Season 2, Episode 1: Awareness and the Journey to Inclusion with Grace Estrada

09/29/21 • 37 min

This episode is released during the Week for Truth and Reconciliation. We honour the First Peoples of Turtle Island and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We commit ourselves to education, awareness, and action.

Journey with us as we explore our place in the world, unpacking current issues and gifts in discussion with Grace Estrada—Grace's life, beautifully expressed in her work and studies between Medicine and Community Development, explores the gift of awareness and the journey to inclusion, while highlighting hope through challenging times and the voice and engagement of community as critical paths to inclusion. Grace is guided in part by a passion for sustainable development, diversity, equity and inclusion, anti-oppression initiatives, and social justice.
Grace Estrada is an atypical learner, returning to studies for a new degree as an international student in Community Development. Grace has had a complex journey, including many facets of self-discovery. Her studies in Medicine and experience in community-health outreach led Grace to discover a passion for community engagement and a desire to bridge inequalities faced by those who have been most marginalized. Choosing to be a mature student and to return to school in another country, as she continues this journey, has opened many pathways for Grace and she is excited to share these with us. She feels that sharing these steps may help others to find their own calling, and to develop new pathways, especially those who are atypical students or who may return to study later in life.
Original Music by iain asio. Lead Artist, Album Art: Rebecca Seaby. Lead Artist, Logo: Xuanqiao ‘Flora’ Wang

Previous Episode

Season 1, Episode 6: Finding Voice Along the Journey with Dr. Yvonne Asare-Bediako

Journey with us as we explore our place in the world, unpacking current issues and gifts in discussion with Dr. Yvonne Asare-Bediako—Dr. Asare-Bediako's work across academic and community settings explores the power of voice along our journey, while highlighting health education and research in social inequality and mental health.
Dr. Asare-Bediako is a health educator and researcher with over 15 years of experience working across academic and community settings to translate research evidence into practice. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, with expertise in social inequality and mental health. A Black immigrant woman with a passion for system reform and social justice, Yvonne is intentional in her work with racialized women and has led several innovative projects that foster service equity and psychosocial wellbeing. She currently manages a social entrepreneurship that is invested in providing culturally-grounded services to Black-identifying persons. Her utmost ambition is to project the voices of those who are usually absent at the decision table; a value she enjoys inculcating into her students while fulfilling one of her greatest passions - Teaching. Dr. Asare Bediako has not only been a leader in Women’s education, through her thought-provoking and insightful lectures she has also motivated her students to think critically and engage actively in society.
Original Music by iain asio. Lead Artist, Album Art, Rebecca Seaby. Lead Artist, Logo, Xuanqiao ‘Flora’ Wang

Next Episode

Season 2, Episode 2: Journey to Community with Ursuline, Dr. Mary Frances Dorschell

Journey with us as we explore our place in the world, unpacking current issues and gifts in discussion with Ursuline, Dr. Mary Frances Dorschell—Sr. Mary Frances' work across academic and community settings explores the power of community along our journey, while highlighting the relationships we are called to build, the value of students, and the importance of supportive interactions with each and every member.
Sr. Mary Frances Dorschell, professor emerita, and Ursuline educator, shares elements of her life’s work, teaching, and community support. Her journey has included several degrees, time as an international student, the creation of the French for Teaching Program at Brescia, and many facets of administration, leadership and support to campus and community. Her experience in education led Sr. Mary Frances to discover a call to teaching and a desire to journey with students as they explore life and their pathways. She is excited to share her experience with us, just as she did throughout campus and with students in “The Supper Club”. We miss our daily interactions with her and know that this “virtual” return to campus in The Journey’s Gift will be a gift to all those on campuses and beyond!
Original Music by iain asio. Lead Artist, Album Art, Rebecca Seaby. Lead Artist, Logo, Xuanqiao ‘Flora’ Wang