Ethnocultural Support
Services
Ethnocultural Support Services (ESS) is a USC-funded student advocacy team highlighting issues surrounding ethno-cultural equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our goal is to empower students through community enhancement, education and advocacy, as well as by celebrating the myriad of cultures being represented on Western’s campus. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that the student community is safe, diversely represented, and cherishes Black, Indigenous & Students of Colour, along with all of their intersectionalities.

About us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethnoUSC
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ethnoUSC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ethnoUSC
Email: ethnocultural@westernusc.ca

Resource List
BIPOC Voices

Rachel Elizabeth Cargle
Educator with regular posts about anti-racism and wellness (especially for BIPOC) as well as a separate project/digital anti-racism course titled The Great Unlearn.
Dr. Jacqui W
Indigenous medicine maker sharing her knowledge and thoughts on healing, land, and relationship with self.


CBC Indigenous
Features news relevant to Indigenous peoples in Canada as well as features the stories of various Indigenous individuals/communities.
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson: Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories and Songs
A collection of short stories exploring the lives of contemporary Indigenous peoples and communities, particularly those of the author’s own Nishnaabeg nation.


Richard Wagamese: Indian Horse
Fictional story about the impact of residential schools in Canada on families and Indigenous cultures. Though the story is fictional, the author took great care in ensuring that the novel accurately reflects the experience of Indigenous peoples and families.
Desmond Cole: The Skin We’re In
A blend of memoir and essay to capture the past and present of white supremacy and anti-Blackness in Canada.


Chevon Drew & Hiba Elyass: Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice.
Andrew Ti & Tawny Newsome: Yo, Is This Racist?
Weekly podcast in which hosts and guests respond to fan-submitted voicemails and emails asking whether or not something is racist.


Sahaj Kohli
Mental health activist creating a community for children of immigrants. Releases a monthly newsletter with tips and events.
Maria Qamar
Mental health activist creating a community for children of immigrants. Releases a monthly newsletter with tips and events.


DJ Sharad and DJ Juicy
Features stories of South Asian individuals who are impacting Desi culture and society as well as thought-provoking conversation.
Adriana Alejandre
Has a weekly podcast that discusses mental health topics related to Latinas, Latinos, and Latinx individuals in order to demystify myths and diagnoses. Also offers support to clients seeking individual counseling and providers.


Thi Bui
Illustrated memoir about a Vietnamese family and their experience of immigration, displacement, and the relationship between parent and child.
Ricepaper Magazine
Canadian magazine showcasing Asian literature, culture, and arts.

Financial Support

Black Lives Matter Canada
The Canadian chapter of the well known Black Lives Matter Group.
Black Legal Action Center
Non-profit legal clinic that provides legal services for underprivileged black residents of Ontario.


Black Youth Helpline
Support line for black youth in Canada with a focus on psychological support, educational resources, and community development
Indspire
Fund dedicated towards supporting the educational attainment of Indigenous Canadians through grants and bursaries.


Native Women’s Association of Canada
Non-profit to promote the socio-economic development of native women in Canada.
Legal Education and Action Fund
Following the murder of Inuit university student Loretta Saunders in 2014, this fund was created to support legal advocacy and research against violence towards indigenous women in Canada.


Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals
Non-for profit devoted to the advancement of Black financial professionals in Toronto.
Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Advocacy and lobbying group aimed at supporting professionals from Latin America.


Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Advocacy group aimed at dismantling systematic racism in Canada.
Hello Success
Digitally-based business consultancy firm designed to help self employed and small businesses.


Black Sun Comics
London based comic featuring a black superhero, meant to inspire black youth in Canada.
Willym.ca
Black-owned insurance agency.


United Kutz
Barber shop in London.
Ox and Bow
Barber shop in London.


Lakin Afolabi Law
Black-owned criminal defence service owned by ESS friend Afolabi.
TG’s Addis Abba Restaurant
Ethiopian restaurant.


Vas Cuisine
Nigerian restaurant.
"How To" Guides
Articles
America’s Racial Contract is Killing Us
Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists)
My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant
The Combahee River Collective Statement
Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups
Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Books
New York Times Antiracist Reading List
How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Invisible No More: POlice Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
The New Jim Crow:Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
So Long a Letter – Mariama Bâ
TV Series and Movies
13th (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
American Son (Kenny Leon) – Netflix
Black Power Mixtape:1967-1975 – Available to rent
Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) – Huhu with Cinemax or available to rent
Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu – Available to rent
Dear White People (Justin Simien) – Netflix
Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) – Available to rent
I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin) – Available to rent or on Kanopy
If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) – Hulu
Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) – Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
King in the Wilderness – HBO
See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) – Netflix
Selma (Ava DuVernay) – Available to rent
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution – Available to rent
The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) – Available to rent
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
Organizations to Follow on Social Media
Organizations that provide an in-depth understanding of racism and injustice as they affect different communities.
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
The Movement For Black Lives (M4BL)
National Domestic Workers Alliance
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
Additional Resources and Tools for Understanding and Addressing Racism
The Lens of Systemic Oppression: Applying a Racial Equity Frame
On-Campus Resources
Arab Students Association
Aims to unite Arab culture.
Email: arabstudents.club@westernusc.ca


