Listening Beyond: Recent Episodes
School of Community and Public Affairs
Join Concordia University's School of Community and Public Affairs students as they get to know various changemakers and learn what it really takes to strive for social justice. In each episode, we speak to people trying to create a better world: the stories of their beginnings, the causes they hold dear, and the trials and tribulations of their work. Through oral history interviews, we aim to contribute knowledge and inspire change by connecting individual stories to broader social movements. Disclaimer: Some episodes delve into sensitive content that may be difficult for some listeners.
Join us for an insightful episode delving into the life experiences of Michael Frakas, a creative individual who uses his music and education to fuel activism within the Little Burgundy community, known for its crucial role in black culture in Montreal, Quebec.
Please be aware that this interview is done in French and English, covering sensitive topics like race, identity, drugs, and violence.
CONTENT WARNING: this podcast contains swearing and language concerning race that some may find offensive.
This episode presents an insightful interview with Vlada Polischuk, a dedicated Ukrainian activist who strongly advocates for the freedom of Ukraine. Vlada's childhood experiences served as a source of motivation for her fight for justice. Vlada works primarily from Montreal but takes every opportunity to travel to Ukraine, where she fights for various initiatives on the ground. "What I am doing is what we are supposed to do as civilians," she says, emphasizing the importance of her work beyond geographical limitations. Come along as we explore the complex picture of Vlada's life, her unwavering efforts to improve Ukraine, and her stance that collective action is a responsibility shared by all.
Links
-Vlada’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/f72404a0
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Denis Khrystoff Evacuation of civilians from tough locations. He also films a lot and shares English subtitles paypal:denisrudi83@gmail.com https://instagram.com/denis_khrystoff?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
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Artem Fysun a devoted volunteer. Brings aid there and provides full visibility (He will share his link) https://instagram.com/artem_fysun?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
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Unbroken Ukraine Prosthetics and medical aid for civilians including kids and military https://unbroken.org.ua/donate - Virni Zavzhdy (Loyal forever)
-To support families who have their loved ones in Russian captivity https://instagram.com/virni_zavzhdy?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
They can also write a message of support to Anastasia Ordynska who has her husband in captivity for over a year and a half https://instagram.com/nastyaordynska?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg==
- Second Front Ukraine Foundation Does a lot of work in support of Ukraine Based in Canada: https://secondfrontukraine.com/
In this episode, we interview the one and only Ted Rutland, associate professor at Concordia, about the Defund the Policemovement. Rutland has helped in the creation of the Defund the Police Coalition, and has published two books on the subject of crime and racial discrimination in Montreal. In this episode filled with personal stories, insightful examples, and unfiltered facts, we touch on what defunding the police would look like in Montreal, on what needs to be changed politically for that change to come about, and on how the media and ‘’copaganda’’ has affected the common perception of the police. We hope you enjoy this very informative episode!
In this episode, Adam Yahav, and Sawyer Kiernan-Parsons interview Concordia University PHD student T Braun to discuss the expression of gender identity in virtual reality spaces. The interview also takes a dive in Braun’s extensive history in drag performance, using drag as a resistance to the gender binary and as a vessel for their activism.
In this episode, Rylee and Eleanore talk to Celeste Trianon, Transfeminist jurist & activist - about her experiences with law school, activism, and navigating the internet as a trans person fighting for her community. All this is in face of, or perhaps in response to, the growing presence of anti-trans ideologies in Canada.
For information about the name change clinic: https://celeste.lgbt/en/
To follow Celeste and get updates on events:https://www.instagram.com/celestetrianon/?hl=en
This interview sheds light on the career of Suzan Simatos, a lifetime of learning, educating and empowering. She used her personal experience to become an educator fighting against human rights violations specifically related to children, First Nation, Inuit, and Metis people. Sue spent her career at LBPSC where she created a legacy that inspired many generations to learn, grow, and build meaningful reciprocal relationships. She created a framework for integrating indigenous history in the across the schoolboard by practicing gratitude, teaching the Great Law of Peace, and educating students about the Indigenous way of life. Sue participated in the Truth and Reconciliation commission process with her students and is passionate about implementing the 94 Calls to Action as a way of reconciliation and healing the generational trauma of Indigenous people.
In this episode, we share with you our guest’s story as an inspiring force for change, challenging norms and fostering social justice in our community. We had the pleasure and great opportunity to meet and get-to-know John Davids, a dynamic individual that is consistently keen to expand his knowledge base and demonstrates a genuine passion for learning. Having grown up in countries around the world, he is now putting his capabilities into a push for positive change in Montreal; John is currently working to contextualize the lives and experiences of Black anglophones at the Black Community Resource Center in Côte-des-Neiges. Without further ado, here’s our enlightening conversation with John Davids.
Veronica Jane “Vero” Bertiz joins Jon Marvin and Ariel at Concordia University for a conversation about intersectional activism through the lens of her lived experiences. Title inspired by Vero’s own podcast “Everything’s Political” (“Lahat Konektado” in Tagalog), this episode explores the realities of Filipinx community facing queer intersectionality and racism in Montreal. As an active community organizer, outspoken radio host, and passionate paralegal, Vero voices out the ongoing challenges of homonormativity, colonial mentality, and disturbing invisibility within her cultural community.Zine prepared by Jon Marvin Reyes and Ariel Pereira-Brunner:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFzuHH3fnw/ja_UlsHd6qjB7cCNp9MXgQ/watch
Stay connected with Vero:
Vero’s podcast – https://www.instagram.com/lahat_konektado_podcast/
Centre Kapwa – https://www.centrekapwa.org
Radyo Kapwa – https://ckut.ca/playlists/RY
In this episode, Silvia, Paula, and Martin have the pleasure of interviewing Carlos Arco. Through a series of questions regarding his life experience, the interviewers are able to explore how Carlos Arco carries out his activism through his passion for art. This conversation is a reminder that there is more than one way to be an activist and make a difference in one's own community. It also helps shed light on how activism can be part of one's own passion.
In this episode, we talk to Alexandra Pierre, activist and author of Empreintes de Résistance - a book of interviews with nine women of colour activists in Quebec - about her experiences within Quebec’s activist sector. In particular, we discuss the performative intersectionality of the province’s feminist movement, tensions within the Black activist community, and ancestries of resistance. This is a bilingual episode.
In this episode, interviewers Tamiah Bourgeois, Jelian Alcos and Anitha Sivaginesh will be interviewing Gisela Frias, a professor at Dawson College and doctor of geography, earned from McGill University. Gisela Frias shares her difficulties, achievements and hopes for the future generation in this insightful interview. As a second-generation activist, Gisela Frias has gained insight from her father, who was imprisoned in her early life for his activism. Born in Chile, Frias was born in 1969, where mobilisations for system change, in an effort to break free from imperialism, were prominent. Her father, involved in unions and movements, was imprisoned under dictatorship. Naturally, this was very hard for her as a child, however, this did not stop her from devoting her life to the greater good. When in university, Frias was engaged in sustainability action. She has also travelled back to Chile for her activism, aiding in social activism.
Now, Gisela Frias is a professor at Dawson College and a big part of the Dawson North South Studies program. This is how she helps the new generation become active in change. This program sends students to Cuba to learn more about the issues at hand. Frias has also created works of embroidery depicting her hard work which can be seen here. She hopes to share her gained knowledge with her students and spark meaningful impacts in their lives.
Below is some of the embroidery made by Giselas Frias;
Jean Hogue is the founder of the grocery store chain Co-op Alentour. Co-op Alentour are grocery stores that sell organic local products . Hogue, Co-op of Alentour’s president, has long been considered an activist for all the effort he puts into producing healthier products for people. As a niche farmer, it is difficult to compete with larger companies but Jean Hogue has maintained his ideology. His inspirations of producing local products started in Saint-Jerome, Laurentides, where he was exposed to agriculture at a young age. Jean Hogue and his siblings used to work with their parents and grandparents from a very young age in their farms. Their farms delivered local products to grocery stores.
We invited Jessica Quijano to Concordia's Webster Library, to talk about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit people. She has been involved in community work and activism for over two decades. Among her many roles she coordinated the Iskweu Project, which aims to reduce the number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit people of Quebec by filing a missing person's report, following up with police investigations, assisting family and friends in their search for loved ones, and much more. Jessica shares her views on activism, allyship, identity, the challenges she faced, and how people can get involved.
Content warning: This episode discusses violence against Indigenous women and may be disturbing for some listeners.
Anwar Alhjooj is a Palestinian Bedouin. He was born and raised in an unrecognized village in occupied Palestine/ Israel with no electricity, running water, or proper housing, and there he learned what injustice meant. He got his law degree in Italy and headed back to occupied Palestine/Israel to pursue his career, and there his activism began. As an Arab, Bedouin, and Palestinian he faced discrimination in court. He was never just a lawyer, he was always an Arab lawyer. He rarely got good cases or respect in court. Facing this discrimination he decided to stand up for Palestinian rights in the 48’ occupied territories, and the West Bank. He would now represent them in court and win cases despite the racism he was facing. In 2011, he came to Canada with his family where he did his Master's at McGill. He later began volunteering for Montreal City Mission and then got a job there as Assistant Director & Coordinator of Maa'n. Since then he has channeled all of his time into helping families integrate into Montreal, creating programs for newcomers, and most importantly empowering refugees and immigrants.
Links:
Montreal City Mission home page: https://www.montrealcitymission.org/
Montreal City Mission Canada helps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/montreal-city-mission/
Montreal City Mission camp Cosmos: https://www.campcosmos.org/
Montreal City mission Maan (catering and sewing): https://www.montrealcitymission.org/maa-n-together
CBC charity of the year Montreal City Mission: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/community/meet-our-2022-cbc-charities-of-the-year-1.6605884#:~:text=Montreal%20City%20Mission%20and%20Townshippers%20Foundation%20have%20been%20selected%20as,who%20are%20making%20a%20difference.
CBC Montrealer of the month Anwar Alhjooj: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montrealer-of-the-month-anwar-alhjooj-1.5823962
McGill Alumni News- A pillar of hope in the middle east, bridging communities Anwar Alhjooj: https://mcgillnews.mcgill.ca/s/1762/news/interior.aspx?sid=1762&gid=2&pgid=1667
In this episode, Arwa and Iléana interview Norman Nawrocki, a part-time professor at Concordia in Community Economic Development program, an artist, and an activist who participated in the Quebec Student Strike of 2012. The interview begins with a few questions about his personal perspective of life and what has brought him to where he is now in activism. Then the two students start getting into more details about the strike, asking questions about Norman's motivations to be part of it and what he took away from the experience.
Links/footnotes:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18267785-red
https://linktr.ee/normannawrocki
https://youtu.be/7bs--UT-5C0
L'action militante en matière d'éducation: Une entrevue avec Julie Robert par Arianne Chagnon, Melissa Spiridigliozzi et Shinder Virdi
Julie Robert est une enseignante de secondaire 5 en Monde Contemporain et en Droit, à l’école Polyvalente Sainte-Thérèse. Dans cette entrevue, Julie partage avec nous son univers en tant que militante pour le progrès social. Elle nous fait part de ses expériences professionnelles et ses méthodes d'enseignement qui permettent de développer l’esprit critique des jeunes; un aspect très important de son travail. Cet épisode explore la façon dont elle concilie ses idéologies sociales avec l’impartialité que requiert son titre d’enseignante dans le système éducatif.
On Militant Action in Education: An Interview with Julie Robert, by Arianne Michaud, Melissa Spiridigliozzi, and Shinder Virdi
Julie Robert is a secondary 5 Contemporary World and Law teacher at Polyvalente Sainte-Thérèse. In this interview, she draws from early exposures to Quebec sovereignty movements and her participation in anti-war protests, as she reflects on her identity as a “militante” for social change. This episode will explore how she reconciles her radical values with the implications of working within the education system, all while emphasizing the radical nature of education through instilling capacities for critical thinking.
In this episode, Cassandra, Milan and Lukas interview Ana Amaya, a member of a food security organization called Chic Resto Pop, a social economy enterprise. We begin the interview with a brief description of her childhood growing up in El Salvador and her family life, which has greatly contributed to her outworld paradigm and critique of political and economic systems.
Scott Adams & Abigail Lalonde interview lawyer and former CSU president Lex Gill, where she reflects upon her activism during Quebec's 2012 Student Strike. As we approach its ten-year anniversary, our conversation centres the strike and touches on opportunity in differences, lessons learned from SCPA, and the importance of grounding oneself in community.
Mr. Alix Adrien, advocate for educational reform for the English-speaking Black community, discusses collectivization and policy. We spoke to Mr. Adrien about his upbringing, mentorship with youth and involvement as the President of the Quebec Board of Black Educators (QBBE) as well as his earlier work with the Negro Community Center of Montreal (NCC). Throughout the interview Mr. Adrien highlights the various challenges and systemic barriers Black and other racialized students face in Primary & Secondary schools in Quebec, and what changes need to be made in order to achieve equity for these groups, focusing heavily on the importance of collective action. Mr. Adrien has a longstanding history of empowering and supporting youth to take on action and leadership roles in their own communities, coming from an upbringing that encouraged these same teachings and support.
