Candidate #1: Adrian D’Alessandro
1. Are you running as a student or community member?
I am a community member.
2. What kind of skills and experience (volunteer, work, life) would you bring to the OPIRG Board?
I have experience within activist movements, both as a leader of action and as a supporter and labourer. I have experiences as a student of the physical sciences. And, I have experiences as a janitor. I have designed electronics, programs, websites, and poems. Every single one of the experiences has provided valuable insight into how the world around me functions and operates. I do not believe any single experience is any more valuable than the other. However, I will list some concrete skills, passions and
knowledge that I have that I believe are valuable to the OPIRG Board. I have:
– An understanding of equity, and anti-oppression
– A commitment to equity and anti-oppression related activism
– A commitment to community activism
– An understanding of networking within activist communities
– The ability to use social media and web development as a platform for social justice
– An understanding of research, and research methods
– The ability to effectively organize myself and others
3. Why are you interested in becoming a Board member?
I believe strongly in equity, and anti-oppression. And, I am a adamant proponent of the power of research and activism to cause lasting and meaningful change. As a community member and active member of an OPIRG action group, I feel strongly that if there exists spaces where I can help forward the agenda of community resilience and activism then I should actively pursue those opportunities. Becoming an OPIRG board member is one of those opportunities.
4. List three goals that you would like to see accomplished by the OPIRG Board.
i) I would like to see OPIRG expand further into other mediums for social change, such as digital media. Having culture-wide dialogues about anti-oppression provides a way for individuals to access OPIRG as a hub of community activism
ii) I am incredibly impressed with the research work that has been done by OPIRG, and I would like to see the research surrounding environmental and social activism, and the local community, expanded further.
iii) I would like to see the OPIRG board work to create stronger community ties, and connect all facets of activism in the community.
5. OPIRG is continuing to work on issues of anti-oppression, which include, but are not limited to, anti-racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
a. What are some of the ways that you think oppression can affect our work on social and environmental justice?
Oppression exists in many forms. Oppression is intrinsically tied into social and environmental justice. The systems of harm that are linked to oppression are often the same systems that cause social and environmental injustices. Anti-oppression and social and environmental justice are intrinsically linked, and it important for an activist to reflect on the ways that racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, ageism and any other medium of oppression intersects with their position, their space, and
their work.
b. Do you have any experience(s) or ideas that you can contribute to our work on anti-oppression?
There is no one way to challenge oppression. My method of contribution is to recognize that I am constantly learning, and to provide space for those with experience to guide my development as an activist. If I can listen and learn and let the experiences of others help shape my perspectives then I am equipped to understand the broader landscape of anti-oppression work and pursue meaningful change.
Candidate #2: Liz Homer
1. Are you running as a student or community member?
Student
2. What kind of skills and experience (volunteer, work, life) would you bring to the OPIRG Board?
Firstly, I bring communication skills. I have many years of customer service experience, from which I maintained a senior level position responsible for training staff, and assisting the owners of the establishment. I have volunteered for Women in Crisis for five years now, which has exposed me to not only issues that I am very passionate about, but also how anti-oppression NGOs run. While in my undergrad I participated in the Peer-Helper Program at University of Guelph, during which I engaged in multiple workshops on conflict management and communication strategies that have enabled me to be diplomatic and efficient while working with groups both small and large.
3. Why are you interested in becoming a Board member?
I’m interested in becoming a board member for two reasons. Firstly, I am very passionate about social and environmental justice, which align with OPIRG’s mandate. I think supporting and encouraging events and activities that promote student and community well-being are extremely important, especially for issues that are often marginalized. Secondly, I would like to gain experience with OPIRG that I will be able to carry with me for future endeavors. OPIRG Guelph is a great place for me to network, learn and gain skills that I can use while working for like-minded foundations and NGO’s in my career.
4. List three goals that you would like to see accomplished by the OPIRG Board.
a. I would like to see the OPIRG Guelph board participate in more active team building activities and training workshops promoting different group facilitation and communication techniques.
b. I would like to see the OPIRG Guelph board maintain active and engaged relationships with on campus student organizations such as the Aboriginal Students Association (ASA).
c. I would like the OPIRG Guelph board to continue to stay up to date with and actively encourage new partnerships, endorsements and donations towards both student and community organizations and like-minded individuals.
5. OPIRG is continuing to work on issues of anti-oppression, which include, but are not limited to, anti-racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
a. What are some of the ways that you think oppression can affect our work onsocial and environmental justice?
Oppression can and will deliberately limit and impede on all of the work OPIRG does. Oppression exactly contradicts OPIRG’s main tenets and therefore, it can completely inhibit successes from occurring. It can also prevent learning and growth, inhibiting new ideas, conversations and individuals from joining and bringing their unique experiences to the organization; this is the exact opposite of what we want.
b. Do you have any experience(s) or ideas that you can contribute to our work on anti-oppression?
I have training from my volunteer orientation with Women in Crisis that directly dealt with privilege and anti-oppression both inside and outside the institution. I think that some of the activities that were used in this training can be applied to events that OPIRG takes part in both on campus and in the community. Additionally, this training has enabled me to be hyper-aware of oppressive structures and barriers that might impede inclusion.
