Inclusion Infusions

Listen in as historian, storyteller, and assistant curator of the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum Spencer Alexander brings Canada's history to life. Jamie Bramburger, Algonquin College's Manager of Community Affairs at the Pembroke Campus, sits with Spencer to learn more about the history of the Underground Railroad in Chatham Ontario and the mystery and surprise of discovering the stories found in boxes in the attic that reveal the complexity of the history of Black Canadians. 

If you were looking to pick a career path with high employment potential in 2022, according to Forbes and LinkedIn, you should become a Vaccine Specialist or a Diversity and Inclusion Manager. This conversation features Dr. Tanya De Mello, Assistant Dean Student Programming, Development and Equity; Faculty of Law Toronto Metropolitan University and Marian MacGregor, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion at York University. These leaders have spent decades building highly successful careers in Human Rights and Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and generously will share their experiences, thoughts on credentials and credibility, and offer advice and pitfalls to avoid as professional practice opportunities in the field expand.

At Algonquin College we use the acronym 2SLGBTQ+ - where the 2S represents the Two spirit community, which is an Indigenous specific identity. We place the 2S at the start to centre the importance of the experiences of the 2S community. But what does that mean. What Is the 2S identity, and what Is that experience? Listen into this conversation with T’áncháy Redvers, a Dene / Métis two-spirit social justice warrior, writer, creator, facilitator, and multidisciplinary performer/actor to learn more.

According to prominent sociologist and activist, Dr. Charles Derber: Most social movements rely on art as a powerful vehicle for expressing dissent and resistance as well as helping articulate new visions of society. This episode is an exploration of the purpose and practice of social justice art education with three artists who specialize in community engaged street art - Jimmy Baptiste, Allan André and Kalkidan Assefa. Join Algonquin College's co-hosts Dr. Zainub Ibrahim faculty in the School of Hospitality and Sarah Gauen, Inclusion and Diversity Specialist as they seek to learn more about the power of art in social justice education. 

In this episode co-hosts Algonquin College’s David Soltis, Director People & Culture and Sarah Gauen, Inclusion & Diversity Specialist explore inclusive leadership with expert Dr. Leeno Kaurmanchery. Dr. Leeno explains how to weave the science of leadership with context, history and self-awareness into a powerful recipe for organizational and personal success. 

This episode is a recording of Algonquin College's second Taking a Stand anti-racism series, where the focus of the discussion with experts was on Developing Understanding to Disrupt Anti-Asian Discrimination. Listen in to hear moderator Farbod Karimi, Chair Learning & Teaching Services, guide a powerful conversation with Dr. Dennis Kao, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Carleton University, Cindy Tran, a Vietnamese Canadian journalist with CBC Ottawa and Dr. Mary Reid, an Assistant Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). This moving conversation examines the meaning of, and complexity within, anti-Asian discrimination in our communities and campuses. Bringing in rigorous research, a grounding in pedagogy, and realized by lived experiences, this discussion is one we are proud to share. 

In this episode co-hosts Sacha Leduc (AC Online) & Sarah Gauen (Inclusion & Diversity Specialist) have a thoughtful and personal conversation with three experts on the experiences and learnings from balancing working in the College system while raising children during a pandemic, and where this experience may drive change for organizational culture in the future. Featuring Dr. Kim De Laat, Mitacs postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Sociology at Brock University and The Vanier Institute of the Family on what the newest research is showing; an injection of the Indigenous perspective and beliefs on parenting and children with Marina Westbrook who is Anishinaabe, from the Nipissing First Nation and an AC faculty member; and Patrick Devey Associate Vice-President of Global, Online, and Corporate Learning at Algonquin College, and father to Leyla on his perspectives on parental leave. 

This episode is a dynamic and insightful conversation with three experts on the complexities of Allyship, and how it’s not about you, but the work must begin with you. Curious? Listen to Irfan Chaudhry, Director MacEwan University's Office of Human Rights, Diversity, and Equity; Rita Alma, the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategist for Invest Ottawa; and Meghan Stewart-Wills, Unified Mindfulness Coach and consultant. Co-hosted by Julie Eaves, Manager AC Online and Sarah Gauen Inclusion & Diversity Specialist. 

This episode will try to uncover what it means to be an Inclusion Champion, and how they are made. Co-hosts Jason Timms from the Centre for Accessible Learning and Sarah Gauen, Inclusion & Diversity Specialist, will be joined by all of the nominees of Algonquin College’s inaugural Inclusion Champions employee award. Listen in for some inspiring stores and experiences from the role models for fostering change to create spaces where everyone belongs.

This podcast is an open response to the curiosity and controversy surrounding washrooms and the trans and non-binary community. Listening to an Inclusion Infusions podcast is an opportunity to hear the perspectives of expert thinkers in the field of equity, diversity and inclusion, and tie that to the practicalities of Ontario’s College system. This episode's co-hosts Dr. Martin Lee and Sarah Gauen speak with national and local experts from Pride at Work Canada, the Algonquin College Students Association and Campus Security on safety, security and the lived experiences of transgender students and employees.