IN THE KNOW TOO (2)
This project will address gaps in Quebec’s justice system, which mainly targets Black youths and their engagement in society. The BCRC also seeks to increase Black youth and other minority community individuals’ literacy on the criminal justice system and their capacity to confront racism, considering the over-policing of racialized individuals and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Curriculum specialists will help develop interactive modules, pedagogical materials and recordings of virtual discussion panels for youth aged 13-35 at English-language schools with a high portion of students coming from various economic and social backgrounds. In order to reach youth outside of the school system as well as other adults, the project will extend access to modules to the broader community and disseminate education materials online and on community forums. Some 300 youth and 100 community members are expected to participate in the project.

Expected Results

Through this project, the BCRC and its partners will gain both short and medium-term results:

Short-term results:

  • Increase and strengthen English-speaking Black youth literacy on the criminal justice system and their legal rights and responsibilities.
  • Enhance comprehension of the justice system and improve their capacity to defend themselves when they encounter racism in both everyday situations and in the legal system.

Medium-term results:

  • Foster social cohesion and facilitate the full participation of Black English-speaking youth and other minority community individuals in Canadian society in their daily activities.
  • Provide Black English-speaking youth and the larger community with access to valid and reliable information about their rights and responsibilities in various contexts of their life.

GOALS

Through this project, the BCRC and its partners will also consider one or more of the following Immediate and Intermediate Outcomes:

Immediate Outcomes: 

  • Program participants have increased awareness and understanding of racism, discrimination and hate speech, and the systemic barriers faced by equity-seeking populations.
  • Program participants have increased capacity to themselves participate fully in Canadian society, and/or to assist equity-seeking populations to participate fully in Canadian society.
  • Program participants have increased capacity to confront racism, discrimination and hate, and to overcome systemic barriers.

Intermediate Outcomes

  • Program participants have improved their practices when working with people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, and faiths.
  • Equity-seeking participants apply their knowledge and skills to confront racism and more fully participate in Canadian society

Method of Delivery

Workshops are developed and designed to introduce common legal issues to youth.

“In the Know Too (2)” will take place in the public high-schools and community in the greater Montréal area. This project seeks to put English-speaking, school-aged Black and visible minority youth “in the know” about the legal pitfalls they may run into in their day to day functioning. The project will develop and deliver a series of interactive workshops in the form of presentations, videos, case study exercises, personal reflection, and small group discussions. The workshops aim to open a space for dialogue with youths about their legal rights and responsibilities. The 10 interactive workshops will last 45 minutes and are facilitated by a range of justice sector experts (researchers, lawyers, paralegals, etc.). They use interactive session and activities to disseminate knowledge and build comfort with legal topics such as:

  • Home a Safe Haven: Youth Safety at Home
  • Be the Change: Arrêt Racism
  • The Justice System: Police and Crime
  • How to interact with the Police?
  • The Truth About Forever: Drug and Alcohol
  • Let’s Talk About It & Be on the Safer Side: Youth Sexual Education
  • It’s Never Your Fault, Without a “YES”, It’s a “NO”: Sexual Assault
  • Digital youth: Power and Danger of Internet and Social Media Platforms
  • No school Jitters: Say “NO” to Bullying
  • It is OK to Speak Up: Know Your Right in Workplace