Black Students Association
Aims at fostering community ties within black students at Western and provide a safer space to black students .
Bangladeshi Students’ Association
A cultural club for Bangladeshis and anyone interested in Bengali Culture.
Email: bangladeshistudents.club@westernusa.ca


Caisa
Is a multicultural club that prides itself on social activities, community involvement, and academic balance.
Email: caisa.club@westernusc.ca
Canadian-Italian Awareness Organization
Aims to explore the Italian culture together with Western students and bring a little piece of Italy to the Western Community.
Email: ciao.club@westernusa.ca


Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Aims to promote justice, development and peace within the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa), and here at home in Canada.
Email: cjpme.club@westernusc.ca
Caribbean Students Association
The Caribbean Students’ Organization at Western University provides a home away from home for those from the Caribbean, as well as a link to your roots for those who have a Caribbean background
Email: cso.club@westernusc.ca


Chinese Christian Club
A Christian fellowship for Mandarin and Cantonese speaking students at the University of Western Ontario
Email: chinesechristian.club@westernusc.ca
Chinese Cultural Games
Dedicated in promoting the Chinese culture through various social and entertainment activities, spreading the understanding and awareness across the Western University and the London community
Email: ccgc.club@westernusc.ca


Chinese Students Association
CSA is a close-knit family that helps everyone meet people with similar interests, whether it be eating, watching movies, playing sports, or taking photos.
Email: csa.club@westernusc.ca
Croatian Club
Promotes Croatian identity, culture, and language to all of those who are interested
Email: croatian.club@westernusc.ca


French Club
Email: french.club@westernusc.ca

Gujarati Students Association
Email: gujaratistudents.club@westernusc.ca
The Hellenic Socieity
Email: hellenic.club@westernusc.ca


Indigenous Students Association
Email: indigenousstudents.club@westernusc.ca
Iranian Students Association
Email: iranianstudent.club@westernusc.ca


Israel on Campus
Email: isrealoncampus.club@westernusc.ca
Japanese Students Association
Email: japanesestudent.club@westernusc.ca


Korean Christian Fellowship
Email: kcf.club@westernusc.ca
Korean Students Association
Email: koreanstudents.club@westernusc.ca


London Chinese Catholic Community
Email: lccc.club@westernusc.ca
Pakastani Students Association
Email: pakistanistudents.club@westernusc.ca


Palestinian Culture Club
Email: palestinian.club@westernusc.ca
Polish Students Union
Email: polishstudents.club@westernusc.ca

Romanian Students Association
Email: romanianstudents.club@westernusc.ca


The Spanish and Latin Student Association (SALSA)
Email: salsa.club@westernusc.ca
Serbian Society
Email: serbian.club@westernusc.ca


Sri Lanken Students Alliance
Email: slsa.club@westernusc.ca
Taiwanese Association at Western
Email: taiwanese.club@westernusc.ca


Tamil Students Association
Email: tsaaw.club@westernusc.ca
Ukrainian Students Association


Vietnamese Students’ Association
Email: vietnamesestudents.club@westernusc.ca

Western Indo-Canadian Students Association
Email: wicsa.club@westernusc.ca
Western Ontario Organizations of Filipinos (WOOF)
Email: woof.club@westernusc.ca


Western University Lebanese Student Association
Email: lebanese.club@westernusc.ca
Petitions
Sign petitions, call or text, and/or donate to advocate for change.
Federal Petitions
Create a national database for police involved deaths in Canada
Demand racial data on police involved deaths in Canada
Halton Regional Police Service: Start collecting race-based data
Demand for mandatory body cameras for all police enforcement in Canada
Education
Teach Black History in Ontario Schools
Teach Black History in BC Schools
Anti-Racial History Curriculum
Zero Tolerance for Anti-Black, Brown and Indigenous Racism in Ontario
International Issues
Petition to Free Muslims in Chinese Concentration Camps
Petitions against building pipelines and railways on Indigenous lands
Request a Consultation Regarding Harassment or Discrimination
Equity & Human Rights Services (EHRS) provides consultation (information and advice) on the University’s policies, procedures and/or collective agreement articles related to discrimination and harassment.
If you have experienced, witnessed or been told about behavior that may relate to discrimination and/or harassment you may request a confidential consultation with Equity & Human Rights Services.
To request a consultation regarding harassment or discrimination, please email equity@uwo.ca or call at 519-661-2111 ext. 83334 and include the following:
Your name
Your contact information (i.e., email or phone number)
A brief overview of your concerns
EHRS will normally respond to requests within 48 hours (2 working days).
EHRS is not an emergency service. In the case of an emergency, please contact Campus Police at x83300.
All communications and information will be maintained as per the practices of Equity & Human Rights Services, including confidentiality and file retention.
Contact
Location
UCC, Rm 258