The 2nd African Canadian Summit: Critical Crossroad and the Crisis in the African Canadian Community

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 29, 2015) - The African Canadian Legal Clinic, Midaynta Community Services, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress have partnered to convene the 2nd African Canadian Summit.

This event will be the first time the new Chief of Police of the Toronto Police Service (TPS), Mark Saunders, will address the Black community in his capacity as the Chief of the TPS. Chief Saunders will speak about pressing issues in policing, including carding, racial profiling, police use of force, disclosure of non-conviction records and anti-Black hate crimes.

The key thematic pillars of the Summit will be: Violence Reduction; Equity in Outcomes and Reducing Disparities, and; Good Jobs for African Canadians. Approximately 250 participants from across the Greater Toronto Area are expected to attend.

"The 2^nd African Canadian Summit will be a day of action-oriented dialogue between government leaders, key public institutions and community stakeholders", says Margaret Parsons, Executive Director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic. "We aim to address the root causes of youth violence and the ongoing disparities affecting our community, and develop an action plan that features concrete measures and long-term solutions to ameliorate the imperiled conditions and disparities facing too many in the Black community." says Janice Gairey of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Also expected to be in attendance and speak at the Summit are Mayor John Tory, Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Honourable Tracy MacCharles, as well as Councillor Mathew Green, the City of Hamilton's first Black City Councillor.

The details of the Summit are as follows: