Anthony N. Morgan

The proliferation of access to information through developments in technology has expanded the breadth of social justice causes being championed in society. Every day there’s a new campaign, petition, or movement. How do you make your mission stand out? How do you get your issue into the public domain so you get not only the public talking, but also get your issue to be considered by key stakeholders and decision-makers? This talk will tell you how.

This talk focuses on effectively using an anti-oppressive human rights approach to advancing organizational change. This talk will assist individuals in institutions to take EDI to the next level by leveraging norms, principles and standards derived from domestic and international human rights law, policy and practice.

Doing well, while still doing good: In 2002, the late law professor and pioneer of critical race theory, Derrick Bell, published a book entitled Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth. In this book, Professor Bell uses his personal and professional journey as a successful racial justice lawyer and professor to provide illuminating reflections on how legally trained individuals can pursue professional success without compromising their core values, personal integrity or commitment to working to achieve a more socially equitable world. Professor Bell identified the tenets of Ethical Ambition as a passion; courage and risk-taking; faith; relationships; inspiration; and, humility. By the end of this talk, individuals will learn to 1. Critically reflect on and apply the tenets of ethical ambition to their own personal journeys and professional careers; 2. Recognize and breakdown dynamics of individual social privilege; 3. Identify barriers to racial equity in business, media and society.

You want to be an ally to a community that has experienced historical disadvantage but you don’t know where to start? What if you say the wrong thing? What if you do something that gets misunderstood, leading to a negative impact despite your positive intentions? How do I avoid over-centring myself when my aim is to help others? This talk will walk through how to be an effective ally to racialized individuals in a complex and multicultural world.

Many have an overly simplified understanding of what racism is and isn’t. In this talk, internationally recognized anti-racism advocate, Anthony Morgan, will use the analytical framework of critical race theory to discuss the three dominant levels of racism, how they manifest, and how to prevent and address them for the purpose of protecting and promoting anti-racism within your organization.

This engaging session will uncover the historical context of anti-Black racism in Canada and within the legal profession and unpack how Black identities and experiences can be over-determined by conscious and unconscious ideas, biases, attitudes, prejudices and stereotypes about Black people. The session will also explore the experiences of Black people in the legal profession and how racism manifests in this sector, and explore strategies to bring about culture change that would enhance a sense of belonging and create conditions more conducive for success for Black legal professionals.