Social Justice Voices Podcast

In this episode, Mia Nieswandt and Isabel Scott sit down with Chantelle Wacchan from the nonprofit, Children of the Street. She gave us thoughtful insight on understanding the nature and prevention of human trafficking, and taught us a lot. Hopefully you'll learn plenty as well, enjoy!

In this episode, Savannah Vigario and Isabelle Chen sit down with Ninu Kang, the Executive Director of "Ending Violence Association of BC" (EVA) to explore their work in supporting survivors of violence, promoting safety in communities, and advocating for meaningful social change across the province. Through her insights and experiences, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the importance of prev...

In this episode, Macy Mercado, Ryan Monaghan, and Erin Teraoka talk with Vancouver activist, social worker, and filmmaker Alex Sangha about his work in the community and the queer South Asian experience. Mr. Sangha is the founder of Sher Vacouver, a charity dedicated to supporting queer South Asians, as well as friends, family, and allies. This conversation with Mr. Sangha highlights the challenge...

In this episode, Rachel Guo, Volan Fan, and Peton Huang sit down with representatives from Chimo Community Services at their Richmond offices! During this enriching discussion, Ms. Dodd, Ms. Sidhu, and Ms. Zaki outline the Homeless Prevention Program (HPP), highlight the importance of housing supports for individuals experiencing homelessness including vulnerable populations, and discuss the chall...

In this episode, Tiffany Feng and Yui Ku catch up with Marika Lopez, a Hugh Boyd Secondary alumni and the Richmond-Delta Youth Parliament Chair. We find Marika's commitment to volunteering in her local community and her advocacy work around epilepsy awe-inspiring and we are confident you will too.

In this episode, Jasmine Dulay and Lordella Ella discuss the issue of discrimination in the model industry with journalist, model, and activist Shivani Persad. Shivani made a name for herself by modelling for companies like Nordstrom, Target and Laura Mercier, and has had her opinion articles featured in the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and Teen Vogue. She was a member of the Model Alliance Leade...

In this episode, Patrick Goncalves, Rory Adams, and Heng Dy sit down with Canadian motivational speaker, author, homelessness advocate, and founder of The Push for Change Foundation, Joseph Roberts (nicknamed the 'Skidrow CEO'). In this in-depth and inspiring conversation, Mr. Roberts details the difficult childhood and adolescent circumstances that led him to become homeless and addicted to drugs...

In this episode, Sophie Chang and Emily Ruiz Lopez sit down with the President of Research Co. and Business in Vancouver Columnist Mario Canseco to talk about his recent research on gender discrimination in B.C. Together, we break down the numbers, and explore how much gender-based job harassment still persists, and how and why social attitudes need to shift.

In this episode, Raymundo Quitola and Renato Moreno talk with Anna Matthews, the Homeless Outreach Program Coordinator for the nonprofit Chimo Community Services. In this fruitful discussion, Ms. Matthews outlines the factors that contribute to suburban homelessness, the programs and resources Chimo offers, and the differences between suburban and 'big city' homelessness.

In this episode, Yubo Qian and Oscar Kan sit down with distinguished UBC Professor Dr. Laura Hurd, who’s rich and in-depth understanding of the topic of ageism is informed by her years of research and teaching. Together we explore the common forms of age discrimination, factors that lead to ageism, ways to combat it, and more.

In this episode, Justin Orpilla and Stephanie Sofikitis talk with Youth Services Coordinator Gabriel Narciso about all things related to youth and their involvement in the community. Mr. Narciso discusses everything from the importance of adult mentorship, community contribution, and social connection, as well as his strengths-based, optimistic approach to work and the potential he sees in youth.

In this episode, Lucie Giesbrecht and Emily Allchin talk with Guy Felicella, a harm reduction advocate and addiction educator who lived for nearly 20 years in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver in a cycle of homelessness, gangs, substance abuse, and jail. Today, Guy works for the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the BC Centre on Substance Use, using his...

In this episode, Lita Mowat and Mia Abgrall sit down with Tiana Sharifi, the founder of Sexual Exploitation Education (SEE)–an agency that provides education and training on exploitation prevention to hundreds of schools and organizations across North America. In this eye-opening conversation, the root causes of exploitation and the pervasiveness of human trafficking in Canada are explored.

In this episode, Peter Loganathan and Calla Mark discuss the climate crisis and our city's response with City of Vancouver Climate Policy Manager Cathy Pasion. Ms. Pasion served as a senior policy advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, and is currently overseeing Vancouver's Climate Emergency Action Plan, which aims to cut city greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. In t...

In this episode, Tilda Janssen and Alessi Ferreira Flauzino sit down with Julie Prodor, a 'Salema Noon' sexual health educator to discuss her organizations unique curriculum, educational gaps that exist today, the stigma around these topics, and a variety of pressing issues, including unwanted pregnancies, contraception, STIs, and more.

In this episode, Aseana Acabado, Emma Errore, and Amelie Link have the privilege of sitting down with the B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Honourable Sheila Malcolmson! In this wide-ranging conversation, Minister Malcolmson's expertise serves as a guide to understanding the overdose crisis and B.C.'s life-saving approach, as well as the province's distinct, no-harm strategy, which in...

In this episode, Jaelyn Wong and Marcos Navarro sit down with Dr. Evan Wood, an addiction medicine physician and distinguished clinician scientist at UBC, whose research on addictions and their treatment is internationally recognized. With Dr. Wood's expertise, we tackle the topic of addictions, the contributing factors, barriers to treatment, and more.

In this episode, Bardya Partovi Nia and Leo Huang discuss the issue of youth, gangs, and recruitment with Professor Indira-Natasha Prahst from the department of Anthropology and Sociology at Langara College. Professor Prahst led a research project called the Youth Alienation Study, which examined the types of alienation youth experience and how that can relate to their vulnerability in joining gan...

In this episode, Elymar Casana, Maya Quay, and Paulina Petrakis speak with Ginny Lam, President & CEO of The World of Kidtropolis. Kidtropolis is an interactive city model designed to provide a safe, unique and realistic educational environment that lets kids to do what they do best: pretend play! Ginny Lam discusses her involvement in the community with the Ukrainian refugee families through...

In this episode, Zeyad Elserafy and Lawrence Chan sit down with Jasleen Saini, the Co-President of Boyd's Interact Club (a Rotary Club affiliate). Jasleen and other Interact members were recently featured in the newspaper for their commendable efforts in cleaning up Richmond shorelines. We discuss her experience with the project, as well as other important local youth community initiatives.

In this episode, Nicole Salom, May Kyla Medalla, and Mat Dion Somblingo chat with Anna-Lisa Nguyen, the Director of Operations for the Youth Mental Health Association (YMHA), a non-profit that works to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health, and help empower youth to become leaders in the mental health sector.

In this episode, Samantha Stolberg and Hilda Zhang talk with Joshua Beharry, the project manager of HeadsUpGuys, a UBC program and anonymous online resource that works to improve mental health literacy among men, reduce the stigma, and help prevent male suicide. Joshua enlightens us on why the stigma persists, how men often struggle with toxic masculinity, how discussing male suicide helps, not hu...

In this episode, Justin Ho and Kelvin Nguyen sit down with Mykhailo Ozorovych, the pastor of Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in New Westminster. Father Ozorovych has family and friends living in Ukraine, and was a part of roundtable discussions with Premier Horgan on the provincial government's plans to support Ukrainian refugees. His church have been instrumental in raising money for...