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By Dimitrije Martinovic
Dimitrije is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTER
 
On May 12, 2024, a special Strategic Planning Meeting was convened by the Planning Committee of the Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) to address several issues. The Planning Committee's primary role is to provide strategic recommendations to the SDP Stakeholders Table. It is instrumental in guiding the overall direction and action priorities of the SDP by fostering inter-committee alignment, coordination, and active stakeholder and resident engagement.

Walied Kjogali Ali, an area resident and Co-Chair of several SDP committees facilitated the meeting. The central agenda included reviewing proposals for an SDP logo and a draft letter to the City of Toronto regarding SDP funding.

Regarding the logo design, the issue extended beyond aesthetics to the fact that discussions about an SDP logo had been ongoing for over four years without resolution. Adonis Huggins, Executive Director of Focus Media Arts Centre, presented a logo designed by a co-op student, featuring variations for black and white backgrounds. After some deliberation, three members expressed concerns, emphasizing that the design should originate from the community. Adonis Huggins argued that after four years, the community-based approach was ineffective, and a logo was urgently needed for SDP events like Sunday in the Park and Black History Month to be properly branded.

Ines Garcia, TCH Resident Co-Chair, one of the three concerned members, stressed that the logo should have a broad conceptual base. Elena Mehrzad Taghizaddeh, EED Co-Chair, offered her multi-layer design with symbolic meanings, while Michael Rosenberg, a Regent Park resident and community activist, also advocated for greater community involvement.

Walied concluded by recommending that previous logo designs be circulated among the different committees, with a decision to be made within the next 30 days.

The meeting concluded with the review of the letter to the City of Toronto, urging the release of 2024 funding, which is crucial for implementing the SDP action plan. Gail Lynch suggested that the funding request be moved to the beginning of the letter to clearly state its purpose upfront. Walied incorporated these changes, and the letter was approved without further amendments. The meeting closed off with reminders for upcoming meetings and general well wishes to each other by members of the meeting.