Vaughan African
Canadian Association
"Providing innovative, sustainable programs and services for the
Black community in the City of Vaughan."
Message from our Executive Director
SHERNETT Martin, B.A., B.Ed., QDJ
Welcome to the Vaughan African Canadian Association
(We recently found out that the City of Vaughan was named after Benjamin Vaughan who was a slave-owner who owned slaves in Jamaica and who was against emancipation and has a horrid history against human rights' and justice. We can no longer carry a name of a slave owner within the name of our organization created to support African-Caribbean community. The Board members have agreed to a name change that will be revealed in the near future with a full logo, website, and foundational change. Stay tuned.)
On behalf of our Board of Directors and our members, I would like to welcome you to our website. Since 2003, we have served the African-Caribbean community in the City of Vaughan and York Region. This organization began with teachers who wanted to start an organization to offer tutoring programs for Black youths when they realized that our children were not succeeding in York Region schools. We started the S.T.A.R.T. Program (Saturday Tutorial and Remedial Teaching) which provided tutoring and remedial assistance for Black students in grades K-12 and prepared students for writing SSAT, SAT, MCAT and LSAT for Post-Secondary and Private school entrance.
As teachers, the goal was to fill the gaps that existed due to the inability of schools to adequately meet the needs of our children.
What started out as an educational program, soon evolved into programs for youths, families, seniors, advocacy, community partnerships, cultural programming and working to ensure that our voices were heard in the City.
Through partnerships with all levels of government, local businesses, charities, non profit organizations, and numerous agencies, VACA has grown to an organization that is respected and called upon to assist as an advocate for the Black community. We continue to fight against injustice, inequity, and racial discrimination while uplifting, supporting and protecting our greatest asset; our children. We provide a myriad of services, referrals and programs to meet the needs of the community. You can reach us at vaca@rogers.com
Follow us on Twitter @vacaorg CALL US AT (289) 474-5502 or Toll Free AT 1 (866) 472-3720
"Providing innovative and sustainable programs for the community."
Meet our Board of Directors
At the Ontario Library Association's Annual Education Conference when Justin Trudeau was not yet Canada's Prime Minister. We were both speaking at the event. I spoke about the importance of Linguistic Diversity and Justin Trudeau was our Keynote speaker. He was kind enough to take a picture with me.
Face to face with the beautiful and incomparable First Lady Michelle Obama. We brought 10 girls to hear
Mrs. Obama speak at the Economic Club of Canada.
The story of the first church built by Freed Slaves who fought in the War of 1812 and built the church in the Township of Oro-Medonte.
Executive Director, Shernett Martin with Vaughan/Woodbridge MP, Francesco Sorbara celebrating VACA's 15-year Anniversary.
