October 2, 2020

On behalf of Windsor’s Diversity Committee, I would like to express our support for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) Connection grant application from Jane Ku (Sociology/ Women’s and Gender Studies), along with her colleagues at the University of Windsor (Sujith Xavier; Natalie Delia-Deckard and Camisha Sibblis), to hold a conference on racism and antiracism with an emphasis on local experience in Windsor Essex.

This conference will bring academic researchers from multiple disciplines to explore the different ways that racism manifests and is experienced by diverse racialized peoples. As a sponsoring organization, we at Windsor Diversity Committee would like to use this forum to make our presence more visible and to present the realities of racism in the area. This conference as a venue for us to strengthen our own vision and institutionalization by reaching out to the research community and sharing our vision with the campus community as well as other municipal stakeholders. This will also provide more support for our own activities in the future. Furthermore, this conference will enhance the discussion about antiracism here in Windsor-Essex, Ontario, as well as nationally, and cement Windsor as a vital place for antiracism activities. Given the timeliness of this project and the enormous pain and trauma that various groups are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic – including our Black, Chinese, Indigenous, Mexican and Jamaican agricultural, and international-student communities -- this is an extremely important conference to hold for open discussion towards acknowledgment of minority experience, and for opening a path towards a more multiculturally equitable experience.

We have read the proposal and agree to our role and participation as outlined within. In support of the conference, the representatives of the committee (Sungee John and I) will hold meetings with the representatives from this project team (2 hours for 6 meetings = 24 hours), provide our feedback and perspectives on conference planning (10 hours), publicize the conference and advertise it through the Diversity Committee (12 hours), prepare for the presentation on Windsor’s experience and especially the importance of municipal structures such as ours towards supporting antiracism initiatives at the conference (30 hours), participating at the conference (16 hours) and generally act as an advisory member for conference planning. We are willing and able to complete these activities, which are valued at a total of $3680 in kind (92 hours x $40).

We look forward to working with the project when funded. Sincerely,

Peter Ijeh

Peter Ijeh, Chair, Diversity Committee, City of Windsor