Launch Speech
Good evening,
My name is Rebecca Bell and I’m honoured to be here tonight as a board member for the Centre for Black Development Options Canada (CBDOC).
CBDOC is grateful to work on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
Thank you for joining us.
I would like to take a few minutes this evening to share with you a bit of our journey, my personal connection to CBDOC, the incredible accomplishments we’ve achieved so far, and our aspirations for the future.
I first met Tonny, one of CBDOC’s co-founders back in 2016, when we were both working with an international youth organization dedicated to improving sexual and reproductive health for youth: Tonny in Uganda and I here in Toronto.
We worked closely to improve our advocacy efforts, and share lessons learned on how to influence and improve public policy.
Later on, I would meet Ali, another co-founder, in the same circles – working to provide more inclusive health services and advocate for gender equality.
From this, I know that CBDOC’s foundations are deeply rooted in social justice and a sincere commitment to improving public policy for well-being.
It should not be lost on us that it is exactly this work, of advocating for basic access and equality, that have ultimately forced Tonny and Ali to leave their homes and come to Canada.
I know that this journey has not been easy, but that their passion and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of other Black refugees is already bearing fruit.
In the short time since its inception earlier this year, CBDOC has achieved remarkable milestones. One of our most significant accomplishments has been our support to local refugees.
The team has been out in the community, working to provide asylum seekers with essential resources, connecting folks with supports to find housing and employment opportunities.
During a particularly difficult summer that saw shelters turn people away, CBDOC has quickly worked to forge connections with local organizers and service providers, creating a network of support that extends far beyond our organization’s reach.
Another milestone is our successful fundraising efforts. CBDOC has secured over $10,000 in funding, which will be instrumental in furthering our initiatives and expanding our impact.
Looking ahead, there is a lot to be excited about. We dream of building policy capacity on refugee issues that centres Black refugees’ experiences and helps to create system change.
The team is hard at work planning a conference next year that will bring together diverse voices to discuss Canada’s immigration and settlement support systems.
And in the lead up to this, we will be engaging directly with policy makers and the public about the ways in which refugees to Canada can contribute immensely – if they are supported in turn.
CBDOC has laid a solid foundation, but we are far from done. Our mission is ongoing, and we have big dreams.
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the founding members, the dedicated team, our wonderful volunteers, and the generous supporters who make CBDOC’s work possible.
I am immensely proud of what the team has accomplished, and I am confident that our future is even brighter.
I can’t wait to see what we can achieve when we work together.
Thank you.