Concordia releases the STRIVE Task Force final report
Dear Concordians,
I’m pleased to announce the Standing Together against Racism and Identity-based Violence (STRIVE) Task Force has completed its work. I invite you to take some time to read the final report, which includes detailed summaries of the findings from each of the six subcommittees as well as topic-specific and global recommendations.
The university launched STRIVE in April 2024 in response to a period of heightened tensions on our campuses, often due to geopolitical conflict. The goal of STRIVE was to shed light on experiences of inequity, exclusion and discrimination as well as to propose actionable recommendations to address these challenges going forward. The task force went on to carry out a two-year study of identity-based violence and how it affects members of the Concordia community.
The final report reflects the collective efforts of the task force and its subcommittees on antisemitism, anti-Arab racism and islamophobia, anti-Asian racism, transphobia, campus engagement, and campus climate, which were made up of faculty, staff and students. Each group led consultations, held listening sessions, conducted surveys, and produced a frank and thoughtful analysis of what they found.
The working group reports were synthesized into a comprehensive draft report. A steering committee, which included the heads of the working groups as well as other internal and external members of the Concordia community, reviewed versions of the report and provided input on the final version.
By design, the STRIVE recommendations are focused on what we can do internally at Concordia, both now and in the future, to better ensure an inclusive, respectful environment for everyone.
The mandate of STRIVE was complex, because the task force was asked to look at many intersecting issues that affect multiple groups in different ways. Inevitably, some findings in the final report reflect divergent perspectives that may seem contradictory at first glance. But overall, the report provides a nuanced understanding of the harm caused by identity-based violence at Concordia and in the wider society of which the university is a part. Importantly, it offers several proposals intended to support the university community in its efforts to address identity-based violence going forward.
I accept the call to establish an implementation and community response committee, which will be constituted in the coming weeks. Its primary mandate will be to help us consider the recommendations, prioritize possible next steps and explore how existing resources can be leveraged for greater impact. The committee will communicate updates as it is able.
In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to the STRIVE co-chairs, the subcommittee members and everyone who participated in the process. Given the difficult nature of the topics, I know the experience was not always easy. Your leadership, courage and willingness to share your insights are deeply appreciated.
The next phase of our work to prevent and tackle identity-based violence begins now. Thank you for your ongoing support of this initiative as we continue the work to encourage a shared culture of respect, understanding and care at Concordia.
Graham Carr
President and Vice-Chancellor