A local community leader says she wants more action and less talk to address the roots of inequality in the Barrie area.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, Shanicka 'Shak' Edwards unveiled the Actions Not Words campaign, which she says is an urgent call for community collaboration.
Edwards was involved in a physical altercation Dec. 3 outside her Shak's World Community Centre on Maple Avenue that included racially charged language.
Barrie police have charged a 30-year-old woman with assault, assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to comply with probation. The case remains before the courts.
Edwards says now is the time to grow as a community.
“I’m calling for actions not words and demanding real actions with impact from the governments, corporations, organizations, communities and individuals across Simcoe County," she said.
"The local efforts, mainly words of support and performative actions, have clearly not been enough," added Edwards, who says progress must have meaningful community impact while demonstrating support and showing solidarity.
Edwards grew up in Simcoe County and says she has always felt different being Black in a predominantly white area.
“Looking around, we can see the change in the demographic here,” she said, adding Barrie will continue to see more families that are visible minorities coming to the city. "As Barrie grows, that trend is going to continue."
Also on hand at today's news conference was Empower Simcoe CEO Claudine Cousins, who says ongoing growth and the incoming population boom will undoubtedly include visible minorities, and those people need to feel at home.
“They’re looking for something for their children, something for themselves and they are seeking it out in their new community,” Cousins said. “They’re looking for the services they were used to somewhere else and realizing that it is missing.
"They may wonder if they should go back down (Highway) 400, and we don’t want that to happen," she added.
Edwards hopes she can be part of the bigger solution through Shak's World as well as the Actions Not Words campaign.
“Now is the opportunity for us to create a better and more interconnected community,” she said. “And as our community grows into the diverse space it's becoming, it will be a safer, more understanding community for everyone. Who wouldn't want that?"
Edwards says this includes more government funding for youth programs and organizations, a unified coalition of groups to eliminate racism, and for individuals to learn more about other cultures.
