The Centre for Black Excellence and Belonging is fundamentally an identity-affirming space for Black individuals, specifically those with roots in the African diaspora, whether through direct ancestry or through their experiences with the historical and ongoing effects of colonialism and the slave trade. They include but are not limited to those who are of African descent, African Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, and Afro-Indigenous members of the UTM community. The Centre for Black Excellence and Belonging serves as an academic, cultural, and community hub for Black individuals at UTM, acting as both a platform for and a liaison to the broader university community in ensuring the University of Toronto Mississauga is a place where Black knowledge, experiences, and identities are respected, celebrated, and empowered to thrive.

The CBEB space is designed to be:

Rooted in the guiding principles of the Scarborough Charter signed by the University of Toronto and dedicated to the commitments of the University of Toronto’s Anti-Black Racism Taskforce, CBEB aims to enhance the positive experience and holistic well-being of the university’s Black communities from across the African diasporas. The Centre for Black Excellence and Belonging direct opportunities for collaboration, scholarly excellence, and mentorship through culturally informed engagement and programming while providing insights into navigating campus supports and services CBEB also maintains strong connections with the Office of the Vice President and Principal, UTM; the Black Research Network (BRN), the Centre for Student Engagement, the UTM Career Centre; Office of Advancement, UTM’s Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation (OVPRI); and UTM’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office.

It is a deliberate step in response to the commitments of the Report of the University of Toronto Task Force on Anti-Black Racism to promote Black inclusive spaces (Recommendations 4.2, 5.1, and 5.2) and the UTM Black Flourishing Framework strategic priorities centered on Building a Culture of Belonging, Supporting Community Engagement and Dialogue, and Increasing Black Visibility and Impact.

Purpose: The Centre for Black Excellence and Belonging is where Black knowledge, experiences, and identities are respected, celebrated, and empowered to thrive at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

2. The user must leave the space in the same condition that it was in prior to booking. Damage caused by the user, or the user leaving the space in an unclean or messy condition, may result in Black at UTM/Department of Management charging the user for the costs for repairs, replacement of property, or cleaning.

3. The user must immediately report all damages to the space to Black at UTM (black.utm@utoronto.ca).

4. The user assumes responsibility for anyone they admit to the space during their allocated time(s).

5. The user must comply with all UTM rules and directions respecting the space and all university policies (https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/).

6. The Department of Management and/or Black at UTM retains the right to reschedule, cancel, or terminate a booking or not accept further bookings for inappropriate conduct or breach of these rules by users.