Join us online Dec. 7, 4:30pm
Challenging the Norms:
Antisemitism in Education Today
We have assembled a diverse panel
to answer your questions
MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTER
Our Vision: Completely inclusive Social Justice Education such that no learner, educator, family, caregiver or community member is silenced or marginalized.
Conference Dec. 5
Stop the Hate—Start the Dialogue
Strategies to Decrease Polarization in Education and the Workplace
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024—9:00am-4:00pm ET
Central Toronto Location
Registrants will be informed after they purchase tickets
This timely one-day symposium will open with dynamic keynote speakers who will focus on human rights and the polarization in today’s human rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion spaces.
A dynamic closing plenary session will allow participants to share ideas and recommendations gleaned from the workshops and hear further strategies for building allies and modeling respectful dialogue.
Programme and Schedule
9:00am-9:30am
Registration, light breakfast, displays and networking
9:30am-10:0am
Welcome, Introduction, and Land Acknowledgement—Chris D’Sousa, Leslie Wolfe
10:00am-11:00am
Issues in DEI Work Today
Perspectives on How to Stop the Hate and Start the Conversation
Moderator: Indira Naidoo-Harris
Speakers:
Harry LaForme
Mark Sandler
Hamlin Grange
Rabia Khedr
11:00am-11:15am
Break
11:15pm-12:30pm
Morning Breakout Sessions: Addressing Issues and Challenges
Registered participants will be able to select from one of four workshops
- Bridging Divides—Guiding Brave Conversations
A. Harmony Movement—Classroom Issues
B. DiversiPro—Workplace Issues - What is Hate and What isn’t Hate and How Do We Counter It?
- Arab/Jewish, Muslim/Jewish Relations: Debate or Dialogue?
- Exploring Ethnic Diversity and Intersectionality—No Silence on Race
12:30pm-1:30pm
Lunch, Resource Displays, and Networking
Lunch will be provided, please include dietary restrictions when registering.
1:30pm-3:15pm
Afternoon Breakout Sessions: From Issues to Action
Registered participants will be able to select from one of four workshops
- Union Duty of Fair Representation in Difficult Geopolitical Times
- The Key Role of the Administrator—What You Need to Know and Do to Manage Conflict
- Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake—Tools for Classrooms
- Facing History and Ourselves—An Inclusive Approach to Countering Antisemitism
3:15pm-4:15pm
Closing Plenary
Moving Forward, Building Bridges and Strengthening Alliances
Angela Marinos leads off a panel of students and allies.
List of Speakers
Lois Agard
Coordinating Superintendent, Education, Equity, ISCS, Research & Assessment Services at York Region District School Board
The Key Role of the Administrator – What you need to know and do
Shafiq Aziz
Director of Programs, Harmony Movement
Bridging Divides—Guiding Classroom Conversations on Global Conflict with Empathy and Respect
Chris D’Souza
Teacher, equity and anti-oppression activist
Welcome, Introduction and Land Acknowledgement
Aneta Fishman
Principal, York Region District School Board, former Human Rights and Equity Education Principal
The Key Role of the Administrator – What you need to know and do.
Howard Goldblatt
Leading labour law practitioner representing trade unions and their members
Union Duty of Fair Representation in Difficult Geopolitical Times
Hamlin Grange
Diversity and inclusion strategist, Founder/President/CEO of DiversiPro Inc., journalist and broadcaster
Keynote Panel—Issues and Challenges in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Ahmed Khalifa
Principal Architect of the API gateway and marketplace at Telus. Active in Arab/Jewish Dialogue and on the Advisory Committee for Heart to Heart, a Canadian program creating a safe space for Jewish and Palestinian teenagers to share their hearts and minds.
Arab/Jewish and Muslim/Jewish Relations- Dialogue or Debate ?
Saleha Khan
Change agent; executive coach; leader-developer; intercultural communication expert; community engagement facilitator
What is hate and what isn’t hate…AND How do we counter it?
Rabia Khedr
Principal of diversityworX. Former Ontario Human Rights Commissioner social entrepreneur. Member of Minister’s Disability Advisory Group: National Director of Disability Without Poverty and CEO of DEEN Support Services.
Keynote Panel—Issues and Challenges in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Raja Khouri
Former Ontario Human Rights Commissioner. Co-founder of the Canadian Arab-Jewish Leadership Dialogue. Host of Khouri Conversation.
Arab/Jewish and Muslim/Jewish Relations- Dialogue or Debate ?
Harry S. LaForme
Former judge on the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario and first indigenous person to be appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal..
Keynote Panel—Issues and Challenges in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Inbal Marcovitch
A multidisciplinary economist, social entrepreneur and public servant who leverages the power of research, innovation, and collaboration to create positive impact to support the well-being of Canadians. She remains active in Arab/Jewish, Israeli/Arab dialogue and peace programs.
