Educational Equity Podcast: Equity for Students Living in Low Sociodemographic Neighbourhoods

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring:

Yvonne Kelly is a Social Worker (BSW, MSW) with a focus on community and systems. She is currently a Community and Partnership Developer with the Inclusive School and Community Services Department of the York Region District School Board. Yvonne has 30 years of experience in community development, social justice, advocacy and equity work, largely in school based settings. She is currently Co-Chair of the Social Planning Council of York Region, Co-Chair of the Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region and past Chair of the Social Planning Network of Ontario from 2019-2024. She was the Co-Lead of a Community of Practice within the Knowledge Network for Student Well-Being that examined the impacts of low-income on students and families. Yvonne has participated on the steering committees ofseveral organizations and grassroots coalitions advocating for adequate income, equity and fairness for all. Yvonne is committed to working with diverse groups and sectors to find common purpose.

Maria Y.M. Yau, founder of EquiFair Research Consulting, was a senior researcher withthe Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for over 30 years. Among her many projects, she helped pioneer and conduct three rounds of TDSB’s Student and Parent Census, collecting population-based data on student demographics, in- and out-of-school experiences, and well-being. This periodic system data collection was instrumental in supporting the board’s equity agenda. Maria was also responsible for designing and implementing the annual school reviewprocess for TDSB’s Model Schools for Inner Cities (MSIC) program. With the use of multiple outcome indicators and measures, MSIC schools and the system were informed of the needs and strengths of their students, as well as their academic and well-being progress over time. Maria’s other research at the TDSB included the Early Development Instrument (EDI), multi-year evaluations of such equity programs as Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, Beyond 3:30 After-school Program, and Model Schools Paediatric Health Initiative. After her tenure with the TDSB, Maria has been commissioned to support other school boards and independent schools in their identity-based data work toward the advancement of equity in education.

Michael Kerr is a community development worker and equity and human rights advocate now serving as Coordinator with Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change – the racial justice education and advocacy network in Ontario. He also taught for 15 years at Seneca College in the Social Service Worker program.Having worked in a number of capacities with several newcomer settlement and refugee advocacy groups and organizations over many years, as well as being active in a broad spectrum of equity, human rights & racial justice advocacy efforts and community-based campaigns – he was also the Coordinator ( for its first five years ) of the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada – NARCC ( 2001-2006 ). Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change is a joint province-wide effort by a growing number of groups, agencies and organizations – ethno-specific and other health and social service providers as well as human rights, anti-racism and racial justice advocacy-minded groups and individuals – jointly working to address and redress the growing racialization of poverty and other related expressions of colour-coded inequality and marginalization – of both First Peoples and peoples of colour – and for racial equity, human dignity and social justice more generally across Ontario.

In this podcast, participants shared their perspectives on equity for students living in low sociodemographic neighbourhoods. The discussion was guided by the following questions: 

1. What are some promising approaches to enhancing equity for students living in low sociodemographic neighbourhoods in elementary schools (ages 4-13)?
2. What are some of the challenges that you/your organization has experienced in working to enhance equity for students living in low sociodemographic neighbourhoods in elementary schools?
3. In your view, what actions can be taken by education stakeholders in enhancing equity?

A transcript for this podcast episode can be found on the ‘Podcasts’ page of the Educational Equity Symposium website.