The school-to-prison pipeline: criminalizing Black students here and abroad

Join us at a panel discussion with Montel Gordon, marcus singleton, Kearie Daniel, and Anthony N. Morgan (host) on research exploring the relationships between Black young people, school exclusions and incarceration in the United Kingdom and in the Greater Toronto Area.

The panel discussion will be facilitated by Professor Julius Haag. Audience Q & A will follow.

This event is free and all are welcome, but registration is required.

A light lunch will be available from 11:30 am.

Panelists

Montel Gordon is a doctoral researcher in race and education, currently serving as a James McCune Smith Scholar at the University of Glasgow.

marcus singleton is a servant-leader activist | Critical Thinking Em(see) and PhD Candidate at OISE in the Department of Social Justice Education. His doctoral research focuses on how anti-Black violence and policing within the system of schooling affects the learning of Black male youth. He believes in fostering autonomy among Black (male) youth in their learning experiences by exposing them to critical hip-hop pedagogy and the fifth element of hip-hop culture, which is knowledge of self. When Black youth are able to obtain knowledge of themselves, they are able to articulate their own narratives and navigate oppressive learning environments that perpetuate anti-Black violence and policing on them. marcus obtained his bachelor's degree in English teaching in the Urban Teaching Program from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and completed his MEd at OISE.    

Kearie Daniel is a seasoned leader and advocate for Black children with expertise across the nonprofit, healthcare, and child welfare sectors. She is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Parents of Black Children, an organization she co-founded and has led to significant growth, achieving an operating budget of over $1 million in just four years. Under her leadership, the organization has greatly advanced advocacy and support for Black parents within the education sector. Kearie is set to transition from her role at Parents of Black Children in December of this year.

Currently, Kearie is also laying the groundwork as the founder and Executive Director of The Black Women's Institute for Health, which is poised to conduct Canada's first vital signs survey for Black women and girls this fall. This initiative reflects her ongoing commitment to addressing critical health disparities and enhancing community well-being.

Previously, Kearie played a pivotal role at the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies as the Communications and Community Engagement Lead for Phase II of the One Vision One Voice project, which tackled the overrepresentation of Black children in the child welfare system in Ontario. Her extensive experience also includes work with homeless youth and various charitable organizations, demonstrating a broad and impactful engagement with vulnerable groups.

Kearie is the creator of Woke Mommy Chatter, a platform dedicated to elevating the narratives of Black motherhood through storytelling, fostering societal change, and greater visibility for Black mothers and their children. A thought leader and writer on issues of race, motherhood, and education, Kearie’s insights enrich discussions in various publications, including Today’s Parent, CBC Parent, Flare, and Chatelaine. She holds a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, credentials that complement her extensive field experience and amplify her voice in pivotal conversations about education and community health. As she prepares for her new role, Kearie continues to drive significant initiatives that promise to reshape and enrich the landscape of support for Black communities in Canada.

Host

Anthony N. Morgan is a racial justice analyst & strategist, educator and lawyer. He is currently a Senior Strategic Advisor with the City of Toronto, focusing on intersectional social justice, and an Adjunct Professor at CrimSL. 

Facilitator

Julius Haag is Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Sociology at University of Toronto Mississauga, and a member of the 2023-2024 Advisory Committee for the CrimSL Research Cluster for the Study of Racism and Inequality (CSRI).

Presented by

The CrimSL Research Cluster for the Study of Racism and Inequality.

Directions

The main entrance to the Canadiana Gallery is on Queen's Park Crescent West, directly across from the Ontario Legislature. (Google map)

By transit: The closest subway station is Queen's Park. Walk north on Queen's Park Crescent West.

By car: Curbside parking is no longer available on King's College Circle. The closest U of T parking lots are Lot C – Bahen Centre (213 Huron St.) or Lot P - Rotman School of Management (107 St. George St.). See U of T Transportation Services for complete details about parking on campus.

By ridehail or rideshare: Vehicles may access a drop-off area at the front of the building via Queen's Park Crescent West.

Accessibility

The Canadiana Gallery main entrance is served by a ramp and the entrance door features an automatic no-touch wave switch for door opening. The all-gender washroom on the main floor is accessible. The Criminology Library is accessible by vertical lift. 

If you have any access needs, or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this event, please email crimsl.communications@utoronto.ca and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.