Anti-Black Racism Working Group (ABRWG)

Overview

The Pickering Public Library Anti-Black Racism Working Group (ABRWG) is a community-based group, focusing on Library services with a lens of anti-Black racism. Consisting of appointed community volunteers, the ABRWG reviews community feedback and identified priorities and collaborates with library staff to create and implement action plans for improvements and enhancements to library services as well as internal processes. Recommendations and action plans focus on addressing identified systemic discrimination impacting the library experience for community members who self-identify as Black.

Current Members:

  • Romina Diaz-Matus (Co-Chair)
  • Teronie Donaldson (Co-Chair)
  • Charmain Brown (Co-Notetaker)
  • Nicole Facey (Co-Notetaker)
  • Samantha Adebiyi 
  • Salome Odeny
  • Scerena Officer

Library Staff Liaisons:

  • Sabrina Yung
  • Shobha Oza

Anti-Black Racism Community Survey 2025

 

Click here to start the Community Survey

The online survey contains a 'save for later' feature. You can complete the online survey at your own pace, pause, and return to complete your entry at a later time. See survey link for more details.

Prefer to complete a paper copy? Visit any Pickering Public Library location and ask staff for a printed version. 

Online and print surveys are due by September 5, 2026

At Pickering Public Library, we’re committed to creating a welcoming space where everyone feels a sense of care, inclusion, and belonging. As part of this commitment, we invite you to take part in a short community survey focused on addressing anti-Black racism and improving the library experience for all.

In 2020, many residents participated in our first Anti-Black Racism Community Survey. Your feedback helped us identify important areas for growth. Since then, we’ve formed an Anti-Black Racism Working Group (ABRWG) made up of Pickering residents, and we've been working closely together to help guide positive changes at the library. Want to learn more about the work to date, before completing the survey? Here is a summary of some key documents:

This updated survey is not a typical client satisfaction questionnaire. Instead, it’s a chance to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas, especially if you or others in your life have experienced barriers or systemic racism. Your voice will help us understand what is working, where gaps remain, and what actions we can take next.

The feedback we receive will shape future library programs, services, events, and policies. By participating, you're helping build a more inclusive and responsive library for everyone in our community.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective, it truly matters.

Prize Draw

Everyone who completes the community survey can enter a draw to win one of ten $25 gift cards to local Pickering businesses. Winners will be chosen at random, and each person can only win once. Winners will be contacted within two weeks after the survey ends. To enter the draw, please complete the online ballot provided after you hit submit on the online survey. If completing a paper survey, please detach and the ballot form. When submitting your paper copy to staff, please submit the ballot separately, as it ensures your survey remains anonymous. All print and digital ballots will be combined for the prize draw.

ABRWG Priorities and Recommendations in Progress

The ABRWG have worked with library staff to develop a consultation and collaboration framework to collectively take a deeper dive into the priorities identified by the group. The priorities were established based on community feedback and the lived experiences of the ABRWG members. 

This document outlines the framework, the impact of the group to date, and summarizes the five sets of recommendations developed by the ABRWG after working with library staff to explore opportunities for growth and change:

Anti-Black Racism Working Group (ABRWG) Overview, opens a new window

Terms of Reference

The ABRWG Terms of Reference outlines the working group's responsibilities, structure, and purpose.

To view and/or download the Anti-Black Racism Working Group - Terms of Reference, please click here., opens a new window   

Contact

Inquiries and communication to the ABRWG should be directed to abrwg@pickeringlibrary.ca. 

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