Ogaden: ONLF Representative to Deliver Keynote Address at Social Justice Forum in Edmonton
Photo Courtesy of Concordia University of Edmonton
On 11 and 12 February 2017, UNPO Vice President and ONLF representative Abdirahman Mahdi will be attending the 2nd Annual Social Justice Forum hosted by the Ogaden Somali Community of Alberta Residents (OSCAR) and Concordia University of Edmonton in Canada. A series of panels will address key issues surrounding institutional racism, ranging from topics such as education and public institutions to indigenous and immigrant perspectives. The forum will bring together an impressively diverse group of participants: elected officials, minority rights organisations, professors, local civil servants, students, refugees, public policy experts, and members of the Ogaden community abroad. Mr Mahdi will be delivering a keynote speech entitled Horn of Africa Geo-Politics on the final day of the forum.
Below is a press release published by Ogaden Somali Community of Alberta Residents (OSCAR):
At 9:00 am, on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12, 2017, Concordia University Edmonton and the Ogaden Somali Community of Alberta Residents (OSCAR) present the second annual Social Justice Forum, with this year’s theme of Unpacking Institutional Racism: Decisions, Practices, Procedures and Policies.
“This conference will bring together eminent persons from academia, government, media, and our community to unpack institutional racism in our schools, communities and workplaces, and develop community led solutions to address it.” says Ahmed Abdulkadir, Executive Director of OSCAR.
On Saturday, the gathered participants will hear presentations on institutional racism including perspectives from federal and provincial governments, education, public/community services, indigenous and immigrant experiences, and developing community led solutions.
Sunday’s events feature a keynote speech on Horn of Africa Geo-Politics by Abdirahman Mahdi, followed by the panel discussion Moving Forward from Institutional Racism to Human Rights.
Panelists will include:
The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi (Minister of Infrastructure and Communities), Kerry Diotte, MP (Edmonton sbach), Linda Duncan, MP (Edmonton Strathcona), David Shepherd, MLA (Edmonton Centre), Mike Ellis, MLA (Calgary-West), Moe Banga, Councillor for Ward 12, Dave Loken, Councillor for Ward 3, Lewis Cardinal, Frankline Agbor, Ahmed Abdulkadir, Deputy Chief Brian Simpson, Inspector Dan Jones, Justin Otteson, Fowsia Abdulkadir, Lise Robinson, Helen Rusich, Mahamud Ugas, Jonathan Alpeyrie, Hassan Moalin, Neil Querengesser, Kaitlin Lauridson, Jean Walrond, Anna Kirova, Bashir Ahmed, John McCoy, Mohamed Osman, Farzad Zare-Bawani, Tim Loreman, Sandra Song, Folakemi Ojo, David Creighton, and Irshad Shariff.
