Polarizing Conversations

In our final episode of season 1, we have the honour of being joined by Michelle Brass to discuss the guiding question, ‘what makes reconciliation a polarizing topic?” Michelle is a speaker, writer, and health and wellness coach deeply committed to the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities. She’s the creator of the SHAWL Program, a health and wellness program that leads people to become Sustainable Health and Wellness Leaders (SHAWL), and eventually SHAWL Certified Facilitators within their communities. The program addresses the aspects of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, rooted in an Indigenous approach to community well-being, and leads participants to make long-lasting changes in their lives to improve the health and healing of our people and our Mother Earth. As a former journalist, she loves to read and research my areas of interest, especially in health, wellness, and Indigenous food systems. Over the course of her previous career, she was a TV and radio reporter, editor of an Indigenous youth magazine, newspaper columnist, news/talk radio host and a CBC Radio host. Michelle is a proud member of the Yellow Quill First Nation (Saulteaux/Anishnaabe) and resides in Treaty Four Territory in Saskatchewan, Canada. You can read more about Michelle here: https://www.michellebrass.com/site/about and learn more about the SHAWL program. Please join us for this deep conversation to consider some ways you can take action (or continue to take action) on reconciliation in Canada.

I’m honoured to have my guest today be Louise Adongo, executive director of Inspiring Communities! Louise has been a friend over the years, sharing resources - books and ideas - and was the first one to believe in this concept of exploring polarizing conversations.  I hope you’ll join us for this great conversation about what we can learn about ourselves through exploring polarizing conversations. Louise Adongo is a bold and grounded leader who brings over a decade of experience in systems change, policy and evaluation to Inspiring Communities. She is known for bringing care and intention to uncovering the roots of tangled problems; and enabling shifts to greater resilience, sustainability and impact.  She believes in carving institutional spaces that are more nimble, transparent and creative.  For the last decade she has worked for the Nova Scotia government’s departments of Health, Justice (NSHRC), Labour & Advanced Education, Business (ERDT), Service Nova Scotia & Internal Services and Infrastructure & Housing. There, Louise advanced work on social labs in government, convened Policy Circles to encourage connection & communication among policy professionals on timely topics and initiated interdepartmental collaborations to support wellness and career advancement of Black women. She co-Chaired the African-Canadian Women in the Public Service Network (ACWPS).  Unafraid of challenge or change, Louise has a deep commitment to advancing social justice and anti-racism. She has guided the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre’s reorganization as their interim Board Chair, co-led a Black Women and Leadership Forum and facilitated organizational & strategic planning  sessions for a variety of community organizations. She sits on the Board of Directors of the CUA and previously volunteered with the Health Association of African Canadians (HAAC ), the Halifax Local Immigrant Partnership (HLIP ), and as co-founder & Board Secretary for the Freetown Initiative (now Help2Overcome). She was also the co-chair of the 2019 Canadian Evaluation Society National Conference. Louise is able to seamlessly navigate among the cultures of community, non-profit, business and government to make incredible things happen. She holds graduate degrees in Applied Health Services Research and Plant Biochemistry. She is a proud mother of a young toddler and is often creatively fired up about a wide range of subjects. To relax, she gardens, reads, explores new places in the Atlantic region and enjoys talks about system change on patios or in living rooms with friends.

Ivan Okello is a first-generation immigrant from Uganda, East Africa currently based in the Siknikt district of the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, a city also known as Moncton, NB. Ivan currently serves as the Project Manager of Antiracism Initiatives at the New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC). He is an educator and storyteller who believes in using education as a medium for bridging social inequities and advancing social change. His goal is to live in a society free of injustice. Ivan’s educational background includes Gender studies, International Development and Antiracism/decolonization. He has previously worked in post-secondary institutions, and non-Profits. Ivan is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities and ensuring that society/organizations are (re)designed to serve and cultivate everyone’s potential. ---- Thank you SO MUCH for joining me for today’s Polarizing Conversation.  Much gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  If you missed the other episodes, check us out at www.polarizingconversations.com. And let me know what you think. We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time.

I had the pleasure of discussing one of the polarizing topics I can imagine with someone I have a lot of respect for - Katie Davey. Katie Davey is the Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick. She is a public policy entrepreneur working at the intersection of our biggest social and economic challenges. She uses creative and innovative solutions to improve or solve existing policy, program, and system challenges, specifically those challenges that create inequalities and impact the most vulnerable people in our world. Her goal is to redesign our systems to create a more inclusive future for all. In her most recent role, Katie served as Director of Policy and PPF Media at the Public Policy Forum, a leading independent Canadian think tank. In this role, she built PPF Media and the Atlantic Initiative from the ground up. Recently Katie has co-authored reports on redefining the child care workforce in Canada, and creating a more sustainable future for journalism in Canada.  Katie holds a degree in political science from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Applied Politics from Wilfrid Laurier University.  She formerly served as a policy advisor in the NB provincial government on abortion policy. In this discussion, we explore some of the trends informing the abortion debate, the history of abortion policy in Canada and in New Brunswick, and what the future might hold for this polarizing conversation. I hope you’ll join us, and listen with curiosity. What are your thoughts on finding common ground on this very difficult topic?

Aatif Baskanderi is CEO of The Northpine Foundation, a startup philanthropic foundation supporting ventures to achieve scalable outcomes for underserved and underinvested communities in Canada. Their starting portfolios include refugees, formerly incarcerated persons, climate, carbon, and nature. Northpine deploys around $40M annually through gifts, grants, loans, equity, and hybrid means - and, more importantly, aims to build deep relationships with its portfolio organizations as they pursue their ventures. Aatif is also the Co-Founder of Salaam B’y, an award-winning documentary and anti-racism education initiative. His previous work spans multiple angles, leading innovation across sectors and communities. His educational background includes engineering, social policy, and technology management. We recorded this episode during Ramadan, and explored Aatif’s intersectional identity as a Canadian, Muslim, husband, Newfoundlander and individual.  We also discussed the appointment of Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamaphobia, Amira Elghawaby, and what that means for Canada, and finding common ground.  I hope you’ll join us for this great conversation on finding common ground, optimism, generosity and compassion!

Inda Intiar is a first-generation immigrant based in the Siknikt district of the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, in a city colonially known as Moncton, NB. She is a storyteller and facilitator who brings a global perspective from growing up across multiple countries. Inda is a big believer in the power of storytelling for social impact. She’s currently a member of Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemakers Council, a Transformation Storytelling Fellow with Community Foundations Canada, and a Communications and Outreach Coordinator with Students on Ice Foundation. Inda holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, with honours in International Relations, from St. Thomas University. She has worked in the private and non-profit sectors, with experience in building and delivering education programs for youth in Indonesia, as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives for youth in Canada.  Inda has been recognized as a Future of Good Young Impact Leader (2019), a YWCA Moncton Woman of Distinction (2019), and a New Brunswick Cultural Diversity Champion (2018), among other awards.   In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, the outdoors, music, books and time with loved ones. In this conversation, we discussed the question, “What are the responsibilities of being a Canadian?” in the context of Inda’s journey as an immigrant to Canada, in light of truth and reconciliation, and generally, what having a national identity means.  We talked about ‘maplewashing’, which according to Wikipedia is the “alleged tendency of Canadian institutions to sanitize Canadian history” and make it look more favourable than it actually is. Inda referenced the Justin Trudeau quote of 2015, where he stated "There is no core identity. No mainstream in Canada." (Here’s one perspective on what that might mean).  And as always, we talked about what this means for us as individuals living in community and in relation with others, with the aim of finding common ground. I have a lot of gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  If you missed the other episodes, check us out at www.polarizingconversations.com - and let me know what you think. We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time.

When I was working through the concept of this podcast with Louise Adongo, the executive director of Inspiring Communities, she suggested I consider exploring a theme of right to choose.  Right to choose topics are very polarizing: vaccinations, abortion, medical assistance in dying, religious wear, and so many more.   Louise had been a stalwart supporter of one of my other projects, Amplify: East - this was a topic exploring the stories of women in their own voices, born out of the frustration that a years ago, no one could seem to find any qualified women to interview.  I’m happy to see that trend changing. So when Louise suggested the theme of right to choose and polarization, it felt like a natural link between the explorations of the 2 projects. I met Paul Walsh through Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemaker Council, and he agreed to come have this polarizing conversation with me on the question of: How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose? Paul Walsh is a disability advocate located in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.  Paul holds both a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and Master of Business Degrees from Memorial University  He has also completed a graduate certificate in Project Management and holds a Chartered Manager designation from CIM/Chartered Managers Canada.  He has lived experience with physical disability having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth.  Paul is proud of his disability culture. Paul has had a successful career in private enterprise, including two years in banking and 33 years in a variety of positions with a private-sector public utility.  In addition, Paul was an instructor at Memorial University for over 30 years. Currently, he is Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador where he leads a staff of over 20 professionals dedicated to serving those with autism, those who love them, and those who work with them.   Paul is also an active volunteer, serving on a wide variety of boards and commissions.  His main areas of interest in his voluntary work are disability rights, inclusion & diversity, social justice and human rights. He is past-Chair of the St. John’s Transportation Commission, a member of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee, and an active church volunteer. Please let me know what you think of this conversation!  Some of the themes we explore include: How disability intersects with medical assistance in dying Strategies we can consider as we navigate this very complex topic - disability and the right to choose  What makes letting people make their own decisions so polarizing?  How compassion and control seem to be mutually exclusive, and what that means for disability and the right to choose As always, much gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time.

