ABOUT THIS EVENT
Diversity Circles & BCIT RDI (Respect, Diversity, Inclusion) partner with BCIT Broadcast & Media Communications and BCIT Alumni Association on Anti-Racism initiative!
We have launched an exciting project which will include exclusive interviews produced and aired by BCIT Broadcast & Media Communications with high profile BCIT Alumni on the topic of Anti-Racism. These exclusive interviews will be recorded and produced in February and early March by BCIT’s Television & Video Production Program, and premiere the week of March 15. The video moderator is Maria Vinca, BCIT Broadcast & Online Journalism Alumni, Broadcast & Media Communications spokesperson.
The video is now live!
This Event: Diversity Circles Anti-Racism Dialogue
This community dialogue will:
- Be a conversation within the broader context of BCIT’s Anti-Racism* activities
- Encourage our community to reflect on and respond to the video interviews produced by BCIT Broadcast & Media Communications
- Be a chance to hear from special guest speakers (see bios below!)
*President Kathy Kinloch authorized the creation of the Anti-Racism Working Group composed of employees from across the Institute. This Group, supported by the BCIT Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Office, completed broad consultation with our community through a Thought Exchange and other venues, and worked with a consulting team on finalizing an action framework to guide Anti-Racism activities and initiatives at BCIT.
Register below and a Zoom link will be emailed directly to registrants.
ASL interpretation will be provided. Please let us know if you have any additional needs to participate. This session is open to all members of the BCIT student, staff, faculty, and internal partner (e.g. student association, alumni association) community.
Special Guests
Opening remarks will also be provided by Kathy Kinloch (BCIT President) and Shereen Tayles (BCIT Associate Director, Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion Office)
Carleen Thomas (BCIT Elder, Indigenous Initiatives & Partnerships)
Carleen Thomas is from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver; Tsleil-Waututh means “People of the Inlet” referring directly to the whole of Burrard Inlet, Indian River, and the Indian Arm. Carleen earned her Bachelor of Education degree from UBC in 2003 and spent 16 years as an elected Council Member for her Nation. Carleen’s key influences in her life are her grandparents: Hereditary Chief John L. George & Lillian “Dolly” George and her maternal Grandmother Caroline Thomas nee: Joseph. Their teachings, unconditional love, and most of all, patience in guiding and preparing Carleen will last a lifetime.
Orene Askew (She/Her)
BCIT Alumnus (Broadcast) and member of the Squamish Nation, Orene Askew, aka DJ O Show, is driven by her passion. She is Afro-Indigenous and Two-Spirited and feeling as though she stood out in a unique way, she has embraced both her cultural backgrounds and incorporates the teachings she has learned into everything she does.
She is an elected member of Squamish Nation Council. O Show has DJ’d the red carpet for Vancouver Fashion Week and was voted the official DJ for YES in Ottawa since 2012 and the official DJ for Gathering Our Voices for five years. She is a recipient of a 2015 BC Indigenous Business Award and a 2018 Stand Out Award from the Vancouver Pride Society.
Wafaa Barakat (She/Her)
Wafaa completed an International Business Management diploma, followed by a BBA from BCIT. Upon graduating, she started working at BCIT Student Association as a Student Development Coordinator, helping students transition into their ultimate career. During her time at BCIT, Wafaa was the VP Student Affairs at the BCIT Student Association and served on the BCIT Education Executive Board. Wafaa was the recipient of the 2018 BCIT President Award. Her involvement in the community range from volunteering at NISA Shelter and fundraising for children fleeing war as well as serving on the executive board for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation.
Karl Chen (They/He)
Karl, the recipient of the 2019 LOUD Pride Youth Scholarship, is an event planner, community builder, and activist recognized for their work advancing LGBTQIA2+ lives and commitment to social justice and queer liberation. As the founder of RYSE Professional Asian Network – a space of 61,000+ members sharing their experiences as racialized individuals in professional settings and uplift each other through dialogue and mentorship – Karl has cultivated a network that recognizes a range of identities and has vocalized the need to advocate for IBPOC representation in the larger queer community. Navigating life as a person with many intersecting identities, Karl’s goal is to uplift as many disenfranchised populations as possible and believes in change through education and action.
Moderator: Sharad Kharé (He/Him)
Sharad Kharé is a storyteller, documentarian and the founder of Human Biography, a Vancouver-based content agency that produces original video content for the most incredible humans, brands, and organizations across the globe. Sharad has documented people such as Dalai Lama, Meryl Streep, Arianna Huffington, Chip Wilson, Susan Sarandon, Val Kilmer, Maye Musk, and Katy Perry, just to name a few, as well as many leaders and CEOs from all over the world. Human Biography has also created content for organizations such as TED, Microsoft, UN Women, Beedie, RBC, The David Lynch Foundation, Goldcorp, BCIT and many more. This may include video content for advertising, social media, or for educational purposes. They have captured stories in Canada and all across North America, as well as Europe, Asia and the UK.
Sharad holds a Masters degree in communications, where his academic research focused on personal and digital legacy. He is also the co-founder of “The Indigenous Collective” and has been a prolific collaborator with the Indigenous community, directing and producing video projects that capture First Nations stories and culture. Sharad serves on the board of the Live Big Society, and BC Cancer, and is currently the President of TIE Vancouver – a chapter of a global entrepreneur group that mentors and advises some of the most active entrepreneurs in the world.
Post-Event Update
Below is an image done by Drawing Change at the event. We are grateful to have some of the messages and stories captured in this beautiful way. Click image to expand.
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