First Black leader of a Federal Party in Canada: COLLABORATION lesson (Reading Response Article 008)

This informational text is about Collaboration and how diverse leadership can help

Annamie Paul is the first Black person to be the leader of a federal political party in Canada. She won the leadership race for the Green Party of Canada in October 2020.   

The take-away message is that collaboration happens when you have a group of people working together towards a common goal or objective and they create something new – it could be a new solution to a problem, a new understanding of an issue, or a new plan to reach a goal.

But the key is that the answer can’t be already known – it is created by the group collaborating together. (If the answer is already known by the leader and they’re simply “guiding” or “facipulating” people to the answer, then this is probably an example of coordination, and not collaboration.)

Real collaboration is where everyone’s input has a real chance in shaping the answer. Any group member’s idea might add to the key that helps unlocks the puzzle. So, in this case, having a diverse point of view gives us more chances to create something very new.

5 Things you need to know:

1. Annamie Paul was elected by members of the Green Party of Canada to become their leader.
2. The Green Party is a federal political party focused on non-violence, sustainability, social justice, ecological wisdom, participatory democracy, and respect for diversity.
3. She is the first Black leader of any federal political party in Canada. 
4. People called and texted Annamie Paul saying what a difference it made for them that she was elected.
5. Annamie Paul received verbal abuse for being Black as well as for being Jewish.

Watch the following 2 videos:

Video #1

Here is a video clip released by the Green Party of Canada congratulating Annamie Paul on winning their 2020 Leadership Contest: https://youtu.be/WWNzeiUiJC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNzeiUiJC4

Video #2

Here is a video interviewing Annamie Paul about growing the Green Party https://youtu.be/hgledFWyxMY

https://youtu.be/hgledFWyxMY

5 Quotes to think about

Quote #1:

“Annamie Paul is Canada’s first Black leader of a federal party. She says it shouldn’t have taken this long”

SOURCE: Title of article for CBC Radio The Current Oct 5, 2020

Quote #2:

“We need to do better because I shouldn’t represent so many firsts in 2020” 

SOURCE: Annamie Paul – Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Interview by Matt Galloway for CBC Radio The Current Oct 5, 2020

Quote #3:

“How are we going to build into the system, the kind of collaboration and cooperation that helped us avoid the worst during this crisis?  … we can’t let the people down because we need to be in the room on their behalf “

SOURCE: Annamie Paul – Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNzeiUiJC4

Quote #4:

“Symbolically, you know, I received calls from all over the country and text messages from people saying what a difference it made for them in terms of possibilities that they see for themselves and their children in politics.”

SOURCE: Annamie Paul – Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Interview by Ian Hanomansing for CBC News: The National Oct 4, 2020

Quote #5:

“…from a policy perspective, having diverse leadership helps to create better public policies.  So, this is just a huge win for people in Canada every time that it happens.”

SOURCE: Annamie Paul – Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Interview by Ian Hanomansing for CBC News: The National Oct 4, 2020

BONUS QUOTE:

“As a Black Jewish candidate, I’ve been subject to months of anti-Semitic & racist attacks. Party silence emboldened hate. It ends when I win”

SOURCE: Annamie Paul – leadership candidate for the The Green Party of Canada
Tweet by Annamie Paul on July 21, 2020

Green Leader – Collaboration Mini-Lesson

When we work in groups, there are three teamwork styles that people tend to use: collaboration, coordination and cooperation.

Collaboration is when a group of people work together to create something new. It can be a new solution to a problem, a new plan to reach a goal or a new understanding of a concept. 

In real collaboration, the solution isn’t already known to the group. It’s also important that anyone’s ideas could hold the key to unlocking the puzzle. Just because you’re working in a group doesn’t mean you’re collaborating. You might be coordinating or cooperating instead.

• If someone in the group is telling people what to do or guiding them to the “correct” answer, then this teamwork style is probably coordination. For example, a class discussion where the teacher is guiding students to the expected answer.
• If people in the group are sharing resources but they are focusing on their own part, then this is probably cooperation. For example, students working in a group to do an assignment, and they’re sharing answers or the textbook, but really everyone is trying to finish their own homework.

Look at the photo below. Use clues from the image to infer reasonable answers to the following questions

1. What makes this group of people a team? How did these people happen to be together at this moment of time? Do they have a shared goal or common objective?
2. How are these people organized? Are they organized randomly or does seating and location matter? Why did they choose to be where they are? 
3. How does this group make decisions? Who decides which questions to ask or which ideas to discuss? Do some people get to share ideas more than others? Is the decision making power equal or do some people have more say (clout) than others?

Who is in “charge” or “responsible” to get the job done? Is the answer already decided before the team meets? Who has the final say and does that ever change? Is the process to get the job done different from the process to make decisions? Does the person “in charge” have to get their way?

Collaboration Discussion Questions

Based on this Collaboration mini-lesson, how would you answer the following questions:  

1. Why does Annamie Paul becoming leader of the Green Party of Canada make a difference for some people?
2. Do people from different cultures, genders, or lived experiences have very different points of view?
3. Do different points of view help collaboration or get in the way?
4. What does diverse leadership mean? How might having diverse leadership help create better laws?
5. Annamie Paul says, “we can’t let the people down because we need to be in the room on their behalf.” Is she in a position where she can make a real impact?
6. The new leader of the Green Party also says having diverse leadership is “a huge win for people in Canada every time that it happens” Do you think it is a huge win, a minor win, or not really a win at all? Why do you think that?

Free Green Leader Collaboration Lesson Slideshow

Link to resources used in this article:

• Video: Annamie Paul, Leader of the Green Party of Canada – Green Party of Canada https://youtu.be/WWNzeiUiJC4 
• Video: Annamie Paul on growing the Green Party, making history – CBC News: The National https://youtu.be/hgledFWyxMY 
• Interview by Matt Galloway for CBC Radio The Current Oct 5, 2020
• Interview by Ian Hanomansing for CBC News: The National Oct 4, 2020
• Tweet by Annamie Paul on July 21, 2020
• Educircles Collaboration Lesson Plans

Tonight’s @CanadianGreens debate was interrupted by chat calling me “N*GGER” and another “F*cking jew”.

My kids were watching. As a Black Jewish candidate, I’ve been subject to months of anti-Semitic & racist attacks.

Party silence emboldened hate. It ends when I win.#cdnpoli

— Annamie Paul (@AnnamiePaul) July 22, 2020