History
Many past generations of advocates across North America have worked and fought for societies that are not only diverse in their demographics but truly equitable, inclusive and committed to racial justice. For present-day generations, the racial reckoning in 2020 dramatically increased the urgency to address barriers to equity and racial justice. In the years since then, societal expectations have shifted, prompting new legislative and policy commitments. But meaningful progress requires sustained effort, disaggregated race-related data, transparent accountability frameworks, and ongoing integration of community feedback.
Established in 2023 as part of the agreement for a North American Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice, CNERJ has been working towards that goal by creating an ever-expanding Canadian network of advocates, community leaders and data experts. Through knowledge sharing and facilitating collaborative advocacy, CNERJ helps translate local experience into national action while maintaining relationships and sharing promising practices with allies across North America. At a time when racial justice efforts face growing challenges, this collaborative approach is needed more than ever for advancing equity and racial justice in society and public policy in Canada and beyond.
The Agreement identified the following priorities:
- Engage communities with lived experience of racism, discrimination, and hate
- Drive solutions to protect the rights of members of marginalized communities
- Advance health equity and economic inclusion
- Address racial and other disparities in the justice system
- Assist in access to the ballot
- Provide educational opportunities
- Reflect the diversity of the three countries in their federal public services workforce
- Bring researchers and activists together across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico
Within Canada, CNERJ is focusing on anti-racism, equity and decoloniality in the following areas:
- Business and Labor
- Essential Services (housing and healthcare)
- Political participation
- Legal system and law enforcement
- Social participation (education, arts & culture, media)
- Hate and hate crimes
Vision, Mission & Values
Vision
Along with its North American allies and collaborators, CNERJ will build a strong organizational foundation and drive collaborative action. We envision a North America in which Canada, the United States, and Mexico work together to confront systemic discrimination, and to advance a unified civil society agenda against racism and hate. By building a lasting national and international network, fostering collaboration, and tracking progress transparently, we aim to advance racial equity, social justice, and human dignity across North America.
Mission
CNERJ works to advance equity and racial justice across North America by facilitating the exchange of information, sharing best practices, and supporting cross-border initiatives among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. We engage the different sectors to establish collaborative, evidence-based strategies that respond to the specific needs of communities within the Network. Through this work, we help shape public policy, strengthen civil society, and identify new opportunities for collective action – from the local to the national to the international level.
Values
CNERJ is grounded in the values of equity, anti-racism, and decoloniality as essential to transformative social change. We believe that achieving these values requires recognizing how racism and discrimination are embedded in our societies, and we are firmly committed to dismantling these systemic barriers to equity and racial justice.