Help us raise awareness and support the needs of Concordia’s Black community.
Who we are
The Black Perspective Office (BPO) was established by founding coordinator, Annick Maugile Flavien, and resides within Concordia’s Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic.
The BPO’s mission is to provide resources and support, and to link to and advocate for Black perspectives, initiatives and scholarship at Concordia. Our office will host programming, connect networks and champion Black perspectives. We also offer funding, mentorship, advocacy, assistance and resources for Concordia’s Black community and beyond.
The work of the BPO is informed by the generations of Black students and community activism in Montreal and at Concordia that has laid the foundation for work that addresses and challenges anti-Black systemic racism.
It is this social action that has made it possible for our pilot project — the Black Perspectives Initiative — to evolve into this office.
“Black communities have always fostered self-determined practices of care as a labour of love. Donating — giving — is one such practice that is deeply rooted in a collective sense of responsibility within and towards Black community (and the ongoing struggle towards liberation).
The African philosophy of Ubuntu, ‘I am because we are,’ suggests that our collective humanity is inextricably bound up in one another. Your donation to the Black Perspectives Office is an act of relationality that supports the continued presence and flourishing of Black communities here at Concordia.”
— Maurice Riley Case, Manager of Concordia’s Black Perspectives Office
Why we need your help
Your donation helps us address our most pressing areas of need, including scholarships, developing Black mental-health resources, student job opportunities and community building.
The BPO is focused on the wellness of Concordia’s Black community. It has been a particularly difficult time for our students, staff and faculty and we are dedicated to building a foundation of wellness that allows the community to thrive for years to come. We are in the process of planning a programming and networking series devoted to the wellness of our Black staff and faculty.
Another important aspect of our work is to promote awareness around the many forms of anti-Black racism and particular considerations for the spectrum of needs of Concordia’s Black community. We will also encourage agency and self-determination in Concordia’s Black community through mentorship and project funding.
By giving generously today, you play a vital role in ensuring a fair and safe environment for members of Concordia’s Black community.