Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine - 29

Pushing for equity
Eunice Kays Yeboah addressing racism
A DELIBERATE CHOICE to come to Seneca has helped pave
the way for graduate Eunice Kays Yeboah's unique career
opportunity with Canada's largest transit provider. Mrs.
Yeboah is the first person to fill the position of policy
consultant for anti-racism at the Toronto Transit Commission
(TTC).
As part of TTC's new racial equity unit, she is contributing
to the development of an anti-racism strategy
and working to apply a racial equity lens to the hiring
process. This includes a new policy addressing antiBlack
and anti-Indigenous racism and all forms of discrimination
toward other racialized communities.
While the TTC has been supportive of her work,
Mrs. Yeboah says she has faced pushback during
her years of anti-Black racism work prior to joining
the organization.
" Some people ask, 'Why are we focusing on Black
and Indigenous communities?', " she said. " Meanwhile,
we know Black people are more likely to be stopped and
ticketed. From my own personal experience, I know
people move and act a little bit differently because of
the colour of my skin. "
When she was in high school, her guidance counsellor
advised her to go to college and " take applied courses "
instead of going to university.
" The underlying message I got was that I wasn't
capable of doing well, or university wasn't the best
option for someone like me, " said Mrs. Yeboah, who had
wanted to go to law school. " I was being discouraged to
pursue academic courses. I really wanted to go to college
to prove that I could do just as well and that I was
just as smart. For me, it was a very conscious decision
to come to Seneca. "
Through Seneca's Liberal Arts University Transfer
diploma program, Mrs. Yeboah completed a bachelor's
degree in business and society at York University while
also obtaining a professional certificate in public administration
and law. From there, she earned a master's
degree in public policy from the Munk School of Global
Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
" Seneca was a training ground for my master's
degree, " she said. " My professors were great at guiding
me, and I had an enriching experience. "
In addition to her role at the TTC, Mrs. Yeboah
is Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of the
Canadian Black Policy Network and the Toronto Black
Policy Conference. These experiences have shown her
that change, in general, is not easy to accept. " There's an
education component, " she said. " It's about storytelling. "
From my own
personal experience,
I know
people move and
act a little bit differently
because
of the colour of
my skin.
RED 2021
29
PHOTO: ELVIS YEBOAH
Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine
