Equity Conference 2022: Dr. Cecil Canton on Dream Work Making the Team Work

“We are the hero in our own story.”

Words from one of CFA’s great heroes, Dr. Cecil Canton, encapsulated his closing keynote ceremony at Equity Conference 2022.

Titled “Dream Work Makes the Team Work,” Canton reflected on his last 20 years as a CFA activist, by flipping the phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work.” As in his book “Journey Toward a More Perfect Union,” Canton highlighted how having a dream for a more perfect tomorrow can help colleagues and organizations transform.

“This is the story of the CFA dream and how the team came together to make the dream come true,” Canton said. “… And now we have dreams that are much bigger. I love that and I love that we’re evolving, and we keep dreaming, and we keep embracing because we’re embracing many, many more people.”

At the end of Canton’s presentation, CFA President Charles Toombs announced a statewide honoring of the former Board of Director member and chair of the then-Council for Affirmative Action. CFA named the CFA headquarters meeting room the Dr. Cecil E. Canton Social Justice Room to honor Dr. Canton’s irreplaceable and long-lasting contributions to CFA’s transformation to a social justice union.

“We wouldn’t be here without you letting us take part in the dream. You mentored so many of us and taught us how to do social justice union work,” Toombs said about Canton.

Canton’s full presentation and honoring announcement can be viewed here.

Once uploaded, the full Equity Conference library can be viewed on CFA’s YouTube channel or on the Equity Conference page of our website.