By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

eliminating Racial Discrimination

Registration for CommUnity Power of One event ends Friday

Mar 18, 2021 | 1:36 PM

The 2021 CommUnity Power of One conference will happen virtually on March 20.

Registration for the event, which runs 10-12, ends Friday through Eventbrite. Registrants will receive a Zoom link. Power of One is typically held on a larger scale and in-person, but organizers were forced to go smaller for the 6th annual event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Hosted by Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE), the mini conference will commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), which is on March 21, and encourages use of the social media hashtag #FightRacism.

The theme for IDERD is ‘Youth Standing Up Against Racism,’ which will be highlighted during Power of One’s two hours as young people do a large part of the talking.

The aim, a release states, is to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination, and call on each and every person to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.

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“It is important that we all do our part to actively challenge racism within your families, communities and organizations. There is no excuse for ignorance nowadays because there’s so much information available,” says Chevi Rabbit, who will serve as one keynote speaker.

Rabbit, an outspoken Indigenous and transgender person from central Alberta, adds, “In recent years, we’ve increasingly become aware of racism within publicly-funded institutions and how systemic racism impacts marginalized communities.”

Fellow keynote Dr. Wanda Costen says allyship requires action.

“One can’t be an ally and sit on the sidelines,” says Costen, Dean, School of Business at MacEwan University. “One must also be willing to delve into uncomfortable conversations to understand the lived experiences of BIPOC people in Canada.”

Youth advocate Ceejay Courtright will also speak, and there will be a panel of guests including Rae-Anna Walters, Ola Zein Alabdin and Cheryl Jaime.

Topics of discussion will include the history of racism, events of the past year, the rise of overt racism in Canada, and young activists will speak about their own initiatives for change.