Category: Social Justice Issues
Gun violence in Jane and Finch: Unpacking the Systemic Factors that Perpetuate Violence
Summer 2023 student led project by Enoch McAtee Abstract More than a disheartening statistic and stereotype – gun violence is a palpable force, and its repercussions reverberate, etching deep scars on the psyche of the Jane-Finch community. My Prophetic Voices— Reverend Sky Starr and Benjamin Osei—are indispensable in understanding the layered dimensions of gun violence. Their steady commitment to addressing violent crime through the lens … Continue reading Gun violence in Jane and Finch: Unpacking the Systemic Factors that Perpetuate Violence
2SLGBTQ+ Folks & Faith in Canada
Summer 2023 student led project by Nicholas Damiano Abstract Queerphobia and 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination have been issues that have been present in religious communities for a long time leading to exclusion and hatred of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals from these communities that has runoff into other aspects of the world. It is important to understand how religious communities have contributed to difficulties faced by the queer community and … Continue reading 2SLGBTQ+ Folks & Faith in Canada
Poverty and Homelessness in Toronto
Summer 2023 student led project by Reanne Kurien In the bustling metropolis of Toronto, where the allure of prosperity meets the stark contrast of economic disparities, a pressing and multifaceted issue persists- poverty and homelessness. My project delves into this issue, focusing on the intersection of social justice and faith. The Prophetic Voice I explored was Rick Tobias, a renowned advocate for the homeless and … Continue reading Poverty and Homelessness in Toronto
Deep Inequalities in our Treatment of Migrant Workers – Inequalities in our immigration system
27,000 migrants were invited to apply for permanent residency (PR) through the Express Entry system in March 2021. That’s a 440% increase from the previous round. Some of our members and friends can hope to qualify for PR now. Clearly, our calls for full and permanent immigration status are being heard. But this is not a simple good news story. Canada’s Express Entry system assigns … Continue reading Deep Inequalities in our Treatment of Migrant Workers – Inequalities in our immigration system
Matthew House: Case Studies in Faith-Based Social Service
About Matthew House OttawaMatthew House Ottawa was founded in 2010. The organization provides services to refugee claimants, offering them a temporary place to live in Ottawa, Ontario, and access to an established support network as they start their new life in Canada. Matthew House Ottawa also operates a Furniture Bank, from which marginalized households can furnish their homes for free with gently used items donated … Continue reading Matthew House: Case Studies in Faith-Based Social Service
Desmond Tutu and the prophetic 2002 – South Africa & Israel
Desmond Tutu was the former Archbishop of Cape Town and chairman of South Africa’s truth and reconciliation commission. This address was given at a conference on Ending the Occupation held in Boston, Massachusetts in 2002 There were few Christian clergyman like Desmond Tutu. He knew his Bible and embraced the Jewish prophetic which originated in Israel from approximately 1000 to 500 BCE. Israel’s leaders, radically secular and … Continue reading Desmond Tutu and the prophetic 2002 – South Africa & Israel
African American Spirituality & Song – I’m on my way to freedom land
In prayer we trust / By hope we live / On truth we stand / From our heart we give / Love. —Sweet Honey in the Rock Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon founded the iconic African American a cappella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, which has been performing for over forty years. In her book If You Don’t Go, Don’t Hinder Me, Dr. Reagon recounts … Continue reading African American Spirituality & Song – I’m on my way to freedom land
“The Challenge of Our Time” – Speaking on youth suicide & self-determination
“Natan Obed is the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national voice of Canada’s 60,000 Inuit. He is originally from Nain, the northernmost community in Labrador’s Nunatsiavut region, and now lives in Ottawa. For ten years he lived in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and worked as the director of social and cultural development for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the organization that represents the rights of Nunavut Inuit. He … Continue reading “The Challenge of Our Time” – Speaking on youth suicide & self-determination
Feeling Anxious About the Future? You’re Not Alone
This article was originally posted here. St. Mike’s alumnus Dr. Simon Appolloni is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s School of the Environment. His current research interest lies in understanding and utilizing pedagogies of hope that build resilience within students as they navigate paths toward sustainability. Simon has maintained his pre-doctoral volunteer work within the environmental-social justice not-for-profit sector. You’ve been hearing and … Continue reading Feeling Anxious About the Future? You’re Not Alone