Debunk the Myth

Thank you to everyone who made last night's Global Citizenship Summit such a resounding success. The food was delicious, the speakers were thoughtful and motivating, and the entire night was a celebration of our multicultural community here at Lambton College. 

Gilad Cohen of Jayu captured the audience as we previewed the
trailer for Jayu's 2015 Film Festival.  

We were fortunate to hear from Gilad Cohen, founder and Executive Director of Jayu, which operates the Toronto International Human Rights Film Festival. Gilad shared with us the difference that art can make as we struggle to begin a conversation around specific human rights abuses: art can provide common ground and a way in for so many of us. Gilad has visited Lambton before, and I hope he'll be back again--he's a captivating and motivating speaker. (He also gave us an update on Jayu's #CapturetheStreets project, now headed for a Harvard exhibit! And if you'd like to help ensure Jayu's mission continues, you can contribute to their Kickstarter campaign: more on that soon.)

We also heard from Aruba Mahmud and Rezan Mosa, two Muslim women who shared with us their experiences of wearing the hijab and niqab in Sarnia. Both clarified that choosing to cover themselves in public has nothing to do with oppression: instead, both understand their decision to veil themselves as a sign of their freedom to make their own choices and follow their faith. 

Our second keynote speaker of the night was Leo Johnson, a graduate of McMaster University and one of the final five in the CBC's Next Great Prime Minister competition. Leo is now at work on Empowerment Squared, an organization that's working on many important projects, including opening the first post-war library in Leo's native Liberia. Leo challenged us to consider the ways in which our (mis)perceptions of Africa and of each other shape our actions. 

Thank you to Ruth Geurts, Amy Weiler, and the organizational team that made this evening such a success. Thank you to our speakers and sponsors, and to the food vendors who prepared such a delicious dinner. And thank you, especially, to the students. So many Lambton College students volunteered to run cultural tables, sharing details of their traditions and beliefs; other students helped to prepare the room, to serve dinner, and to clean up afterwards. 

This college is a better place for our diversity. 

Global Citizenship Summit 2015

Right now, more than three hundred Lambton College students are gathered together to learn about intercultural communication. They're hearing from two captivating speakers: Gilad Cohen and Leo Johnson.

If you'd like to join in the conversation, join us tonight at the Lambton Inn for the second annual Global Citizenship Summit! Dinner starts at 4:30, and the speakers begin at 6:30. For more information, check out our website!

Unleash the Stress!

This week, the members of the Jack Project have encouraged all members of the Lambton College community to "unleash the stress." It's a busy time around here, as students push their way through tests and assignments to reach the end of term. The stress can start to bring us down if we're not careful.

To help keep us balanced, the team behind Lambton's chapter of the Jack Project has organized a free pancake breakfast, visits with therapy dogs, drop-in yoga, a car smash event, a flash mob surprise, and, yesterday, a mental health walk.

Lambton students, staff, faculty, and our mascot, Pounce, post at the end of our
walk in the sunshine.

The walk--which took us to RBC and back--was a wonderful break in the middle of the day, and a chance to chat with friends and colleagues. It was also an important reminder that good mental health doesn't happen automatically: we have to set time aside for ourselves if we want to stay healthy.

If you'd like to learn more about Lambton College's amazing Jack Project team, you can check out their facebook page.

Next Weekend: SWIFF!

The first ever South Western International Film Festival takes place in Sarnia next weekend!

Here's a description of the event from the SWIFF website:

"The South Western International Film Festival is a international event held every first weekend in November that will establish Sarnia-Lambton as a cultural hub for Southwestern Ontario. By focusing on artist engagement, youth participation, community enrichment and our evolving diversity, SWIFF will create a unique and exciting cinematic experience for the community of Sarnia-Lambton while opening its doors to visitors from far and wide."

For a full schedule and more information on the films, please visit www.swiff.ca

Lambton College students nominated for Samara award

Two of Lambton College's Social Service Worker students, Katie Horvath and Kari Roos, have been nominated for Samara's Everyday Political Citizen Award.

Kari and Katie are the co-founders of Lambton's student social-justice group, Vocalize. Both women have worked tirelessly this fall to encourage students to engage in conversations about democracy. The two were instrumental in bringing the All Candidates Debate to the college last month. 

Thank you, Katie and Kari, for all you do to encourage us all to be political citizens! 

Anti-Poverty Rally

Last Friday, almost 100 concerned community members gathered on the steps of Sarnia's city hall to encourage action against poverty.

Here are a few of the photographs from last week's Anti-Poverty Rally. 

Peace begins when the hungry are fed.

Second-year SSW student Katie Horvath
with her daughter, Kali.

Lambton SSW students

 

Students display their signs for
passing motorists.

Lambton College's SSW students

Tomorrow: Anti-Poverty Rally downtown

photo and design credit: Katie Horvath