Organizing for racial and economic justice during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences from the Chinese Canadian community in Toronto

Abstract

In this article, I share my experiences involved in organizing around racism and for social and economic justice broadly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article specifically focuses on some of my experiences involved in a small, grassroots, community-based organization with a focus on anti-racism, workers’ rights and social justice as the Executive Director at the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (hereafter CCNCTO)  from July 2018 to May 2021. CCNCTO is an organization of Chinese Canadians in the City of Toronto that promotes equity, social justice, inclusive civic participation, and respect for diversity. CCNCTO has an extensive history working in racial justice and advocacy including being a key part of the coalition for winning redress for Chinese head-tax survivors from the Canadian government.