York University’s Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER) Project, Faculty of Education, and Centre for Refugee Studies present a monthly virtual colloquium series on the intersections of refugee education, anti-Black racism, and COVID-19 in Canada and East Africa.
Through a series of talks, film, and an open-mic event, experts will consider the unique challenges that the twinned pandemics pose to refugee communities and educators in Canada and/or East Africa; highlight the unique knowledge that refugee communities and the educators who work with them bring to learning in situations of constraint; and offer new lenses to make meaning of our current moment.
This colloquium is the first of its kind to feature experts from York University and from institutions that are comprised of or work with refugees in equal measure.
Together, this series will:
- deepen connections among refugee communities, educational leaders, and scholars within and across institutions;
- foster a sense of reciprocity in learning;
- recognize and validate the unique expertise that refugee communities bring to time or resource-constrained situations; and
- educate all attendees on a range of topics relevant to refugee education, COVID-19, and anti-Black racism.
The colloquium series will be held monthly throughout the academic year at 9:30 AM EST/5:30 PM EAT.
RECIPROCAL LEARNING IN TIMES OF CRISIS: A monthly virtual colloquium series
| DATE | TITLE/THEME | SPEAKERS | … | … |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 7 | A Holistic Approach to Thinking in Our Times | Nombuso Dlamini (York University) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, November 4 | Navigating COVID-19 and Education in the Dadaab Refugee Camps | Dakane Bare (UNHCR) George Omondi (Lutheran World Federation) Norah Kariba (Windle International Kenya) Esther Munene (Windle International Kenya) Abdikadir Bare Abikar (BHER) Discussant: Rachel Silver (York University) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, December 2 | The Invisible City Kakuma: (Film Screening and Discussion) | Grace Nshimiyukiza (BHER) Chlöe Brushwood-Rose (York University) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, January 20 (MLK Day Event) | Considering James Baldwin’s Extracurriculars: Notes on Teaching in Dangerous Times | Warren Crichlow (York University) Dr. Mario DiPaolantonio (York University) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, February 10 | COVID-19 and Girls’ Education | Sharareh Kashi (York University) Rachel Silver (York University) Alyssa Morley (Michigan State University) Priscilla Ndegwa (Kenyatta University) Dahabo Ibrahim (BHER) Joseph Mutua (Kenya Equity in Education Project) Discussant: Hanan Duri (York University) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, March 10 | Intra-Africa Migration | Tamuka Chekero (University of Cape Town) Helidah Ogude (World Bank) | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| Wednesday, April 7 | African Refugees and the Racialized Implications of COVID-19 in Toronto | Tesfai Mengesha (Success Beyond Limits) and other Speakers TBD | LEARN MORE | WATCH NOW |
| *Postponed to Fall 2021 | BHER The Mic: Telling your Collective Narratives through Poetry, Song, Storytelling, and other Creative Media (MC’ed Open Mic Night) | MCs: Molade Osibodu (York University) Philemon Misoy (Windle International Kenya) |
