New music from G. Emo Bisch. Listen here.

Ikram Carpan Part 2
This is part two of my conversation with Ikram Carpan.

Ikram talks about his arrival in Canada and we do a deep dive on many topics—including a discussion about personal perspectives, biases, and the importance of seeing beyond surface-level differences to connect with the souls of individuals.

Ikram passionately conveys the notion that by understanding oneself, being empathetic, and fostering a mindset of personal accountability, we can cultivate a better world.

We also discuss the importance of being open-minded and not rigidly holding on to certain truths, including when it comes to interpretations of religious texts.

As I said in part one, Ikram is a fascinating young man—and I think you’ll enjoy part two.

If you’d like to reach out to Ikram to talk about his community development ambitions, you can reach him at: ikramcarpan20@gmail.com

Ikram Carpan Part 1
Ikram Carpan came to Waterloo Region from Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, reconnecting with members of his family who fled to Canada after being targeted by the Turkish government for being followers of Fethullah Gulen.

Ikram is a fascinating young man, who grew up in Russia and Bangladesh, and studied in Turkey before coming here. He has a passion for teaching and child development – and his life experiences have given him a unique perspective that he uses to try to improve the lives of those around him.

Ikram got me to see many things from a new point of view—and he will do the same for you.

Marjorie Knight
Marjorie is an anti-poverty advocate and a two-time candidate for the Ontario NDP in Cambridge. She is a family outreach worker for the House of Friendship and a founder of Rhythm and Blues Cambridge, which works to provide a safe engaging space to empower, inform and inspire the Black community in Cambridge.

In this deep conversation between Marjorie discusses her experiences as a single black mother in Canada, who despite being well educated and having rich work experience, struggled for years in poverty because she would only be hired for minimum wage work. 

Learn more about Rhythm and Blues Cambridge here. Watch this profile of Marjorie entitled A Tenacious Life, which is part of the Citizens of Cambridge video series by The Blend Media Group.

K. Fran Davis Part 2
This is part two of a deep conversation with Indigenous consultant, researcher, and teacher K. Fran Davis. In this episode we talk about the struggles Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people have with accepting the realities of the Residential School System, the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools, and how Kelly strives to turn anger into compassion as part of the ongoing pursuit of reconciliation.

Find more content from Davis, including “Rights of Passage: A Reconciliation Podcast” here. Davis recommends you watch Indian Horse available on Netflix. Read more. 

K. Fran Davis Part 1
This is part one of a two-part deep conversation with K. Fran Davis, who’s Haudenosaunee  from the Grand River Territory. She is an Indigenous consultant, researcher, teacher, and owner of Indigenous Learn: Two Row Education Services.

In this episode, we discuss Davis’ life story and her journey to becoming an Indigenous educator. We also talk about the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Haldimand Tract, and the continuing effect of colonial policies.

Find more content from Davis, including “Rights of Passage: A Reconciliation Podcast” here. Davis recommends you watch Indian Horse available on Netflix. Read more. 

Geraldine Stafford
Geraldine Stafford is the first civilian Manager of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

In this deep conversation, we discuss the challenges police have building trust among racialized groups, and their ongoing efforts to foster trust. Geraldine also speaks about importance of having diverse voices at the table in our institutions and government. We talk about her perspective on the responsiblities we have as individuals in creating a sense of belonging in our diverse communities. Read more.

Abiha Syed immigrated to Canada, and Waterloo Region, as a young woman. She is a co-founder and co-chair of the Muslim Woman of Cambridge and a Community Engagement Coordinator for Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region. Read more.

A deep conversation with Kathy Foster about her life story. Kathy is a resident of Supportive Housing of Waterloo. Her personal tragedy triggered a period of homelessness that lasted 18 years. She spent most of that time on the streets of Waterloo Region. Read more.

New Hamburg resident Allan Strong spent his career in the mental health sector and helped start the Skills for Safer Living program. He spent much of his youth taking care of his mother who struggled with mental illness. As an adult, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type 2 and survived several suicide attempts. Read more.