Dignity During a Pandemic: No One Left Behind – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode looks back on our past conversations. Thank you so much for your support and continued engagement. 

Music by Micky Pop - Hopscotch. Transition music by Podington Bear - Shapeshifters. 

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

Until next time!

The final interview of Dignity During a Pandemic looks at dignity, identity and the realities of increased racism for many in the wake of a global pandemic. Stay tuned next week to hear a recap of all the amazing contributors! 

In this week’s episode, Wen talked to Elaine Tran, a sociology student at Macewan University, volunteer and organizer with many local community initiatives. Elaine is a JHC Roots4Change team member, working with other youth to build advocacy tools to encourage their peers to understand and claim human rights principles to push for change. Here, we learn more about Elaine's understanding of dignity and identity through her lived experience.

To learn more about Roots4Change and the incredible team check out their ‘zine or JHC's website.

Music by Micky Pop - Dagger Skies.

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

Episode two honours the strength and commitment of people with disabilities to speak their truth and push for human rights and radical inclusion.

Maigan van der Giessen and Wen Chan spoke with disability rights educator, Roxanne Ulanicki (she/her). Roxanne is a former paralympian athlete, long time advocate and a person living with a disability. She’s a strong voice of advocacy, dignity and leadership on behalf of her community. Here, we talked with her about her work in disability justice and how the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting Roxanne and her peers.

To hear more from local folks on the deep impacts of poverty, particularly for persons living with disabilities, check out these videos from the YEG Dignity Campaign 2018:

• YEG DIGNITY: Nothing About Us Without Us, Poverty
• JHC DIGNITY: Nothing About Us Without Us: Independence & Accessibility

Music by Alby - Fed Up.

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

This Dignity Day we are launching the YEG Dignity Campaign 2020 with a podcast! The first episode of the Dignity During a Pandemic Podcast honours the important work being done in our local communities and the people who do it.

Maigan van der Giessen has a conversation with Shima Aisha Robinson (she/her) aka Dwennimmen, a poet, community organizer, and activist to name a few. Here, Maigan and Shima talked about Camp Pekiwewin, an anti-police violence, emergency relief, and prayer camp with a harm reduction approach for houseless people and those sleeping rough. Pekiwewin Camp is led by Indigenous 2 Spirit women and femme folks working in solidarity with Black, LGBTQ2S, and settler allies.

Camp Pekiwewin’s demands can be found on their website. You can follow them on their Instagram and Twitter, and find information on how to donate to Pekiwewin, here. Linked is the CBC article on Camp Pekiwewin by Jordan Omstead.

The audio pronunciation clip of amiskwaciwâskahikan was generously provided by Mallory Yawnghwe.

Music featured is by Faves - Growth ft. Aliza J. Dubs.

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

The tenth episode of Dignity During a Pandemic takes time to check in with the experience of COVID-19 for young people and families. We hear how quarantine has changed everyday habits and helped grow a bigger understanding of what dignity means from both older and younger voices.

Maigan connects us with her twin sister, Lana Gilday, a sexual health educator and nurse who was visiting family in Yellowknife, NorthWest Territories this summer. We caught up with Lana and the kids Sahtu, Dov, Lhasa, and Saffia over the summer while they were visiting family in Yellowknife. We were glad to include their voices and hear some reflections from the next generation.

To hear some wonderful music by Jay Gilday, check out. https://jaygilday.bandcamp.com/releases

Music by Micky Pop - Pisces. Transition music by Erick Gallun - Calm.

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

The ninth episode of Dignity During a Pandemic continues with insights from persons from the disability community. This is part two, if you haven’t yet, go back and listen to episode 8 first.

In this week’s episode, members of two local organizations working to support and connect folks with disabilities: Gateway Association and The Self Advocacy Federation. We hear what joy and humour, arts and advocacy, and what has been learned through the pandemic so far.

Gateway Association is a family resource centre and employment centre that provides education, support, mentorship and inclusive employment for the disability community.

The Self Advocacy Federation is an organization made up of people with disabilities, that works to help people understand their rights and show them how to stand up for themselves, through education and advocacy.

Music by Alby - Fed Up

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

The eighth episode of Dignity During a Pandemic hears from persons from the pan-disability community who came together to discuss the importance of dignity and what it means to them. Due to the many voices present and important perspectives raised, this will be a two part episode.

In this week’s episode, we hear from members of two local organizations working to support and connect folks with disabilities: Gateway Association and the Self Advocacy Federation. Here, we have Heath Birkholz interviewing his peers about dignity through a disability lens. Hear from Tara Mitrovic, Amy Park, Jesse Andrew, Julie Heffel, Kristen Bolduc, Barbra Oseemeemow, Daisy Stacey, and Sara Symington.

Gateway Association is a family resource centre and employment centre that provides education, support, mentorship and inclusive employment for the disability community https://gatewayassociation.ca.

The Self Advocacy Federation is an organization made up of people with disabilities, that works to help people understand their rights and show them how to stand up for themselves, through education and advocacy http://www.selfadvocacyfederation.ca.

Music by Growth ft. Aliza J-Dubs

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

Episode seven of Dignity During a Pandemic looks at dignity, the right to mobility and the fight for free transit in Edmonton and beyond.

In this week’s episode, we hear from Wren Christianston, an organizer with Free Transit Edmonton. Wren shared their experiences as a community organizer fighting for a fare free, safe, and just transit system. Hear about how they have mobilized art in their campaign and how the intersections of art and organizing can work in tandem.

To learn more about the good work being done by Free Transit Edmonton and how this work is intrinsically connected to others struggles for racial, social, and environmental justice, check out their website at https://freetransitedmonton.ca.

Music by Zaccardi - The Plan

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

In episode six, we hear from a community advocate on realities of racism, criminalization and the importance of justice and human dignity.

Maigan talks to Mahamed Accord, a local advocate fighting for issues of justice and law enforcement reform; youth rights; victims’ rights; and against social, economic, and cultural barriers. Mahamed is the founder and CEO of Taccalusa Institute and a founding member of the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights. Mahamad uses his voice to speak up for African Canadians and bring important human rights and equity issues to light.

To learn more about Mahamad Accord’s advocacy work, follow these links.

https://www.facebook.com/taccalusainstit/

https://www.coalition4jhr.org

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-african-canadian-community-divided-over-allegations-of-police-discrimination

Music by Micky Pop - Dagger Skies

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.

Episode five sheds light on community responses to food and housing insecurity and how these needs are made even more real by the pressures of a global pandemic.

In this week’s episode, Wen talks to Rosa Janewski (she/her), an organizer with Food Not Bombs Edmonton, frontline worker, and volunteer advocate for people sleeping rough and those who are unhoused. Listen, to hear how Rosa’s work, and her insights, based on her first-hand experiences, shape what dignity looks like for her.

To learn more about the work of Food Not Bombs Edmonton, check out their Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about Food Not Bombs, you can visit the global website to find a chapter near you or learn more about their history.

Music by Micky Pop - Pisces. To hear more music from Micky, check out his Soundcloud!

Thank you to our funders, the City of Edmonton and the Family and Community Support Services program.