CLP Session 2 – Continuing the Conversation

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LEADERSHIP HUB CONNECTION

  1. Recommend an article, video or podcast on creating equitable and inclusive communities and/or workplaces
  2. Continue our discussion about neighbourhoods in Peel.  How can we connect different neighbourhoods and communities?
  3. Continue developing your community project ideas – How has this session’s discussion helped you develop your ideas for a community project?

TAKE ACTION!
Explore a new neighbourhood in Peel.

REFLECTION
Reflect on the concept of privilege – How do you recognize and use your privilege?

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    26 comments

    1. “Take Action”: I’m excited to explore some more conservation areas before the weather gets too cold! Also, those tree stump sculptures are amazing, I think there’s one near my neighbourhood in Meadowvale Conservation Area. :]

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      1. I went to Alton Mill Arts Centre! It was a lovely time for a drive into Caledon, and I really enjoyed walking around the Centre to see the bronze sculptures. My favourite displays inside were of watercolour woodblock prints and wood that was stained and painted with a paint knife.

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        1. That’s great Melanie! Glad to hear you had a great time exploring the Caledon area. Looking forward to hearing about adventures that others have been on in the last couple of weeks!

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    3. “Reflection”:  Recognizing my privilege is definitely an ongoing struggle. There’s the privilege that I undeniably have (e.g. being upper-middle class, not having a physical or neurological disability) and privilege that I have by just APPEARING to be a member of a dominant group (e.g. white, cisgender, not having a mental illness)—this is the “passing privilege” that I mentioned last session, and it’s hugely debated. I try to keep my critical thinking skills sharp by reading the work of people who are marginalized, both groups that I identify with and groups that I don’t. And I try to use my privilege by speaking up when a family member or coworker says something prejudiced, by helping out with email/letter-writing campaigns, by donating, and (hopefully more frequently) participating in rallies/protests. I recognize that I have the advantages of money and free time and Whiteness: I can help people who are less fortunate than me, and I can have conversations with people who don’t believe that oppression is happening.

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    4. Question #1: This is just a smattering of articles on various topics that I have found useful. Some of them are about community health and some of them relate to stigma that can appear anywhere, including the workplace…

      https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/04/mental-illnesses-stop-hating-on/ – This article was written by a mental health professional. It’s about reducing prejudice toward people with personality disorders, through understanding trauma and oppression. Also talks about misinformed language such as “psychopath”. I’m still learning, but reading articles and following blogs of youth with personality disorders have helped me second-guess my biases and find more compassion in myself.

      http://sendtherightmessage.ca/allyship – “Send the Right Message” is a Toronto campaign which aims to end prejudice and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. It’s targeted at youth and social media conversations, but there’s a helpful glossary and I’m sure some folks will find the material to be relatable.

      https://thebaffler.com/blog/laurie-penny-self-care – This article is a criticism of the self-care movement. It’s long and very lingo-heavy, but I’ve found it to be really enlightening. I don’t agree with every statement, though. A couple of extra points: I’m pretty sure the Audre Lorde quotation at the bottom was originally directed at Black women. And, I don’t recall this article mentioning “community-care”, which is a variation on self-care that emphasizes building deep friendships and looking after each other in various ways.

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      1. Thank you for posting these great resources Melanie! I will add some of these to the resource list that we all have access to. I’d encourage you to share as much as you can in the Participant Resources folder so that we have a number of resources in the same place.

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    5. Question #2:
      -Bulletin boards in community centres, athletic centres, and arts hubs, showing events in other neighbourhoods
      -Events that connect schools and their students w/ each other, perhaps arts or social justice initiatives
      -Large cultural events getting ads on buses and bus shelters
      -Social media
      -(if permitted in by-laws) Flyers handed out in GO stations during rush hour, info booths or info people at city centres like Square One

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      1. These are great suggestions. I would challenge you to think even further about how we can ensure information sharing and meaningful connections between neighbourhoods and communities. Besides posting information on bulletin boards and on bus shelters and handing out flyers, how do we create a culture of support, and connection? What types of projects can we take on that can address the geographic dispersion of information/services/opportunities in Peel?

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    6. Question #3: The leadership chart got me thinking about the kind of leader I am and want to be, and how I can work better as a team member. And the privilege circle reminded me to step back and always listen to marginalized voices. The people I want to serve in my career know what they need and often know how to get it—my job is to help them be their own leaders.

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      1. That’s great. Bring all of these thoughts and reflections to our next session. We will be dedicating a fair amount of time to working on our community projects, so any new ideas you have about integrating self-awareness around leadership and privilege are welcome!

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    7. https://vimeo.com/220529601

      Here is a video that speaks to the kind of inclusive communities I try to create and be a part of.

      One is through education,second volunteering with peace projects with youth and third through interfaith dialogue and action.

      This video is highlighting the achievements of three different groups that happen to mirror several of my interests.

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    9. As for exploring, my work takes me around the region, but it’s a big place and I am always discovering new areas. Last week I found myself in Bolton, which is a part of Caledon. There is a lot of natural beauty here, but also a lot more activity than I realized. They have some great facilities, so if you’re willing to drive north, it’s worth it. Mississauga can be a bit crowded, but Caledon has space that just needs more people to make good use of it. I visited The Exchange, a community hub and food provider for low-income families. It is a rather unique space for our region in the way it brings coworking and collaboration to a higher level. There are many good initiatives in Peel, but I think we need to align more of these efforts.

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    10. Hello friends: I must mention about a neighbourhood around UTM. Its worth going for a drive around it. Its calm, peaceful, full of nature and nobody will be tailgaiting you.

      Riverwood Conservancy still have some fall colors and its worth going there if someone wants to get out of the city noice and pollution. I noticed that my walk speed reduced and my breathing became deep as soon as I entered into the park. The gushing sound of the riverlets flowing in the park can reduce anybody’s blood pressure.

      Please check that out for a long walk or if you want to drown into your own thoughts. It is at Burnamhthorpe and Mississauga Rd in Mississauga.

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    11. I gave a thought to the origin of the word privilege. I think, it came from a situation where some people have to fight in their daily life for basic human rights such as food, shelter and clothing and some were born with it. Some people will fight for getting basic respect from others and some are born with it. I think this difference of having basic human rights and not having those, gave to the birth of the word privilege.

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    12. I recommend you all to visit the Benares Historic House at Clarkson Village. We can learn a lot about the life in this region and the Museum tell us a lot about how was the life of the pioneers in Mississauga.

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      1. Suely, thank you for posting this article. I would encourage us to think about the concepts of power and privilege as they relate to Indigenous Peoples – what has/has not changed since 1966? How can we work towards meaningful reconcilitation between newcomers and Indigenous People in Peel Region?

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