Supporting Black Students: A community-informed guide to navigating Ontario’s education system
Delta Family creates a report with helpful tools, information and support for Black families
- Sabrina Ramroop
Five students taking a photograph together
Photo provided by Delta Family Resource Centre
Summer is winding down and the familiar back-to-school routine is now beginning. It’s a season marked by the frantic race for school supplies, earlier bedtimes and new timetables. As some families prepare for an exciting new year, many others are learning how to navigate Ontario’s complex educational system.
Families may be asking themselves: How do you know whether your child should be in academic, applied or special education programs? What rights do you have if you believe your child is being treated unfairly? And who do you voice your concerns to if your child is facing harsh punishment, like suspension or expulsion?
For some Black families, these questions aren’t hypothetical; they reflect real, recurring obstacles that can shape a child’s educational experience. Without the tools or resources, it can be hard to find the answers to these questions. That’s why Delta Family Resource Centre (Delta Family) chose to address these challenges head-on.
Rooting the research in Canadian experiences
DAYO Media & Communications Inc. (DM&C) was first approached by Delta Family’s former executive director, Kemi Jacobs, to develop a vital tool that supports their initiative. That tool became Supporting Black Students at School, a resource guide designed to help Black families understand their rights, navigate Ontario’s education system and access the resources available to them. Delta Family recognized the gap in having a resource that reflected the real experiences and needs of the community. They reached out to us because they were familiar with our culturally-informed communications work as well as our collaborations with Canadian partners in the advocacy and education space.
Together, Delta Family and the SFAs conducted focus groups, interviews and surveys with community members and service providers. These conversations revealed the real challenges that Black families are facing and highlighted the information they need most to succeed. The insights gathered from this research shaped the guide, ensuring it was practical, relevant and community‑driven.
“Our role was to ensure that the final product reflected Delta Family’s values while integrating the lived experiences shared throughout the research phase. We were proud to bring our expertise to a resource guide that informs, empowers and reflects the Black and racialized communities it was designed to serve," says Dayo Kefentse, Founder & Managing Director of DM&C.
Building the guide
For this project, we collaborated with Shellene Drakes-Tull, a long-standing DM&C contributor. During the writing process, we prioritized clear, accessible language to ensure the guide could be easily understood by youth, caregivers and community members alike.
“Our kids need support," shares Shellene. "Not just resources, but a community of people who look like them and understand their experiences. They deserve guidance throughout their school years, and my hope is that students and parents can find the information and connections that will carry them through the year ahead.”
The result is a comprehensive, community‑informed resource that equips families with the knowledge they need to navigate Ontario’s education system with confidence and ease.
Get in touch with Delta Family to read the full guide.
About the organization
Delta Family Resource Centre
Delta Family Resource Centre (Delta Family) is a B3 organization (Black-led, Black mandated and Black serving) situated in Northwest Toronto which, in addition to offering programs which engage, empower and heal Black communities in the GTA, also delivers a range of services which equip residents of Northwest Toronto with tools to navigate life and thrive. For more information on Delta Family, please visit www.dfrca.ca
Project team
Dayo Kefentse – Managing Director
Natassia Morris – Project Manager
Shellene Drakes-Tull – Head Writer
Aryana Singh – Marketing Coordinator
Curtis Hannam – Junior Public Relations Assistant