Join me for this great conversation with Shreetee Appadu where we explore the question, “How might we decentralize our stories?” I met Shreetee through Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemakers Council. Shreetee is a queer, bisexual, non-binary settler of colour from Mauritius, who moved to kjipuktuk in 2017 for their studies. They did a Bachelor in Environmental studies with a minor in Geography at St. Mary’s University (SMU), and are very passionate about environmental justice, intersectionality and community care. They are a member of the Racialized Student Academic Network coordinated by Dr. Benita Bunjun, which is a closed space for racialised students and alumni. RSAN also organised the Critical Indigenous Race Feminist Studies student conference (CIRFS) where Shreetee presented on the institutionalisation of whiteness in universities along with deconstructing whiteness in the environmental movement. They are currently the Outreach and Administration Coordinator at South House, which is a Sexual and Gender Resource Centre. They are also one of the Residence Coordinator at SMU. They love to create spaces that prioritises 2SQTBIPOC joy and relationships, and love to read and dance. There were a lot of threads and themes to explore in this great conversation.  Please accept my apologies for not being able to explore them all due to time!  My main takeaway is how we decentralize ourselves by asking ourselves tough questions, exploring our own position in the world, what trauma we’ve experienced - both in our lifetimes and through our ancestors - as well as we center joy amidst all of this. Decreasing polarization starts with ourselves.  I hope this conversation helps you deepen your mindset, skillset and toolset in being able to navigate polarizing conversations. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Check out these recommended resources from Shreetee! All about love: New Visions - bell hooks There's something in the water - Dr. Ingrid Waldron As we have always done - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share - we can’t wait to share with you our upcoming polarizing conversations!

KJ and I are both currently fellows with Inspiring Communities, exploring systems and changing systems through different stories.  I asked him to join me on the podcast to explore some of the topics from his fellowship article, “Who has power? Who exercises control? Who needs to build trust?”.  Power and control are polarizing topics. In this conversation, we explore how colonialism and identity can be polarizing, difficult conversations and how we can find our way to common ground.  KJ suggests engaging with elders, something that I deeply believe in as well. Who is KJ? For over eight years, Kjeld Mizpah (KJ) Conyers-Steede has led or worked with community projects that build quality public policy programming and lobbying initiatives that focus on addressing the "big hairy" policy issues within society. He is originally from Smith's, Bermuda, calls New Brunswick a Canadian home, and now lives in Hants County in Nova Scotia. He has worked in governance reviews that encourage the development of strategies that embrace a human-centered approach and adopt a strategic foresight lens that looks at guiding change within systems. He promotes collaboration through developing critical psychological safety as an integral part of identifying the barriers surrounding community-centric policy and program development.  If you liked this episode, our next episode will be coming out in 2 weeks on February 22nd! Subscribe so that you don't miss any updates :-) Connect with KJ:  Inspiring Communities fellowship article:  Catalyst Conversation Strategies Instagram: @mizpahcs

I met Scott Stirrett in 2016, and have been impressed with his tenacity, curiosity, drive and kindness since then.  Scott is the CEO and Founder of Venture for Canada - a national charity focused on accelerating the entrepreneurialism of young Canadians. He is participating in Action Canada - a 10-month public policy leadership program with a 17-year track that aims to enhance emerging leaders’ understanding of the country and public policy choices for the future.   In December 2022, Scott contributed an opinion piece to the Globe and Mail entitled, "Teaching debate skills will strengthen democracy". The first paragraph reads as such:   Increasing political and ideological polarization poses a significant threat to Canadian democracy and society. From climate change to a looming global recession, Canada faces immense challenges, which require thoughtful and nuanced discussions. Too often issues of national importance devolve into shouting matches and personal attacks.   I asked Scott to join me for the first official episode of Polarizing Conversations to consider how learning debate skills - whether as youth in school, in our workplaces as part of professional development, or in our homes might help us have these nuanced discussions instead of the shouting matches and personal attacks that seem all-too-common lately in the media. Debate skills, in life outside of competition, don't have to be applied to win - they teach us to listen deeply, requiring us to become curious (and therefore less judgemental). Join us for this deep conversation about our journeys navigating polarizing conversations.   If you liked this episode, our next episode will be coming out in 2 weeks!  Subscribe so that you don't miss any updates :-)

Polarizing Conversations in supported by Inspiring Communities - an equity centred systems change leader in Atlantic Canada. On this podcast, we'll be taking a critical look at the systems that are in place and whether or not they are fair and equitable for everyone. We'll also be examining how certain views and perspectives can change depending on what you read or who you speak to. It's important to challenge yourself and think about why you see something a certain way and whether or not there is a certain bias at play. Next week is our first guest episode with Scott Stirrett, CEO & Founder of Venture For Canada joining the podcast. We hope you tune in!

Right to choose.  Freedom of speech.  Housing and homelessness.    These are just some of the polarizing conversations we're exploring as a society in 2023. We're at a time in history where these topics seem harder to discuss than ever. Join host, Vanessa Paesani, as we explore the most difficult conversations of our time - subscribe to the podcast wherever you usually listen, including YouTube.   Episode 1 drops January 18th.