In the wake of recent acts of anti-Black violence and discrimination in Canada and the United States, Vancity Community Foundation expresses our solidarity with Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour, and the changemakers fighting for racial justice and an end to racialized violence.

We share in the outrage over the senseless deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Chantel Moore, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless more victims of systemic racism and white supremacy.

The structural and systemic racism that has allowed anti-Black police violence to take place in the US exists Canada, where Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour have experienced a long history of police violence, colonialism, economic and social inequity, and injustice.

Building on the vision of Vancity credit union, Vancity Community Foundation remains committed to its values, working with community organizations to build just, equitable and inclusive communities. We are asking ourselves hard questions about race and privilege; and we are committed to listening, learning, and taking action. We know we have work to do.

Here’s how we’re getting started:

• We will amplify the work of community partners that are led by and supporting Black, Indigenous and people of colour in our staff and donor communications
• We will deepen our commitment to anti-racism work by reviewing our investment and granting practices to ensure they are equitable and accessible to diverse communities.
• We will support our donors to address racism using their Donor Advised Funds and provide opportunities to make a difference through collective giving.
• We will provide our staff and leadership with opportunities for collective learning on racism, colonialism, and reconciliation.
• Together with our donors, we’ve committed $20,000 to organizations working to address systemic racism in BC.

We look forward to working with our donors and community partners in making a difference.

Supporting Anti-Racism work in BC 

Together with our donors, Vancity Community Foundation has committed $20,000 to support the following organizations that are promoting social and economic inclusion and combating racism for Black and Indigenous people and people of colour in our community.

• Ethos Lab
  With a vision that all youth are free to explore the fullest expressions of their authentic selves, Ethos Lab is committed to building leadership capacity within the Black community in imagining and development spaces of innovation. Learn more…
   
• Hogan’s Alley Society
  The Hogan’s Alley Society advocates for Black Vancouverites who have endured the legacies of urban renewal and their erasure from the official historical narrative and works to build the capacity of racialized and marginalized communities to participate in city building. Learn more…
   
• Skookum Lab
  Skookum Lab addresses the high rate of Indigenous child and youth poverty in Surrey by uniting people that experience poverty, making their lived experience visible, and honouring the wisdom of the urban Indigenous community. Learn more…
   
• Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society (VATJSS)
  VATJSS is a non-profit agency that provides justice, homelessness and crime prevention services to Indigenous people within the Metro-Vancouver area. Learn more…

Join us…

We invite you to join us in supporting community organizations working toward creating a more just and equitable society. To help guide your giving, our staff have curated lists of organizations that are led by Black and Indigenous people and/or are addressing anti-Black and Indigenous racism and injustice.

Vancity Community Foundation is only able to provide grants to registered charities. However, many organizations critical to this work are non-profits and smaller grassroots organizations that are not registered charities. We encourage you to consider providing direct support to these organizations to support their critical work:

• Black Lives Matter – Vancouver
  Black Lives Matter Vancouver chapter supports the organizing work of black folks and allies in undoing systemic racialized violence.
   
• Emergency Black Community COVID-19 Fund
  The Black in BC Community Support Fund is a fundraiser for a low-barrier, emergency, micro-grant program for Black people in British Columbia, Canada, who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
   
• Black Youth Helpline
  Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools.
   
• Black Women Connect – Vancouver  
  Black Women Connect Vancouver is a collective of women who come together to inspire, empower, leverage our strengths and embrace our diverse experiences. It’s a community where we can build meaningful relationships, and celebrate the beauty of black womanhood.
   
• Vancouver Black Therapy & Advocacy Fund 
  Black Therapy & Advocacy Fund is a not-for-profit initiative that aims to raise funds to make Black therapy resources, advocacy, and mental health support more accessible to Black community members in the Lower Mainland.

In the list below we highlight several community organizations addressing systemic racism and economic inequality that have been previously supported by Vancity Community Foundation or the projects and programs we partner with and support including Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, the Equalizing Opportunities Fund, Reaching Home and more. These are just a few of the many organizations contributing to a more just and equitable society. 

• Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs (RAVEN)
  RAVEN raises legal defence funds to assist Indigenous Peoples who enforce their rights and title to protect their traditional territories. Through public education programs, RAVEN collaborates with Indigenous Peoples to eliminate environmental racism and foster a greater understanding of indigenous rights and governance.
   
• Lu'ma Native Housing Society 
  Lu'ma Native Housing Society builds, owns and operates affordable housing provides a broad range of services that improve social determinants of health such as: Lu’ma Medical Centre; the Aboriginal Patients’ Lodge; Community Voice Mail; the Aboriginal Children’s Village; and Aboriginal Youth Mentorship & Housing Program.
   
• Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) 
  FRAFCA fosters the health and well-being of urban Indigenous people in the Fraser Salish Region by providing culturally-relevant services, support, and advocacy.
   
• Vancouver Native Housing Society 
  Vancouver Native Housing Society’s mandate is to provide safe, secure and affordable housing. Their original and ongoing mandate is to focus on the housing needs of the urban Indigenous community including housing solutions for non-Indigenous people, seniors, youth, women at risk, persons living with mental illness and the homeless and homeless at-risk populations.
   
• Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) 
  UNYA’s vision is to empower Indigenous youth to lead and inspire all Nations. Urban Native Youth Association is the centre of Indigenous youth excellence, supporting youth on their journeys by amplifying and celebrating their voices.
   
• Kekinow Native Housing Society
  Kekinow Native Housing Society is a not-for-profit organization that provides subsidized, affordable, long-term rental accommodation for people of Indigenous ancestry. Their work reflects the traditional culture of diverse Indigenous ancestry and fosters the physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual elements of human life.

For more information, please contact us at give@vancity.com