Stories from Scarborough

Fatah Awil speaks about the non-profit organization Urban Alliance On Race Relations in regards to their work on race relations and creation of training sessions across Ontario. Fatah describes his position as a program coordinator of the Diversity Youth Fellowship, which encourages and supports youth from Muslim, Black, Tamil and Filipino groups to become politically involved by providing them with internship opportunities in City Hall. As a previous fellow of this program, Fatah discusses the impact of the Diversity Fellowship both on the fellows that are involved in this program and for their communities as these fellows bridge the gap between their communities and city counsellors and the Mayor. He talks about the support that the Alliance has been providing and the advocation work it has done during COVID-19 for minorities working in high-risk jobs such as nurses, as well as how it has impacted their social activism.

Craig Heron, as a former professor of working-class history at York University, highlights the link between activism and history. Craig discusses how the New Left has contributed to his political involvement in protests for the democratization of the university as a UofT student and later involvements in strikes as a faculty member at York University. Lastly, Craig touches upon his initiatives as the President of Toronto Worker’ History Project, especially in regards to the production of community plays that he wrote surrounding different historical themes such as the Russian Revolution and the Winnipeg General Strike.

A McMaster student of psychology and social work discusses the importance of mental health awareness and the difference between mental health and mental illness. The participant discusses different tools for building mental health awareness, including online resources, workshops, lived experience and conversations with peers. They also speak about cultural stigma and taboo surrounding mental illness and how mental health education continues to be taught from a colonial perspective.

Raagini Appadurai shares her experience with racism, coming as an immigrant from India at a young age, and her growing love for activism and ant-racism movements. As an educator, she speaks about confronting powers, gaining knowledge, and pursuing social equity, and how she solidly stepped into the field of activism in her high school years, providing a stable platform for herself and her peers to speak about matters pertaining to social justice.

Margaret McPhail talks about her experience as an activist, through her role as a secondary school teacher and staff member at the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO). She also describes her role on the International Women's Day Committee and with Organized Working Women.

Carla Neto speaks about her work as a social activist at Women's Habitat, working in a variety of positions for over 24 years and helping vulnerable women and children get the support they need. The focus of the interview is immigrant women and how Carla continues to assist these women.