Aurora Black Community Association launches with goal to bring people together

September 30, 2021 · 0 Comments

It was second time lucky for the Aurora Black Community Association as they formally launched their initiative this month.

Originally slated to open with a community gathering at Town Park that was ultimately rained out just before it started, the Aurora Black Community (ABC) Association didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits; they simply packed up, re-thought, and re-calibrated their event for the weather-friendly banquet hall at the Royal Canadian Legion.

“We were super-grateful,” says ABC Founder Phiona Durrant of finding a place to kick off their initiative where they didn’t have to worry about stormy skies. “Not being able to have it at the park took [some of the planned elements] away from us, but we hope as informal as the launch was, we get out the message that it is everyone’s responsibility to make what we aim to do with the Aurora Black Community Association successful.”

And the ABC has a bold vision for the future.

Initially founded as a Facebook group, the ABC has grown from strength to strength.

Finding their feet during Black History Month this past February, they spearheaded a number of initiatives that built momentum for the organization.

The next step, they hope, is to secure a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to take things to the next level.

“The grant will help us test the ideas that we have,” says Ms. Durrant. “For example, culinary is a big piece because we know with food and music and stuff like that it brings people together. It is a big piece in bringing different cultures together and learning about one another. The grant, if approved, will help us get that started.”

Last week, the ABC met with representatives from the Aurora Armoury, home to Niagara College’s Canadian Food & Wine Institute with a goal of furthering the culinary piece. The ABC wants to form a partnership with the Armoury to use their facilities to hold cooking lessons and other like programs.

“It would be amazing because that is in the heart of the community,” says Ms. Durrant.

Another goal is to work with municipal committees to see what their plans are for diversity and inclusion and collaborate with them to further their goals.

“It is about how can we help them better that, to work with the BIA (Business Improvement Association) and the Chamber of Commerce to say, ‘Hey, what is the process and how are we being intentional about getting the faces in Aurora represented and included in the process?’ That is our next step right now, to take that grant, do that research, do the programs and keep moving forward.”

Despite the name “Aurora Black Community Association,” Ms. Durrant stresses that it is an Association open to all individuals regardless of their background.

“When we look for grants, they want you to say ‘Black this’ and ‘Black that,’ but in my opinion, it is another form of segregation,” she says. “On the other hand, we know that they are really trying to be intentional and make sure there is access to those who have been marginalized and lacking the access, resources and the opportunity to rise.

“With that being said, it is in the Association’s best interest to remain with the name and give emphasis to our mission, philosophy and what we’re about.”

For more information, visit aurorablackcommunity.com.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter