Formed in 1975 by a group of concerned Toronto citizens, URBAN ALLIANCE ON RACE RELATIONS (UARR), is a non-profit charitable organization that works primarily and proactively with the community, public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research, which are critical in addressing racism in society.
Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we will collaborate with the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto, and Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic
Action. Over the next two years, we will work towards systemic change in education policy while engaging with racialized community organizations.
This non-partisan program offers politically motivated students hands-on experience with elected officials, complementing their academic studies. The fellowships aim to ensure Toronto’s government decisions better reflect community experiences.
Please visit the Youth Fellowship website for more information.
This is a formal resource offering tailored ARAO training, workshops, policy reviews, and public education for diverse audiences and organizations.
With a $50,000 seed funding from Clorox Canada, , we're creating a virtual museum documenting 50 years of activism, including the history of racism, anti-racism efforts, and anti-Black racism. The project will also develop 100 lesson plans and 25 working modules.
We shape our own story through media interviews, training, online platforms, weekly online shows, and team blogs. . Since 2021, we have released a quarterly print publication summarizing our work.
This annual event recognizes 6 to 10 changemakers for racial equity in Health, Labour, Government, Education, Media, and Justice, as well as a UARR Agent of Change. This year, the event will be hosted online.
Youth-led research and consultations ensure racialized communities’ voices in COVID-19 recovery efforts. We are working with government departments including the Toronto Office of Recover and Rebuild (TORR), Ontario's Anti-Racism Directorate, Canada’s Anti-Racism Secretariat, and school boards. We are developing a Scarborough-based racial equity model and working with funders to direct grants to racialized communities.
What about Scarborough? Racial Justice in our COVID-19 Recovery - Watch the event here!
With nearly 100 volunteers, we hope to influence anti-racism policies federally, provincially, and municipally in the GTA.TA. Volunteers research and produce summaries, papers, and essays on health, justice, education, and media issues, sharing insights on social media about topics like healthcare access, intersectionality, defunding the police, and environmental racism. Take a look at the excellent work from some of our brilliant volunteers here.
As we celebrate 50 years of community building and advocacy, we are now looking forward to the next 10 years of impact. In consultation with the community and our team, we have outlined 5 key priorities to focus on:
Employment and Economic Opportunity
Goal: Foster Inclusive Workspaces and Economic Opportunities
As we see increasing income inequality and cost of living in our country, it is important to acknowledge that racialized communities are impacted by this the most. We must directly support those experiencing income inequality while working to remove barriers that hinder racialized communities' economic advancement.
Our goal is to increase equitable access to employment by tailoring our supportive programming and resources while also advocating for policy changes that address systemic barriers in employment. Workers rights are human rights, and strong anti-discrimination legislation and supportive policies are needed to ensure employers are not taking advantage of our most vulnerable community members.
Human rights and racial justice should be central in shaping workplace environments, and we will continue to support our union partners as they represent and defend the needs of workers. Through our partnership with SHARE and the Investors for Racial Justice initiative, we are also looking at investments and capital flows that support racial justice, emphasizing the need for investors to prioritize racial equity in their portfolios.
Education
Goal: Promote Racial Equity in Education and Research
We will continue on our mission to ensure that all students, from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education and apprenticeships, have the opportunity to succeed. This means addressing the deep-rooted racial disparities that exist within our educational systems, including the school-to-prison pipeline.
By promoting inclusive curriculum and anti-racist pedagogies, we can disrupt historical educational barriers and create more inclusive learning environments for students and teachers alike. We need academic institutions and research labs that work to reflect the needs and experiences of marginalized communities. More collaboration with advocacy organizations and academic institutions is needed to increase research that deepens our understanding of racism in our communities.
Communication
Goal: Expand Public Awareness and Reach to Amplify Our Stories
In our increasingly digital world, it is important for us to meet communities where they are at. Expanding outreach channels to best connect with people is critical to most effectively tell our communities’ stories of struggle, vistories and ongoing challenges.
We will utilize communication channels—both traditional and digital—to build solidarity, relationships, and a deeper understanding of racial justice issues. Through innovative and collaborative strategies we will aim to share more articles, research, and resources that align with the organization’s mission, while increasing the circulation and impact of content that amplifies marginalized voices. Amplifying our stories and narratives is critical to counter the very targeted attacks on anti-racism work in Canada.
Community Engagement and Outreach (Social Cohesion)
Goal: Building Community Capacity and Convening Towards Change
To achieve equity, every individual needs to be empowered to contribute to the fight for racial justice. By building the capacity of grassroots organizations and advocates, we aim to increase knowledge, skills, and networks that will empower communities. Through community building and education, we will be helping communities build power.
We want to create more intergenerational opportunities for connection that support collective action. This includes supporting experiential learning, creating opportunities to explore our communities past while empowering our future. Investing in and fostering grassroots movements will be vital in creating lasting change that leaves no member of our community behind. We will work to ensure that marginalized communities are equipped with the resources needed to drive progress toward racial justice.
By strengthening social bonds and enhancing access to educational and skill building opportunities, we will foster a more unified, resilient community that can effectively address the systemic racism that persists in our institutions and communities.
Truth and Reconciliation - Relationship Building and Supporting Calls to Action
Goal: Strengthen our Solidarity and Action Towards Truth & Reconciliation
We will continue working in solidarity to strengthen support for reconciliation efforts. This includes promoting the learning of Indigenous histories, knowledge and perspectives within racialized communities. We will continue to actively support the Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, ensuring that our advocacy and programming align with the principles of justice, healing, and reconciliation.
Our goal is to support further collaboration between Indigenous and racialized communities in the fight to create a more inclusive and just society, centered on mutual respect and healing. We are dedicated to supporting initiatives that advance reconciliation, integrating Indigenous cultural practices and knowledge systems into our efforts. We will work to ensure that these critical issues remain central to the movement for racial justice.
