The Paris Independent
February 12, 2022
4
COMMUNITY NEWS “Tying into a broader theme of diversity, equality, and inclusion, this program falls under my goal of ensuring that the opportunity to learn about and hear different cultural viewpoints is available to our community.” Black History Month serve as an urgent reminder that we haven’t yet reached full equality and it’s vital that we continue to educate and learn from our history if we ever want to grow into a more accepting society. “Tying into a broader theme of diversity, equality, and inclusion, this program falls under my goal of ensuring that the opportunity to learn about and hear different cultural viewpoints is available to our community,” adds Jermy. And in a growing city like Paris, furthering our knowledge and understanding of different cultures and experiences is especially valuable. “In the future we’re hoping to provide a bit more a local take on Black history as well. There’s a local anti-racism advocacy group called Unite Against Hate who I
have been in touch with about potential programming, for example. An actual program couldn’t happen this year due to scheduling, but they were kind enough to create a poster highlighting a few local historical locations tying into black history, which we do have posted in our branches”, concludes Jermy. With free programming available right at the local public library, accessible from the comfort of your own home, there is no excuse to not participate in this year’s Black History Month. Register for the program, grab one of the recommended books, and share with friends and family. Learning more about each other and widening our worldview is beneficial to us all.
Addressing racism in healthcare is important From the Brant Community Healthcare System: Muriel Yankey, RN, grew up in Brantford. She grew used to being the only Black student in her class until she moved to more-diverse Toronto to pursue her BScN at York. She did her co-op at BCHS, and knew that this was where she wanted to start her career. She’s now been a nurse here for 5 years, on the B8 Medical floor. To Muriel, Black History Month means everything. It’s about expressing and celebrating culture, educating other people on the historical and present issues faced by the Black community, and making sure that people understand the power
of language. Her advice for Black youth pursuing a career in healthcare is to just go for it. Don’t let anyone stop you! There might be people trying to drag you down, but there are even more people cheering you on as you pursue your goals. Especially in communities like Brantford that are growing in size and diversity – it’s so valuable to see representation in the healthcare workforce. In her words: “If I were a patient, I would want to have a healthcare worker who is my colour caring for me and advocating for me. In order to get there, it’s important to address racism in the healthcare
system. Not only in the way that patients are treated, but also healthcare workers. Black healthcare workers need to know that they are supported, and the public needs education on how to provide that support. This will improve outcomes for everyone.”
Muriel Yankey, a BCHS nurse
