Event: Dialogues of the Diaspora #2: Breaking stereotypes: An afternoon of art, exchange and discovery
Join us for the second Dialogues of the Diaspora, an immersive 4-hour event that this time tackles the prickly issue of stereotypes affecting different communities! Open to all, this event offers a unique opportunity to discover, explore and discuss the complex issues surrounding the origins of stereotypes, their impact on the mental health of those who experience them, and how best to deconstruct them!
Event objectives:
- Understand and deconstruct stereotypes affecting women from the African diaspora.
- Stimulate reflection and dialogue on these issues between different communities.
- Explore new approaches to tackling the challenges of stereotyping’s impact on mental health.
The public was able to take part in:
1.A visual art exposition
In partnership with Never Was Average and exhibition clerk Joanna Chevalier, the exposition showcased..:
- Four works by photographer Oumayma, featuring portraits of veiled Muslim women who go against the usual image of them;
- Four paintings by painter Sfiya explore the complexity of identities and the journeys of the African diaspora, seeking to understand where certain beliefs come from. Her works combine painting and augmented reality, giving the public a unique interactive experience!
This artistic installation offered a profound and powerful vision of identity intersections, tackling the theme of stereotypes in a variety of ways. The primary aim was to raise awareness of the essential questions surrounding these issues.
2.A workshop and a conversation
In groups of 25, participants had the chance to take part in..:
- A workshop by Shadei B. Miclisse, founder of Atelier en Boucle, whose mission is to educate and deconstruct the stereotypes surrounding frizzy, curly and frizzy hair, which are often the source of discrimination in Canadian society, but also of discomfort for those concerned!
- A conversation moderated by Stecy Baragengana, creator of the “Le Bond Is Real” podcast, was a safe space in which participants opened up about how stereotypes have impacted and continue to impact their daily lives. It was one of the few places where they could open up, understand each other and find solutions to overcome these issues.
They also left the workshop with a list of specialized mental health contacts.
Resources:
The Un livre à soi bookstore also offered a selection of books on the subject for sale, so that attendees could deepen their knowledge even after the event!
