Essential youth support program reinstated in Hamilton schools

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Published February 27, 2020 at 7:41 pm

An important youth support program in Hamilton’s public school system has been restarted after it was paused earlier this year.

An important youth support program in Hamilton’s public school system has been restarted after it was paused earlier this year.

The Black Youth Mentorship Program offered through the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) in partnership with the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) will continue as planned, a joint statement issued by the partners on Thursday (Feb. 27) says.

“The partners have agreed on guiding principles that include strengthening communications between the organizations, providing a forum for student voice, and adhering to an accountability framework,” the statement says.

“HWDSB and HCCI have reviewed their Memorandum of Understanding related to the Black Youth Mentorship Program. The program will continue as planned at Bernie Custis Secondary School on February 27, 2020, and is set to commence at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School in March, 2020.”

The HWDSB paused the program earlier this month following the release of an HCCI report that called for the end of police presence in Hamilton schools.

The report, entitled ‘A Consultation Report on Racism, Islamophobia, and Discrimination in Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) Schools,’ was written using data compiled by students and the HWDSB Kids Need Help group.

The report also included some information provided by HCCI and was released with the organization’s support.

HCCI’s involvement with the report, however, was a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding between HCCI and HWDSB as it pertains to confidentiality, the board claimed. This was the reason, the board said at the time, that the program was paused.

When the pause was announced, it prompted hundreds of HWDSB Secondary students to stage a walkout in protest.

Last week, HCCI and HWDSB met “to discuss their partnership,” the statement said.

“The organizations are pleased to share that they have agreed to a positive path forward for the benefit of black students in HWDSB schools.”

The reinstatement was applauded by the HWDSB Kids Need Help group in a tweet sent Thursday.

“We are happy that the program has been reinstated and we look forward to seeing how the student forum initiatives will be implemented,” the tweet said.

The joint statement from HCCI and HWDSB assured students and members of the community that “there will be opportunities for enhanced communication as this program moves forward.”

They concluded by crediting mediation efforts of the Ontario Anti-Racism Directorate as bringing the partnership to its current reinstatement.

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