Brock social justice forum returns for 10th anniversary
After taking last year off, Brock University’s Niagara Social Justice Forum returned for its 10th anniversary with new features and possibly more participants than ever before.
The day-long forum at the Marilyn I Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Saturday, included a dozen workshops covering numerous issues, such as labour, cultural sensitivity, accessibility, Palestine and Israel, ethical treatment of animals, as well as performances, exhibits and an information fair throughout the day.
Brock graduate program director Mary Breunig said “there was a bit of an outcry from the community” when a forum was not held in 2017.
This year, however, hundreds of people registered to participate making it among the university’s largest social justice forum, yet.
“This maybe the largest we’ve hosted. We have over 200 today, for sure,” she said.
Graduate student Aniqah Zowmi said the event brought together “so many incredible scholars and activists and people with so much depth of knowledge, it’s just getting that out there and getting the word out.”
Activists and academics, she added, often find themselves preaching to the choir.
“You end up getting surrounded by people who do the work in your own field. In academia, it’s the same. You get sequestered in your own little ivory tower of work,” said Zowmi – one of more than a dozen students from Brock’s social justice and equity studies program who spent the day running the event, along with faculty, and Student Justice Centre members.
By bringing together social activist from a variety of issues, she said the forum is way of “really bridging those gaps and bringing people together to see where their solidarities are, where their commonalities lie, and how we can continue to work together to uplift activism and justice.”
Justin Marr presented one of the workshops, discussing accessibility and the on-going efforts to make sure the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
becomes a reality by 2025, to implement accessibility standards at all facilities across the province.
“We’re fighting for that right now,” he said. “Hopefully, eventually they keep their word.”
Bridget Nicholls teamed up with fellow students Brittany Campbell, and Keely Grossman to discuss the humane treatment of animals during another workshop.
While working conditions are often less than ideal for humans, Campbell said the “situation is even worse for animals,” such as captive animals used for entertainment, or for laboratory tests. There are, however, positive ways in which animals are employed.
Grossman brought her service dog Izzy to the workshop, discussing how the golden retriever also benefits from the work.
“She loves working. She feels like she has a purpose and you can just tell by her behaviour,” she said.
Breunig said the opening ceremonies, organized by the Aboriginal Student Services department was a highlight of the event.
Aboriginal events coordinator Colton Clause said the opening ceremonies featured a thanksgiving address. “From a Haudenosaunee perspective, it’s something to bring your mind together and give thanks to the world around you,” Clause said.
Breunig said another highlight of the forum was an afternoon plenary, focused on youth forwarding social justice movements.
“It’s sort of youth voices talking about social justice,” she said.