Structural racism: Can it be planned out of our cities? 

Part of a series of forums that Douglas College is hosting in partnership with SFU and the City of New Westminster. The goal of these forums is to provide an occasion for frank discussion on important issues facing urban and suburban communities, to both inform and learn from academics, practitioners, and citizens. Over the past year, we’ve seen the Black Lives Matter movement and structural racism gain prominence in the news and on the streets. This forum asks: what should we here in Metro Vancouver be talking about that we’re not? What ways does structural racism show up in cities and urban planning? And what are some things cities and urban planners could do right now to fundamentally address racism?

Moderator: Shaun Tyakoff, Associate Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences (Douglas College).

Panelists: Dr. June Francis, Business (SFU Beedie School of Business). Dr. Francis is a professor of Business and co-founder of the CoLab Project at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. CoLab works with organizations seeking radical shifts in old ideas to move beyond diversity to true equity and inclusion. She’s also director of the Institute for Diaspore Research and Engagement at SFU. The institute’s mandate is to strengthen links between scholarly research, policy and practice, relating to multi-cultural and diaspore communities in their role in building innovative, sustainable, and inclusive initiatives. Dr. Francis has won awards for community service and teaching excellence. She is a co-chair of the Hogan’s Alley Society, which is dedicated to delivering the policy goals identified in the Vancouver North East False Creek area of land for the black community.(9:45)

Nadine Nakagawa, City Counsellor (City of New Westminster). She is a community organizer and local activist. She’s worked on issues relating to housing, public spaces, reconciliation, public engagement, and childcare. For her work in the community, Nadine was named the 2017 Citizen of the Year. She was elected to New West City Council in 2018, she co-owns a consulting company called Ablaze Services, and has a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Nadine is a creative writer, an animal lover, an embracer of whimsy, and an intersectional feminist.(7:25) Q&A with panelists (46:44)