Carolyn Gehr, better known as Ms. Gehr, is an Orthodox Jewish woman and teacher at a public English school in Montreal who took a stand against Bill 21 when it was proposed in 2019. Ms. Gehr shares what type of environment she fosters for her students, how she got involved in this movement, and her experience advocating for religious freedom in Quebec.
On this episode of Listening Beyond, Margo, Nathalie and Emilie chatted with David Chapman, the director at Resilience Montreal. Chapman reflects on his religious beginnings, recounts stories of his early work with Indigenous communities, discusses the difficulties of running a homeless resource in the middle of the city of Montreal, and speaks on his close relationship with the homeless community of Cabot Square.
For more information, please visit: https://www.resiliencemontreal.com/
Instagram: @resiliencemontreal
Twitter: @ResilienceMont1
In this episode, Daniel Pungaru and Valérie Séguin meet Nakuset, a Cree Indigenous advocate from Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan, and the executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. They interview Nakuset about her practice as an advocate and about systemic racism in Quebec healthcare’s system.
Director and screenwriter Sophie Deraspe's characters inspire us with their force of will and their righteous path in the face of repression. We sat down with Deraspe to talk about her celebrated heroine Antigone and her documentary, The Anima Profile. Though she doesn’t self-describe as an activist, Sophie’s catalogue of work moves us to act for fairness, challenge the status quo and break down divisions in our own community and beyond. With generosity, she shares her process, responds to her critics and gives thoughtful advice to the next generation of artists.
Our interviewee is Samuel Vanzin, graduating student of the school of community and public affairs who was an activist during the Quebec student protests of 2012 while studying at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal. This interview discusses a look back at the 2012 Quebec student protests, their impact on Quebec politics and education, as well as where the movement is today. He also touches on recent and past struggles with keeping the movement alive to this day, despite COVID making it harder to gather.
Finally, we learn about Samuel's life and activist journey and what led him to become the activist he is today.
In this episode, we interview Elysha Del Giusto-Enos on the intersections between activism, journalism, communications, and women’s rights. We discuss the process of creating a platform for communication and the implications this has for trying to make the world a better place. As women, we are often discouraged from speaking up and taking a stand against uncomfortable situations. Whether it’s at work, in school, or in any other setting, women have the right to feel safe and supported. Elysha’s communication campaigns and consultations over sexual violence response demonstrate the importance of working towards collective support for women, which we consider an essential aspect of activism.
Izzy Kamikaze grew up in a rural Catholic trade union household in the 1960s and spent the next five decades hellraising in and out of civil rights movements in Ireland. From the origin of the Pride marches in Ireland to the popular movement that successfully overturned the criminalization of abortion, Izzy talks about the constraints of institutionalizing activism and invites us to play “a few more wild cards” through her stories of provocative direct action.
Episode cover image by: Clodagh Boyd
Join Concordia University's School of Community and Public Affairs students as they get to know various changemakers and learn what it really takes to strive for social justice. In each episode, we will be speaking to notable people in the fight to create a better world: the stories of their beginnings, their education, the causes they hold dear, and the trials and tribulations of their line of work. Through oral history interviews, we aim to contribute knowledge and inspire lasting change by connecting individual stories to broader social movements.
Disclaimer: Some episodes delve into sensitive content that may be difficult for some listeners.
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Venez rejoindre les étudiant.es du programme de l’École des affaires publiques et communautaires de l’Université de Concordia et faites la connaissance de divers acteurs du changement social. Venez apprendre ce qu’il faut pour lutter pour la justice sociale. À chaque épisode, nous allons rencontrer des personnes remarquables et apprendre de leurs efforts pour créer un monde meilleur : leurs débuts, leurs parcours scolaires, les causes qui leurs tiennent à cœur et les épreuves qu’ils ont traversées. Sous forme d’histoire orale, nous visons à contribuer à la connaissance générale et inspirer du changement positif en reliant des histoires individuelles aux mouvements sociaux globaux.
Avertissement: Quelques épisodes peuvent contenir des sujets difficiles auprès de nos écouteurs.