Introduction

I. About the organization

Black Lives Matter New Brunswick Inc. (BLMNB) is a non-profit organization providing a platform upon which Black communities across Saint John and New Brunswick can actively dismantle all forms of anti-Black racism, liberate Blackness, recognize Black excellence, support Black healing, affirm Black existence, to create freedom to love and self- determine and to help offer education to those who seek it. BLMNB is committed to providing education, tools and resources to build a society whereby the Black community has equal opportunity rights and equal opportunities to settle and prosper within New Brunswick. We are committed to building a collaborative network between the Black community living and immigrating to the province and all stakeholders and employers who have a vested interest to foster a strong demographic foundation and equitable workforce. Collectively we will strengthen our ability to eradicate the marginalization and oppression of our Black community and create an inclusive society, free from bias and discrimination.

Black Lives Matter New Brunswick is led by a Board of Directors, consisting of highly qualified professionals who make a positive contribution to the Black community. Since its inception, BLMNB has been collaborating with elected officials for the dismantling of systemic racism in New Brunswick, and the inclusion of Black history and culture within the educational programs of our school systems. BLMNB have been providing public education to EECD, school district’s executive staff members, teachers, consulting firms, behavioural intervention mentors, community centres and schools with youth ages 5 – 18 on racism, systemic racism, and anti-racist principles.

II. Methods

Black Lives Matter applied an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) research strategy as a method to engage with the Black community. This strategy applied affirmative questions that inspire storytelling to discover lived experiences and gather recommendations from the community on how to mitigate the involvement of Black people in the criminal justice system and eliminate anti-Black racism and discrimination in Canadian policing, courts and correctional systems.

The AI approach applied in this consultation process involved the combination of individual interviews and an online survey. The same questions were asked in both approaches to data collection. AI usually involves 4 phases or 4Ds – Discover, Dream, Design and Deliver (see Figure 1). For this research and data collection, BLMNB adopted the Discover and Dream phases. The Design and Deliver phases were out of scope for this process.

Figure 1 shows a cycle diagram illustrating the phases of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) research strategy: Discovering, Dreaming, Designing, and Delivering
Text version

The appreciative cycle

  • Discovering: 'What gives life?' (The best of what is) — Appreciating
  • Dreaming: 'What might be?' — Envisioning action
  • Designing: 'What should be the ideal?' — Co-constructing
  • Delivering: 'How to empower, learn and adjust/improve?' — Sustaining

Source: Shuayb, M. Sharp, C, Judkins, M. & Hetherington, M. (2009). Using appreciative inquiry in educational research: Possibilities and limitations. National Foundation for Educational Research

Two open houses were offered, one in Saint John and one Moncton. The purpose of the open houses was to utilize the AI method through a one-on-one or small group interview and gather direct feedback from the community. Despite BLMNB’s efforts to advertise and recruit Black community members to attend, the open houses yielded 0 results. However, Black Lives Matter New Brunswick conducted one personal interview in a private setting with a former high-ranking member of the Justice Department who had also practiced law in the province of New Brunswick for 35 years.

BLMNB heavily promoted open houses and the online survey using a variety of methods including the following:

BLMNB utilized the services of a professional consultant to develop online surveys, and for tracking and analyzing the results. It should also be stated that due to the short timeframe granted to BLMNB for the engagement process, the consultant firm expressed concern and extreme caution that any engagements could cause more traumatic harm to participants as the timeline offered no opportunity to ensure proper follow-up could be conducted with the participants.