Two York Regional Police members are being recognized for their efforts in making the organization and community more inclusive through the annual Portraits of Giving project.
Sgt. Mina Rahravan and strategic communications specialist Susan Gibbs are the 2022 YRP honourees for the annual photography exhibit and awards by founder Karen Merk to celebrate individuals making a positive difference in their community.
Rahravan, who serves in the diversity, equity and inclusion bureau, and Gibbs, a civilian member in the communications department, are being celebrated for their work to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Their efforts have included introducing additional training within the force, organizing community outreach events, shifting perspectives within the service, and encouraging people to be their authentic selves.
At the Portraits of Giving event at YRP headquarters, Chief Jim MacSween said that Gibbs and Rahravan bring out the best in all of us.
“I really believe leadership is about leading from here,” he said, pointing to his heart. “We can all be thoughtful in the way we lead but the work that both Susan and Mina are doing really is leading from the heart. Doing what’s right, having the courage to stand up for those who are sometimes vulnerable in the community and marginalized, and making us all understand what it really means to be a great organization and taking the steps forward to make us all better as an organization and a community.”
Gibbs is an ally to the 2SLGBTQ+ community rather than a member, but her work is motivated by her personal experiences with her brother who she said was bullied and beat up a lot at school.
He eventually came out, but she said "because he wasn’t loved and accepted, he made some poor decisions looking for love and acceptance."
Her brother contracted HIV at the age of 19 and died when he was 24, which has motivated her to work and prevent anyone from being bullied or excluded as "it can lead to bigger consequences, like life altering, life ending consequences.”
Through her and Rahravan's work, Gibbs said she has noticed improvement at YRP. She said more members are coming out and more members are seeking training about creating positive, safe spaces.
Out of 2,300 members, she said almost 1,000 have done additional inclusion training, beyond what they are taught in police academy or their basic training.
She has also seen YRP members and the community at large getting more involved, especially through outreach events like a Love is Love youth dance they hosted recently.
Gibbs said being honoured through Portraits of Giving is really meaningful because it calls more attention the the work they are doing.
"We want everybody to feel that they can thrive as their authentic selves because if you’re always trying to hide or cover up and you can’t freely talk about it, then you don’t have an opportunity to shine," she said.
Rahravan was unable to attend the ceremony but Gibbs accepted certificates on their behalf from the offices of MP Tony Van Bynen, MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy, and the Town of Aurora. She was also presented with flowers and other gifts.
Their portrait is on display the the YRP headquarters in Aurora. Typically, the Portraits of Giving photos are black and white, but at the request of Gibbs, the YRP logos in their photo are in rainbow colours as a sign of inclusion.
