Ep 33 - Redefining "a good neighbourhood" in Queenston, St. Catharines

How should non-Indigenous Christians engage in Truth and Reconciliation? What does it really mean to “love your neighbour” on Turtle Island?In this special live panel episode of Undercurrents, recorded at Westside Church in Burlington in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), we explore what it means for non-Indigenous Christians to become neighbours worth knowing.Featuring reflections from Karen Ward, Dr. Samuel Sarpiya and Doug McLachlin, three people with different starting points and paths on this life-long journey, this conversation moves beyond good intentions to honest reflection.MCC Ontario is committed to TRC Call to Action 60 which calls on churches and church organizations to respect Indigenous spiritualities in their own right. Download the transcription here.Download the discussion guide here.Listen and subscribe at ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Youtube ⁠or wherever you listen to podcasts!Continue your learning:Pow Wows 101, an introductory event from MCC's Indigenous Neighbours team“Becoming Kin” by Patty Krawec https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506478258/Becoming-Kin“Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God” by Kaitlin Curticehttps://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/native-identity-belonging-and-rediscovering-god/9781587434310.html?searchType=products&searchTerm=native%20rediscovering%20god“21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act” by Bob Joseph https://21things.ca/Undercurrents Ep 9: Merle’s story: the journey of a former residential school worker https://mcc.org/our-stories/undercurrents-merles-storyCredits:Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit UnionProduction assistance from Christen KongTheme music by Brian MacMillanArtwork by Jesse BergenExecutive produced by Sandra Reimer

What makes a good neighbourhood?Low crime rates? Strong property values? Walkability and good schools?In Episode 33 of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara travels to the Queenston neighbourhood in St. Catharines, Ontario—a community many outsiders label “the worst neighbourhood in the city.” But is that the whole story?Ken spends the day with Tim Shields, MCC Community Mobilizer and longtime Queenston resident, exploring how relationships, dignity, and grassroots peacebuilding are reshaping what it means to be a good neighbour.This episode explores:Community development in marginalized neighbourhoodsFaith-based peacebuilding and the work of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)Homelessness, addiction, and safe consumption sitesFood insecurity and the reality of living in a food desertAffordable grocery store initiatives and local partnershipsWhat it really means to “walk alongside” your neighboursYou’ll hear from Queenston residents, local church leaders, and MCC staff about how presence, partnership, and shared meals can transform both people and systems.Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts!Download transcription here.Download discussion guide here.Credits:Undercurrents is sponsored in part by ⁠Kindred Credit Union⁠.Production assistance from Christen KongTheme music by Brian MacMillanArtwork by Jesse BergenExecutive produced by Sandra Reimer

In this episode of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara goes behind the scenes with the Material Resources team at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to explore how relief kits, hygiene kits, school kits, and canned meat are prepared and shipped to communities facing crisis around the world — and right here in Ontario.What does it actually take to send a relief kit overseas? Why is MCC so specific about items like metal pencil sharpeners, heavy-duty nail clippers, toothbrush colours, towel sizes, and notebook page counts? And how does a brand-new 10,000 square foot industrial meat cannery help feed families experiencing food insecurity?Transcription is here.Discussion guide is here.Volunteer at the meat cannery: https://mcc.org/MCCOntarioMeatCanneryEmail [email protected] for more details.Learn more about relief kits (we are in urgent need!): https://mcc.org/get-involved/kits/reliefDonate toward a relief kit:https://mcc.org/get-involved/giving/designations/kits-and-comfortersPetition from Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB):https://foodgrainsbank.ca/postcard/ A major driver of crisis requiring material resources responses, is climate change. Sign this petition so our government will respond fairly and adequately:https://mcc.org/campaign/support-fair-canadian-response-climate-change-0Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.

A 30 second scroll through the headlines will give you a glimpse of a world desperately in need of peace. But peacebuilding is not only needed in Palestine and Israel, or Ukraine, or in South Sudan. Peace is needed in our own communities and in our own lives.In my conversation with Rod Friesen, we reveal three stories of peacebuilding from his career- and what we can learn something from each of these stories and how we can apply these lessons in our own lives.Transcription here.Discussion guide for small groups here.Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union. Production assistance from Christen KongTheme music by Brian MacMillanArtwork by Jesse BergenExecutive produced by Sandra Reimer

How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our actions?These are the questions we want to explore in Season 6.For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. A quick scroll through the newsfeed is enough to tell you that the needs are many.But we also know that there is beautiful work being done that is making a real impact in the world. And we're inviting you to be a part of this work.In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action.Season 6 launches on January 29th and this year, we'll be posting an episode every other week from January through to July! Search for “ Undercurrents MCC" wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe and share with your friends!Undercurrents is supported by Kindred Credit Union

 This update episode is with Ly. She shared her story so eloquently and vulnerably back in 2021 in Episode 10 about the impact of MCC’s hand-crafted relief materials how it changed her life. So today you’ll hear an update from Ly as she shares about how she and her church have paid that forward in a huge way, and how another Undercurrents episode (Ep 13 - I believe in miracles) inspired her during a tough stretch. Update begins at 27:53.

This update episode is with Wayne. I got to know Wayne through interviewing him a number of times over 2019 and despite the disruption of the pandemic, I’d still see Wayne occasionally around the office at various Circle of Friends gatherings. But over the last few years, I’ve been seeing less and less of Wayne. At the end of this episode, he’ll explain why. He also makes an unusual request.Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit UnionTheme song by Brian MacmillanArtwork by Jesse Bergen

We check in with Patrick - he of the beautiful singing voice and piano lessons - who was featured in the very first pilot episode of Undercurrents. Since I first interviewed him in 2018, life has changed a lot for Patrick. I re-connect with him to find out what's new (spoiler: a lot).Undercurrents is supported by Kindred Credit Union.Artwork by Jesse BergenTheme song by Brian MacMillan

Host Ken Ogasawara and producer Christen Kong share insights from listeners, tease an upcoming mini-season, and the audio clip that started it all!mcc.org/undercurrentsUndercurrents is sponsored by Kindred Credit Union.

The most brutal conflict of the modern era is grinding onwards in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, we’ll hear from Justin Zihindula and Esther Muziranenge, two Congolese from different families who were displaced and resettled in Canada many years apart. Undercurrents is generously supported by ⁠Kindred Credit Union.⁠Transcription is here.Download the discussion guide for this episode here.Read about MCC’s new $4.7M relief project with Global Affairs Canadahttps://mcc.org/our-stories/mcc-canada-awarded-47-million-grant-humanitarian-assistance-democratic-republic-congoDonate to MCC’s response in DR Congo:https://mcc.org/what-we-do/initiatives/disaster-response/dr-congoCollaborative global Anabaptist response to crisis in DR Congo:https://mcc.org/our-stories/collaborative-anabaptist-response-dr-congo-crisisA concise history of the 30-year conflict in DR Congo:https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congoCREDITS:Editing support by Christen KongTheme song by Brian MacMillanArtwork by Jesse Bergen