WEEK OF ACTIONS AGAINST RACISM WITH NSK

Saint-Léonard – At the heart of the Saint-Léonard borough, on Friday, March 29, 2024, a citizen meeting of significant social impact was held: a panel discussion on the theme of racism and living together. Organized by NSK, the event brought together community actors, engaged citizens, local elected officials, and representatives of several partner organizations to debate, share testimony, and propose solutions.

The evening began with a speech by Sarah Laporal, Director of Communications at NSK, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of such initiatives in a multicultural society like Quebec.

Following that, several speakers from diverse backgrounds took the floor, sharing their experiences, observations, and reflections on racism and intercultural coexistence.

Daniel Marin, one of the invited panelists, expressed his satisfaction in participating in the initiative: "I learned a lot tonight. What I take away as positive is the openness shown in exploring other avenues to promote intercultural closeness."

For Jason Jonin, Social Innovation Coordinator at Groupe 3737, it is essential that discussions on racism are not limited to just one ethnic group: "We must include all communities—Maghrebis, Latinos, and whites. It’s only through inclusive conversations that we can truly make progress."

Suzanne Delaroche, borough councillor in Saint-Léonard, praised the event while acknowledging the complexity of the issue: "We must avoid generalizations. Openness and nuance are necessary to build harmony."

The audience also had the opportunity to speak, offering powerful testimonies. One of the most moving moments of the evening occurred when a representative from Nous Sommes Haïti spoke of the bullying her child experienced at school, highlighting a latent racism in some educational institutions. She called for deeper discussions and urged the Minister of Education to be involved in these issues in the future.

Hich Hamich, another participant, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the initiative: "You touched our hearts. Racism is a global scourge. This kind of gathering gives hope that one day, humanity will live freely."

Alberto Gu, President of the Saint-Léonard Sports Club, emphasized the crucial role of sports in combating discrimination: "Sports are not just for whites or Italians. They are for everyone. We encourage youth from all backgrounds to join us in building an inclusive new generation."

Finally, the President of NSK, organizer of the event, reaffirmed the organization’s core mission: "We support vulnerable families, particularly single-parent families. Yes, racism exists, but we believe that by working together through activities like this one, we can build a fairer society."

The event concluded with a word of thanks to the many partners, including BAD, Concertation Saint-Léonard, the Canado-Haitian Association, Nous Sommes Haïti, Groupe 3737, as well as government representatives and even a senator.