Polarizing Conversations

Right to choose. Freedom of speech. Housing and homelessness. These are just some of the polarizing conversations we're exploring as a society in 2023. We're at a time in history where these topics seem harder to discuss than ever. Join host, Vanessa Paesani, as we explore the most difficult conversations of our time - subscribe to the podcast wherever you usually listen, including YouTube. Episode 1 drops January 18th.

10 - What makes reconciliation a polarizing topic? with Michelle Brass 08/09/2023

09 - What can we learn from exploring polarizing conversations? with Louise Adongo 06/21/2023

09 - What can we learn from exploring polarizing conversations? with Louise Adongo I’m honoured to have my guest today be Louise Adongo, executive director of Inspiring Communities! Louise has been a friend over the years, sharing resources - books and ideas - and was the first one to believe in this concept of exploring polarizing conversations. I hope you’ll join us for this great conversation about what we can learn about ourselves through exploring polarizing conversations. Louise Adongo is a bold and grounded leader who brings over a decade of experience in systems change, policy and evaluation to Inspiring Communities. She is known for bringing care and intention to uncovering the roots of tangled problems; and enabling shifts to greater resilience, sustainability and impact. She believes in carving institutional spaces that are more nimble, transparent and creative. For the last decade she has worked for the Nova Scotia government’s departments of Health, Justice (NSHRC), Labour & Advanced Education, Business (ERDT), Service Nova Scotia & Internal Services and Infrastructure & Housing. There, Louise advanced work on social labs in government, convened Policy Circles to encourage connection & communication among policy professionals on timely topics and initiated interdepartmental collaborations to support wellness and career advancement of Black women. She co-Chaired the African-Canadian Women in the Public Service Network (ACWPS). Unafraid of challenge or change, Louise has a deep commitment to advancing social justice and anti-racism. She has guided the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre’s reorganization as their interim Board Chair, co-led a Black Women and Leadership Forum and facilitated organizational & strategic planning sessions for a variety of community organizations. She sits on the Board of Directors of the CUA and previously volunteered with the Health Association of African Canadians ( ), the Halifax Local Immigrant Partnership ( ), and as co-founder & Board Secretary for the Freetown Initiative (now ). She was also the co-chair of the 2019 Canadian Evaluation Society National Conference. Louise is able to seamlessly navigate among the cultures of community, non-profit, business and government to make incredible things happen. She holds graduate degrees in Applied Health Services Research and Plant Biochemistry. She is a proud mother of a young toddler and is often creatively fired up about a wide range of subjects. To relax, she gardens, reads, explores new places in the Atlantic region and enjoys talks about system change on patios or in living rooms with friends. /episode/index/show/82b713b9-f5fd-4bc6-9284-e1a67866f08f/id/27224859

08 - How might we create antiracist futures? with Ivan Okello 05/10/2023

07 - What makes abortion such a polarizing topic? with Katie Davey 04/19/2023

06 - How might you be a Muslim Canadian? with Aatif Baskanderi 04/05/2023

05 - What are the responsibilities of being a Canadian? with Inda Intiar 03/22/2023

05 - What are the responsibilities of being a Canadian? with Inda Intiar Inda Intiar is a first-generation immigrant based in the Siknikt district of the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, in a city colonially known as Moncton, NB. She is a storyteller and facilitator who brings a global perspective from growing up across multiple countries. Inda is a big believer in the power of storytelling for social impact. She’s currently a member of Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemakers Council, a Transformation Storytelling Fellow with Community Foundations Canada, and a Communications and Outreach Coordinator with Students on Ice Foundation. Inda holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, with honours in International Relations, from St. Thomas University. She has worked in the private and non-profit sectors, with experience in building and delivering education programs for youth in Indonesia, as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives for youth in Canada. Inda has been recognized as a Future of Good Young Impact Leader (2019), a YWCA Moncton Woman of Distinction (2019), and a New Brunswick Cultural Diversity Champion (2018), among other awards. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, the outdoors, music, books and time with loved ones. In this conversation, we discussed the question, “What are the responsibilities of being a Canadian?” in the context of Inda’s journey as an immigrant to Canada, in light of truth and reconciliation, and generally, what having a national identity means. We talked about ‘maplewashing’, which according to is the “alleged tendency of Canadian institutions to sanitize Canadian history” and make it look more favourable than it actually is. Inda referenced the Justin Trudeau quote of 2015, where he stated "There is no core identity. No mainstream in Canada." (). And as always, we talked about what this means for us as individuals living in community and in relation with others, with the aim of finding common ground. I have a lot of gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! If you missed the other episodes, check us out at - and let me know what you think. We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time. /episode/index/show/82b713b9-f5fd-4bc6-9284-e1a67866f08f/id/26304252