Arab/Jewish and Muslim/Jewish Relations- Dialogue or Debate ?
Angela Marinos
Chief General Counsel, The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
Strengthening Allyship!
Karen Mock
Human rights consultant, psychologist and teacher educator. Acting Chair of Enhancing Social Justice Education.
Symposium Coordinator
Elizabeth Moore
Speaker, writer, and educator on racist extremism and EDI writer/researcher
What is hate and what isn’t hate…AND How do we counter it?
Indira Naidoo-Harris
Associate Vice-President of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph; Former Ontario Minister of Education.
Keynote Panel—Issues and Challenges in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Barb Perry
Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University. UNESCO Chair in Hate Studies, Associate Professor and leading author the subjects.
What is hate and what isn’t hate…AND How do we counter it?
Jordan Rappaport
Equity and Inclusive Education Consultant, York Region Board of Education.
Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake – Practical Tools for the Classroom
Mark Sandler
One of Canada’s leading criminal defence lawyers, human right advocate, and current chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism.
Keynote Panel—Issues and Challenges in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Randal Schnoor
Religious Studies and Jewish Studies professor at York University. Advisor to Bridging the Gap, (Jewish-Arab, Israel-Palestine Dialogue Group).
Arab/Jewish and Muslim/Jewish Relations- Dialogue or Debate ?
Larry Swartz
Instructor in literacy and dramatic arts, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, with a focus on using children’s literature to help young people grow and how teachers can address tough topics..
Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake – Practical Tools for the Classroom
Irfan Toor
Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Ontario Principals’ Council
The Key Role of the Administrator—What You Need to Know and Do to Manage Conflict
Susan Ursel
Senior lawyer in the public sector and public sector trade unions and associations with a focus on labour board matters, pay equity, human rights, judicial reviews and appellate litigation.
Union Duty of Fair Representation in Difficult Geopolitical Times
Leslie Wolfe
Educator and human right advocate; Past president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, Toronto District
Opening Plenary and Union Duty of Fair Representation in Difficult Geopolitical Times
Sara Yacobi-Harris
Director of content and programming at No Silence on Race. Director, producer and co-writer of the multimedia project, Periphery.
Exploring Ethnic Diversity and Intersectionality—No Silence on Race
About the Conference
This timely one-day symposium will open with dynamic keynote speakers focusing on human rights and the polarization in today’s human rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion spaces.
A diverse plenary panel of recognized experts will provide an overview of current challenges facing our target audience: anti-racist, anti-oppression, diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioners, as well as managers, union officials and administrators in educational settings and public and private sector workplaces. The focus will be on human rights principles, systemic oppression, and the intersection of oppressions, and on best practices to reduce polarization of conversations concerning today’s international conflicts and their fallout in Canada today.
Participants will choose from a number of practical workshops in the morning and afternoon, relevant to their specific sectors. Workshop facilitators will create safe spaces within which frank discussion can occur, and will model strategies and skills used to reduce polarization, as well as provide practical resources for countering hate and extremism.
A dynamic closing plenary session will allow for sharing of ideas and recommendations emanating from the workshops, as well as hearing further strategies to build allies and model respectful dialogue.
Participants will come from the education sector, other public sector agencies (eg law enforcement, health care), human rights organizations, or workplaces where they wish to share concerns and improve morale and productivity by addressing polarization in discussions about current human rights issues. We expect all participants to come away with a deeper understanding that all equity-seeking identities must be affirmed and that countering all forms of racism and discrimination (including antisemitism and Islamophobia) must be addressed in any anti-racism, anti-oppression, diversity, equity and inclusion framework. They will also glean effective strategies to ensure respectful dialogue and reduce polarization during difficult conversations. Finally, they will come away with more allies and practical skills, resources, plans, and recommendations to implement in their workplaces and communities.
Registration includes light breakfast and lunch, and a complimentary copy of the book Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake.
For more information please contact info@esjeducation.ca
Enhancing Social Justice Education Group
What we believe:
- Human rights, anti-racism and anti-oppression principles are the foundation of Equity Diversity and Inclusion programs that must be extended to all identifiable groups in accordance with Canadian human rights codes, laws and values;
- Today’s increasing polarization can and should be addressed by enhancing social justice education to ensure it is completely inclusive;
- Training on how to have difficult conversations in order to decrease divisiveness and politicization in workplaces and classrooms is essential.
What we do:
- Provide educational programs and resources for all staff and students at all levels of the education system, and for any interested organizations or workplaces in the public or private sector;
- Adhere to inclusive anti-racist, anti-oppression, diversity, equity and inclusive education principles; and
- Pay careful attention to systemic oppression, to the intersection of oppressions and to human rights principles.
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