Six alumni among the students, faculty and staff recognized with IDERD anti-racism awards

A collage of images shows some of the winners of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination awards.

University of Toronto students, staff and faculty have been honoured with 2020 IDERD Impact Awards for their leadership and innovation in working towards the elimination of racism and the advancement of anti-racism.

The awards were announced at U of T’s fifth annual International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) conference.

Entisar Yusuf (MEd 2020) received the student leadership award (individual) in recognition of her work founding and leading the Black Graduate Students Association and her thesis research on Black graduate students navigating higher education.

“Anti-racism in action is building awareness and changing attitudes to provide universal equitable access,” Yusuf said.

Here is the full list of 2020 IDERD Award winners:

Student Leadership Award

(Individual) Entisar Yusuf (MEd 2020), master’s student in educational leadership and policy, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

(Group) Uncovering Racism in Rehabilitation Authorship Team (members: PhD candidate Llana James; master’s student Sally Abudiab (BSc 2016 UTSC, MSc 2020); and PhD candidate Samira Omar (BSc 2015 UTSC) – all of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine)

Administration Leadership Award

Sania Hameed (BA 2014 WDW, MEd 2018), career educator, career exploration and education, U of T Student Life

Academic & Research Award

Beverly Bain, professor, department of historical studies, U of T Mississauga

Strategic Innovation Initiatives Award

(Individual) Akwasi Owusu-Bempah (MA 2007, PhD 2014), assistant professor, department of sociology, U of T Mississauga

(Group) Enhancing Access Through Youth Community Partnerships (team lead: Danielle Dinunzio (BA 2008 TRIN), program co-ordinator, integrated learning and community engagement, Hart House)

Faith, Anti-racism & Change Award

Sofia Freudenstein, third-year student, Faculty of Arts & Science