1834 TALKS

This episode features Yanique Williams, the Public Policy Manager for Uber Canada’s Western region, who transitioned to the tech sector after eight years in Canadian politics. She shares insights on navigating that shift, leading policy initiatives across four provinces, and driving national safety efforts focused on road safety, personal safety, and women's safety. Yanique also discusses her...

In our season 2 finale, we feature the Honourable Audrey Gordon in her first public appearance since 2023! In this episode, Ms. Gordon details her journey to becoming a pathfinder and barrier-breaker in Canadian politics as Manitoba’s first Black Cabinet Minister. Tune in to hear Ms. Gordon share her story, marked by resilience and a strong conviction to serve her community. In this episode, you w...

This episode features 1834 Fellowship mentor Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, the first Vice President of People, Equity, and Inclusion at Simon Fraser University and a prominent leader and scholar in the field of organizational development. In this episode, Dr. Gilpin-Jackson draws on her professional and academic background to highlight the concepts of mentorship, role modelling, and sponsorship. She...

In this episode, Hermon Afowork discusses her experience attending the 2024 United Nations ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) Youth Forum at the UN Headquarters in New York City. As a delegate through the Major Group for Children and Youth, Hermon was part of the North America constituency, joining over 200 youth from around the world. She shares insights from her engagement with other young lea...

This episode is being released in honour of Sickle Cell Awareness Month. It features a conversation with Ufuoma, an alumna of the 1834 Fellowship and founder of the Sickle Cell support organization, NotJustYou. Ufuoma discusses the impactful work her organization does and how her involvement with the 1834 Fellowship opened doors for her to advocate for the sickle cell community. This advocacy incl...

In this episode, Ambassador Nadia Theodore, Canada’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and Head of Canada’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, shares her inspiring journey as the first Black person and woman to hold these roles. She offers valuable advice to Black youth and young adults aspiring to impact global affairs and trade positively. Tune in to hear Ambassador Theodore’s insights on bre...

1834 Talks is a podcast produced by Operation Black Vote Canada (OBVC) and the 1834 Foundation. Named after the year the Slavery Abolition Act was enacted in Canada, the 1834 Foundation, with the support of OBVC, is committed to empowering Canadian Black youth through programs such as the 1834 Fellowship, 1834 Global, and 1834 Debates. These programs are aimed at educating and nurturing Black yout...

If you want to learn from someone who has a fully funded master's degree as a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford, is now a PhD student at Oxford, and is returning to the University of Toronto to complete her medical degree after Oxford, then this is the episode for you! This episode explores the journey of Nicole M'Carthy, an 1834 Fellowship alumna and Rhodes Scholar pursuing her PhD in Translat...

Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of Yvan Kammelu, a Cohort 5 1834 Fellowship Fellow and McCall McBain scholar pursuing a Master of Management Analytics at McGill University's Desautels Business School. The McCall McBain scholarship, a highly selective award, covers full tuition and accommodation costs for graduate studies at McGill. In this episode, Yvan shares his unique insights...

Tune in to hear 1834 Fellowship alumna Donneton Brown discuss Vote16Canada , the groundbreaking movement and Senate bill to lower Canada's federal voting age to 16. In this episode, Donneton explores the importance of the Vote 16 bill, the evidence supporting it, and the bill's significance for Black youth. Additionally, learn about the inaugural Vote 16 Summit that Donneton is organizin...

Tune in for a captivating conversation with Deputy Minister Ako Ufodike, a true trailblazer within Alberta's government and the first Black Deputy Minister in the province. We'll explore his extraordinary journey, spanning from his background in accounting and academia to his current role as Deputy Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism in the provincial public service. With a PhD...

In this episode, we're diving into Esther Muloki's journey from being an 1834 Global alumna to becoming a delegate at the 6th United Nations Environment Assembly in Kenya. Get ready to hear about Esther’s impactful contributions as a delegate and how she got the opportunity to represent Canada alongside Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, at this...

For Episode 8 (Part 2), the 1834 Fellows showcase their journey to Ottawa and discuss how they leveraged their voices to impact public policy through meetings with influential figures in Canadian politics. Tune in to discover their firsthand experiences, including a 90-minute policy discussion with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, witnessing the historic election of the first Black speaker of the Ho...

Aspiring to influence Canadian public policy? The 1834 Fellowship is your gateway to immersive training that can help you nurture your understanding and knowledge of key issues in Canadian public policy. Tune in to this episode to explore Cohort 4's experiences which include engaging in policy workshops, interacting with high-ranking leaders in Canadian public policy, connecting with inspirin...

In this special episode we are joined by Jordan Gray,  the acting national manager for reserve housing at Indigenous Services Canada and a curriculum specialist to our very own 1834 Global. Being of Mi'kmaw and Trinidadian descent, he discusses with us about Black and Indigenous Allyship and his journey in public policy. Tune in to hear more about this exciting episode with Jordan Gray! Host:...

 This episode is a recording of Operation Black Vote Canada’s Fireside Chat with Huda Mukbil, the first Black Arab-Canadian spy at CSIS and the first Muslim hijabi woman at CSIS. This chat was part of Operation Black Vote Canada’s celebration of Women’s History Month. The theme being “Intersectionality: Black Muslim women in politics”. Tune in to hear more about Huda Mukbil and her journey in poli...

In this episode, "Politics 101: How Black Youth Can Get Involved in Canadian Politics,” we dive into politics and explore opportunities for Black youth to engage in government processes. Our guests for today's episode are Robyn Taylor and Josh Dadjo. Robyn Taylor works for Mayor Amarjeet Sohi as a Policy and Research Specialist and as the National Coordinator for the 1834 Fellowship. Jos...

For Episode 4 of 1834 Talks, you’re going to get a special treat! This episode is a recording of Operation Black Vote Canada’s Fireside Chat with Mayor Annette Groves, the first woman of colour to become Mayor of the Town of Caledon. This chat was part of Operation Black Vote Canada’s celebration of Women’s History Month. The theme this year is “Women Who Tell Our Stories”. Tune in to hear more ab...

Welcome to another enlightening episode of 1834 Talks! In this episode, titled "Public Policy 101: How Black Youth Can Get Involved in Canadian Public Policy," we dive into the world of public policy and explore opportunities for Black youth to secure government employment. Our guests for today's episode are Ebenezer Belayneh and Tsahai Carter who both work for the Government of Can...

In our second episode, we spotlight Black student leadership in public policy with our guest, Fariba al-Hassan. She's an 1834 alumna and co-founder of the Black Students in Public Affairs Association (BSPA) at Carleton University. The BSPA recently hosted a groundbreaking conference at the National Gallery of Canada, featuring speakers from the U.S Embassy and it had notable politicians like...

Discover the transformative 1834 Fellowship, a Canadian civic leadership and public policy training program for Black youth in our inaugural episode. Join Hermon Afowork and Iyanu Soyege, both 1834 Fellow alumnae, as they speak with co-founders Velma Morgan and Annamie Paul, the visionary leaders behind this initiative that annually empowers 20 talented Black youth. Explore their mission, the impa...