Anti-Oppression Framework

Future Possibilities for Kids strives to create an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, are included, and can fully participate. Our staff, volunteers and Board Members have a duty to maintain an environment free of discrimination and harassment and actively uphold principles of anti-oppression, anti-racism and inclusion.

Future Possibilities for Kids recognizes that certain people in our society face oppressive experiences because of individual and systemic unequal power related to race, colour, culture, ethnicity, language and linguistic origin, ability, socio-economic class, age (children, youth, seniors), ancestry, nationality, place of birth, religion or faith or other forms of conscientiously held beliefs, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexuality (including sexual orientation), family status (including marital status), and residency/migratory status in Canada.

We acknowledge that this is not new. There is a long history of systemic injustice, inequity and oppression which continues to persist into the present.

We acknowledge that upholding anti-oppression is ongoing work which happens within each individual and within each organization.

We encourage all FPK staff members, Board Members and volunteers to reflect, self-educate and use available resources to learn, unlearn, take meaningful action and wear a lens of anti-oppression when designing, developing and delivering programming, interacting with each other and members of the community.

When there is an action or behaviour that takes place that is not aligned with this framework will be addressed via the Anti-Oppression Policy below.

Anti-Oppression Policy

In alignment with and building on The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Future Possibilities for Kids prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any of the above.

This applies to any behavior by staff, program participants, parents, guardians, family members, volunteers, Board Members, donors, vendors, and community partners which includes (but is not limited to):

• Creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment through nonverbal conduct or written, graphic or verbal communications including comments, jokes, slurs or negative stereotyping; or
• Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s experience or otherwise adversely affects an individual’s experience within the organization.

Any instance of the above will be reviewed promptly, and addressed based on the severity of the action, through one or more (but not limited to) the following measures:

1) Direct conversation about the incident to provide the opportunity for dialogue and to reaffirm our commitment to upholding an anti-oppressive environment
2) Documentation of the incident in FPK’s files and records
3) Removal from current FPK participation
4) Prohibiting future participation with FPK

Anyone who has faced or witnessed an experience of human rights violations is encouraged to have direct conversation with the parties involved as a starting point to seek to understand and provide opportunities to reflect and educate.

If you have attempted a conversation which did not lead to a satisfactory resolution, if you face resistance or if you don’t feel safe to approach the parties involved, you are encouraged to connect with the parties below for support and resolution:
– Director of Program & Operations
– Executive Director
– Chair, Board of Directors