04 - How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose? - with Paul Walsh 03/09/2023

04 - How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose? - with Paul Walsh When I was working through the concept of this podcast with Louise Adongo, the executive director of Inspiring Communities, she suggested I consider exploring a theme of right to choose. Right to choose topics are very polarizing: vaccinations, abortion, medical assistance in dying, religious wear, and so many more. Louise had been a stalwart supporter of one of my other projects, Amplify: East - this was a topic exploring the stories of women in their own voices, born out of the frustration that a years ago, no one could seem to find any qualified women to interview. I’m happy to see that trend changing. So when Louise suggested the theme of right to choose and polarization, it felt like a natural link between the explorations of the 2 projects. I met Paul Walsh through Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemaker Council, and he agreed to come have this polarizing conversation with me on the question of: How can disability frame our perception of the right to choose? Paul Walsh is a disability advocate located in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. Paul holds both a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and Master of Business Degrees from Memorial University He has also completed a graduate certificate in Project Management and holds a Chartered Manager designation from CIM/Chartered Managers Canada. He has lived experience with physical disability having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. Paul is proud of his disability culture. Paul has had a successful career in private enterprise, including two years in banking and 33 years in a variety of positions with a private-sector public utility. In addition, Paul was an instructor at Memorial University for over 30 years. Currently, he is Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador where he leads a staff of over 20 professionals dedicated to serving those with autism, those who love them, and those who work with them. Paul is also an active volunteer, serving on a wide variety of boards and commissions. His main areas of interest in his voluntary work are disability rights, inclusion & diversity, social justice and human rights. He is past-Chair of the St. John’s Transportation Commission, a member of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee, and an active church volunteer. Please let me know what you think of this conversation! Some of the themes we explore include: How disability intersects with medical assistance in dying Strategies we can consider as we navigate this very complex topic - disability and the right to choose What makes letting people make their own decisions so polarizing? How compassion and control seem to be mutually exclusive, and what that means for disability and the right to choose As always, much gratitude to Inspiring Communities for supporting season 1 of this podcast series. If you liked this episode, please share it and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! We have some exciting polarizing conversations coming up in the rest of the season - I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey of finding common ground on some of the most difficult topics of our time. /episode/index/show/82b713b9-f5fd-4bc6-9284-e1a67866f08f/id/26175948

03 - How Might We Decentralize Our Stories? - with Shreetee Appadu 02/22/2023

03 - How Might We Decentralize Our Stories? - with Shreetee Appadu Join me for this great conversation with Shreetee Appadu where we explore the question, “How might we decentralize our stories?” I met Shreetee through Inspiring Communities’ Atlantic Changemakers Council. Shreetee is a queer, bisexual, non-binary settler of colour from Mauritius, who moved to kjipuktuk in 2017 for their studies. They did a Bachelor in Environmental studies with a minor in Geography at St. Mary’s University (SMU), and are very passionate about environmental justice, intersectionality and community care. They are a member of the Racialized Student Academic Network coordinated by Dr. Benita Bunjun, which is a closed space for racialised students and alumni. RSAN also organised the Critical Indigenous Race Feminist Studies student conference (CIRFS) where Shreetee presented on the institutionalisation of whiteness in universities along with deconstructing whiteness in the environmental movement. They are currently the Outreach and Administration Coordinator at South House, which is a Sexual and Gender Resource Centre. They are also one of the Residence Coordinator at SMU. They love to create spaces that prioritises 2SQTBIPOC joy and relationships, and love to read and dance. There were a lot of threads and themes to explore in this great conversation. Please accept my apologies for not being able to explore them all due to time! My main takeaway is how we decentralize ourselves by asking ourselves tough questions, exploring our own position in the world, what trauma we’ve experienced - both in our lifetimes and through our ancestors - as well as we center joy amidst all of this. Decreasing polarization starts with ourselves. I hope this conversation helps you deepen your mindset, skillset and toolset in being able to navigate polarizing conversations. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Check out these recommended resources from Shreetee! - bell hooks - Dr. Ingrid Waldron - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson If you liked this episode, please subscribe and share - we can’t wait to share with you our upcoming polarizing conversations! /episode/index/show/82b713b9-f5fd-4bc6-9284-e1a67866f08f/id/26010042

02 - How Might Exploring Our Own Legacy Lead Us to Common Ground? - with KJ Conyers-Steede 02/08/2023

01 - How Might Teaching Debate Skills Help Us Navigate Polarizing Conversations? - with Scott Stirrett, CEO and Founder of Venture for Canada 01/25/2023

Introduction to Polarizing Conversations 01/18/2023

Polarizing Conversations Trailer 01/11/2023

Polarizing Conversations

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