in the Buying While Black Survey.
If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to participate in an anonymous online survey to answer a series of questions about your home-buying experience in the GTHA.
It will not ask for your name, contact number, email, or address, but it will ask for your age group, income group, gender, and ethnic origin. The survey should take you 25–30 minutes to complete.
Funded by:
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program (CSMARI)
