In their continuous effort to educate people about anti-racism, the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services Society (SOICS) has a new initiative called UNBOX. This collaborative project between the society, the Penticton Library and the Okanagan Regional Library aims to provide an interactive and helpful resource for people to learn more about racism within the region.
The idea was modelled on the ‘You Need This Box’ initiative that came out of Alberta, which is a subscription service where participants receive four packages over the course of a year to help them gain a wider understanding of anti-racism.
Cherry Fernandez, executive director at SOICS, explained that the Penticton Library approached the organization wanting to partner with them to create a community resource that could help people understand these issues better. The project also was made in collaboration with SOICS’ OneWorld Youth Crew and the Newcomer Council.
“It’s for self-reflection, to really explore privilege and racism in Canada. And when we saw [You Need This Box], we were really looking for an opportunity to do something similar here, but really make it specific to our region,” said Fernandez. “We often think of an issue like racism and think, oh, that’s an issue for the larger communities, It’s an issue in Vancouver, or down south in the States, but it does happen here; it is very much reality.”
Earlier this year, SOICS also created an anti-racism video that drew attention to the fact that racism is present in the South Okanagan, and impacts minority groups just as much as anywhere else. At the same time, it also highlights the faces and stories of the diverse communities in the region. The UNBOX program circles around these issues as well, though delving deeper into building that knowledge.
Unlike more traditional forms of educational material (i.e., books, documentaries), a box full of resources is by nature, very interactive. It forces you to physically go through these different elements included within. Fernandez pointed out that she doesn’t want people to know too much about what’s inside before actually getting the box themselves in order for everyone to have an individual experience in going through it.
However, she does mention that there is first and foremost, a land acknowledgement; there are products made by local businesses, art pieces created by BIPOC community members, and different activities and guides that focus on topics like power and privilege, Indigenous learning and inter-cultural discovery.
One of the most crucial aspects of these projects and initiatives is to start up a dialogue, according to Fernandez.
“What’s so important is that sometimes when we have these conversations, maybe in personal interactions, there can be defensiveness or denial,” said Fernandez. “So these conversations and these activities are really trying to move past those reactionary feelings of just dismissing, anger, and really trying to engage and be a part of it. It’s recognizing that [racism] exists and that it is a problem.”
While she’s been told many times that these conversations will make people uncomfortable, Fernandez shoots back that “discomfort is a good thing.”
“Because when you have that discomfort, that’s where the learning happens. But it also is an agreement because you recognize that racism is not good. It’s ugly, it’s painful, it causes inequities. So that discomfort shows that you have that and you recognize that it’s not right.”
While it can be difficult and emotionally draining for someone who has experienced racism to share their experiences, having a resource like UNBOX which sparks that conversation on its own is quite valuable in terms of the projects SOICS takes on.
“This is very much open to the wide, broad community. Anybody that is wanting to learn more, anyone that wants to explore: what is privilege? What does racism look like? Anyone that has an interest has access to it, and that’s why the boxes are free. We want to be sure that we remove any of those barriers to accessing learning,” said Fernandez.
Anyone can sign up to get the box for free by visiting http://soics.ca/anti-racism/unbox/unbox-registration/ and registering to get one. Once registered, you will be contacted on where you can pick up the box according to one of the three location options: the Penticton Library, the Summerland Library, or the Osoyoos Library.
“What’s so important about this box is it is self-paced when you go through it. And it gives you time to reflect on what you’re learning as well,” said Fernandez.
