Candid Conversations with the CBSA: Recent Episodes
Concordia Black Student Association
We're dedicated to embracing, empowering and cultivating black culture and students at Concordia University. This podcast is meant to shed light on fellow Black Professionals that reside here in Canada, as well as highlight their path to their successes. We will be talking all things related to their upbringings, their careers, and (?) . It's not all bureaucracy, as we expect to have fun conversations about our identities and what they mean to us.
To tie in the end of this season, Hermella & Lily sit down with Dr. Bukutu, the professor responsible for overseeing the Concordia Black Student Association. Our hosts took the time to discuss Dr. Bukutu's history in Edmonton, her work as Director of Public Health at CUE, the goals she had in mind when bringing CBSA to fruition, as well as her hopes for its progression in the coming years, with the current executive team graduating. As the semester winds down and we prepare for graduation, this episode holds a dear place in the exec team's heart. Tap in and join us for our final episode of the year!
Welcome back to this week's episode where Ijoema and Vinny sit down with founder of BOM YEG Rochelle Ignacio. They share a conversation about the non traditional paths that BOM has taken to become a volunteer-led initiative, starting a business in the heart of the pandemic, working together with the local community to bring new ventures to the black community, as well as conquering goals in ways not expected. Tune in to hear an extraordinary conversation about the importance of supporting local, and the beauty that lies in helping your community.
After a long-winded hiatus, Kalkidan and Naomi are back with artist Jamelle Davis to talk about his artistry as well as his basketball career. Originally from London, Jamelle shares his story about moving to Canada, taking painting more seriously, playing basketball at a high level, as well as the beginning of his work with AB Youth, and being apart of the Edmonton community. Tune in to an insightful conversation with our host from Paint Night!
This episode, Kalkidan and Lily sit down with Dr. Belayneh virtually to have a chat about his experiences as a doctor as well as the President and Co-Founder of the Teddy's Outreach foundation. He discusses academia as a black student in the medical field in Alberta, the importance of mentorship and its' impact on youth, and acknowledge the importance of sticking to your passion and purpose. Join our executives for a fantastic episode!
For the first episode of 2022, Hermella and Ijoema have a sit down with non-profit founder Ufuoma Muwhen to talk about all things Sickle Cell! She shares stories about her personal fight with Sickle Cell Disease, the significance of starting NotJustYou, the battles that come with being a black woman seeking health care, and the importance of awareness amongst the black community. Tune in for an insightful episode to kick off the year!
For our last episode of this semester, the girls sat down together discuss the immense growth we've seen since the beginning of the Concordia Black Student Association. Lily, Hermella, Kalkidan and Ijoema shared stories about creating safe spaces in universities, finding your community, and the importance of black students standing up for the things they want to see when they feel underrepresented. Lastly, they wrap up with their favourite podcast episodes since the beginning of Candid Conversations, and what they hope to see in the coming years from future CBSA council
This week, Ijoema and Naomi sit down with 3 time Olympian Angela Whyte to talk everything sports. We talked all things competition, finding the balance between being an athlete and focusing on school, the importance of community, and how to stay grounded within an arena so demanding. Tune into a riveting conversation about what it means to stand tall and find your people.
This week, Ijoema and Kalkidan sit down with Entrepreneur Keenan Pascal to talk all things business. Being someone who has made several shifts in his career, Keenan had a lot of insightful gems about when he felt it was time to move up the ranks at ATB, moving full time to becoming an entrepreneur, and the difficulties that come with growing a start-up as a black man, in a predominantly white sector. Tune in for an insightful conversation!
This week, Lily and Vinny sit down with MLA David Shepherd to discuss all things local. Having grown up in Edmonton, Shepherd shared some of his earliest passions and joys, while also diving into politics, mental health and the agency and motivation of our youngest generation.
Tune in to bask in some of his knowledge and wisdom.
On our first podcast of the season, we have Concordia Alumni Andrew Parker here to chat with Lily and Hermella about what community means to him. They discuss the importance of sports among youth in our communities, the changes in Edmonton as he's grown into an adult, co-founding the Black Teachers Association of Alberta, working to impact the curriculum from the ground up, and all the brilliance that comes with age. Tune in!
This Week, executives Kalkidan Tafesse and Glenn Omwega sit down with Concordia alumni & Software Engineer Eddy Essien to discuss all things finding your place. From staying at a company too long to knowing how to put yourself out there, these three talk about what it's like working a career after university.
This episode is a sit down with Naomi Otogbolu and Vinamrara Arora and Dr. Bukola Salami, an associate professor at the faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. They discussed choosing a path of nursing over medicine, and her decision to focus on research on immigration policy and mental health for black individuals. She talks about navigating her work through the pandemic, as well as making way for herself to succeed.
This week's episode is with Ingabe Gashayija is a conversation worth all the ears. Executives Hermella & Kalkidan dive into what its like running a project meant to support black women, coming from immigrant parents and navigating life as a young women, and wanting to feel confident within ourselves.
This episode features a conversation between Lily Woldeabzghi and Ijoema Webonga & Kelechi "Kaycee Madu" Kaycee is a Nigerian-Canadian Lawyer who is the current Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta. Our interviewers discuss moving to Canada at the beginning of his career, his reasons in choosing Alberta and some wonderful advice about how to push our youth forward!
This first episode, both executives Hermella Haile and Ijoema Webonga have a conversation with Edmonton Local Jesse Lipscombe about his roots in Edmonton, his journey and success to an acting career, and the drive to start the #MakeitAwkward campaign. While they shared laughs about his goals, and things he wishes he would have done differently, he discussed how his parents are his inspiration, and that nothing stops us from doing what makes us happy, except ourselves. Jesse offered a lighthearted conversation while also sharing an ample amount of gems we can all learn from.