Leaders of the Black/African communities have been urged to put the gathering and dissemination of data at the forefront of all plans and strategies as we move forward as a community to advance our common goals.

The Vice President, Community Opportunities and Mobilization, United Way Greater Toronto, Nation Cheong made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Annual General Meeting of the African Canadian Social Development Council {ACSDC) held on November 13 at the Mozia Women’s Network Society Hall in Toronto.

“Data is ruling the world. We have to build the evidence, gather the facts and data that put the numbers behind the story as we present our case to be heard”, Mr. Cheong said.

He asked what the graduation rate percentage target among black youth was for example. “As a community we must set a target for graduating rate of the youth and plan, mobilize and implement.” Cheong emphasized the importance of the leader­ ship of the African-Canadian to generate and use data at the forefront in the fight for social, political and economic change. “With the right data and information about your community you can make a better case for getting the support and resources you need from the government and other organizations to create solutions”.

Using the spread of African Canadians in the country for example he pointed to the fact that 60 percent live in Toronto and that shows the collective power we wield if properly tapped and directed. He recounted the hardships suffered by Canadians generally during the Covid-19 pandemic but said the disproportionate way it impacts the Black community “reminds us we have to look beyond the superficial and see our common goals through unity. We need to break the cycle”, he concluded. He commented Kabu Asante and the leadership of the ACSDC for their energetic and creative efforts in expanding and unifying the African Canadian people.

Read Newsletter Vol 1 – Iss 3 PDF

The years 2021 and 2020 witnessed a period of setbacks in the African-Canadian community. Many of the challenges the community faced prior to the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic like, food insecurity, mental health, underemployment, housing and lslam­ophobia, among others, are still with us today. Sadly to say, the situation has not improved. I would dare to say it seems the situation has rather deteriorated. A major cause for concern is the continual underfund­ ing of our community by the various levels of the gov­ernment.

In welcoming the year 2022 let’s make it our task as community leaders to present a united front to combat the systemic barriers that has resulted in such things like underfunding and underrepresentation. We have to fight the good fight, march forward with courage and determination and surely we’ll sail through the strong winds blowing our way.

With the year almost close to an end I would like to sincerely acknowledge the following persons for their sacrificial work which in many ways has helped tremendously in bringing the Council this far. Please join me in giving a shout-out to:

• A) Research
• B) Advocacy
• C) Education
• D) Relief Aid Services
• E) Community Development
• President – Nene Kabu Asante
• Lead Editor – Solomon Aremu
• Contributing Editor – Wofa Yaw Nyarko / Creativity and Design – Crystals Arts (Rose Mensah)
• Contributors – Jamila Aman, Vivian Yorrick & James Nyarko

Happy holidays to you all and may the New Year usher in excellent health, abundant joy and lasting peace to all.

ACSDC was registered in 2002 with a current membership of eighty-seven(87) organizations.

Our Programs and Team:

• A) Research
• B) Advocacy
• C) Education
• D) Relief Aid Services
• E) Community Development
• President – Nene Kabu Asante
• Lead Editor – Solomon Aremu
• Contributing Editor – Wofa Yaw Nyarko / Creativity and Design – Crystals Arts (Rose Mensah)
• Contributors – Jamila Aman, Vivian Yorrick & James Nyarko