Candidate #3: Naomi Horst
1. Are you running as a student or community member?
Student
2. What kind of skills and experience (volunteer, work, life) would you bring to the OPIRG Board?
I have been sitting on the board as an appointed member since October. As such I already have extensive experience with how the board works, the goals of the board and staff, and am involved in multiple committees (Symposium Committee, HR Committee, and Partnership Committee).
I have strong oral and written communication skills, facilitation experience, anti-oppression training, consensus training, and a passion for environmental and social justice
I also have a strong research skills. As a current master’s student in Geography I research ethical consumption and the role of information in creating change in consumer behaviour. My undergraduate research is especially fitting for this position, as I researched sustainable universities and strategies for improving sustainability on campus.
3. Why are you interested in becoming a Board member?
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a board member for the last 4 months and hope to continue in this position. I feel that I have essential skills needed to contribute to the board and give support to OPIRG’s amazing staff and action groups. I am invested in OPIRG’s mandate and want to ensure that we fulfill our goals and obligations to our student and community members.
4. List three goals that you would like to see accomplished by the OPIRG Board.
I would like to see us embrace our research mandate and provide more support to students and community members engaged with environmental and social justice research. Specifically, I would like to increase the visibility of our radical library, see that we continue to host a research symposium each year, and would like to continue to explore a research for credit program.
As a current appointed board member, I hold the archiving portfolio. I would like to see OPIRG create a new cloud storage system that improves transparency and organization of our organization. At the moment, our filing system is a little chaotic and I would like to put my organizational talents to work and create a new organizational system for OPIRG.
I would like to see the board continue to embrace an Anti-Oppression framework and improve on the accessibility and equality of our hiring, training, and other policies.
5. OPIRG is continuing to work on issues of anti¬-oppression, which include, but are not limited to, anti–racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
a. What are some of the ways that you think oppression can affect our work on social and environmental justice?
I think that oppression can affect our work in social and environmental justice in many ways, including but not limited to: whose voices are heard, who is involved in decision making and what gets prioritized. I aim to reduce oppression through advocating for accessibility, and working harder to have the voices of marginalized people heard and their decisions counted.
b. Do you have any experience(s) or ideas that you can contribute to our work on anti¬-oppression?
I have received Anti-Oppression employer training that was specifically designed for OPIRG board members. I would like to work harder to have a representative board and work an anti-oppression framework into all of OPIRG’s policies.
Candidate #4: Rachel Taylor
1. Are you running as a student or community member?
I am running as a student community member.
2. What kind of skills and experience (volunteer, work, life) would you bring to the OPIRG Board?
I believe that my involvement with not only environmental groups but also with several social anti-oppression groups will definitely be an asset to the Board. I have intimate experience with launching and fulfilling projects, starting with the first LGBTQ+ safe space club for my high school that I was co-founder of, as well as my ongoing efforts in various anti-oppression clubs on campus. I believe that my experience and background with running and organizing projects and various campaigns will help me with the requirements and duties expected of an OPIRG board member.
3. Why are you interested in becoming a Board member?
I have always been interested in fighting for environmental and social change and justice. I feel that being on the Board for OPIRG is one of the best opportunities for me to affect change for my fellow peers on campus and in Guelph. Being on the Board would give me not only a chance to make a change for the better, it would also give me insight into better understanding and helping with the issues that our campus is currently facing. I want to affect change on campus in the most effective way possible, and OPIRG is best way to see that goal happen.
4. List three goals that you would like to see accomplished by the OPIRG Board.
One of the goals that I feel should be accomplished would be more accessible compost bins on campus. Specifically in the main cafeterias/heavily trafficked areas there is a need for more easily accessible/visible compost bins for students.
I’d like to see a greater focus on Fossil Free Guelph and the goal of divestment from fossil fuels. With the successful vote at the CSA AGM it is imperative that greater support is needed to see the goal of a fossil free Guelph accomplished.
While there is some great programs for reusable cups and containers on campus already, I feel that there is room for improvement with regard to the awareness and ease of use for the programs, and I would like to see a significant increase in the amount of eco-friendly reusable containers and water bottles/mugs used on campus.
5. OPIRG is continuing to work on issues of anti¬-oppression, which include, but are not limited to, anti-¬racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
a. What are some of the ways that you think oppression can affect our work on social and environmental justice?
Oppression can be surprisingly subtle, and for organizations such as OPIRG, oppression can be a serious barrier to their work and their various efforts. If people feel that their ideas are not as valued as others because of things such as their race, age or gender, they won’t feel that there is any benefit to getting involved and sharing their thoughts and ideas in the first place. This will not only negatively affect the person themselves but also the people and efforts they might have contributed to. This is why oppression can cause stagnancy and will inevitably halt progress if nothing is done to fight it.
b. Do you have any experience(s) or ideas that you can contribute to our work on anti¬-oppression?
I have experience with several anti-homophobia groups, as well as with the activism needed to fight other forms of oppression. I grew up in a small town, and I’m familiar with people who grew up in large cities. I’ve seen the different ways that oppression can be used in a variety of settings. Guelph is a multicultural city, and as such there are going to be people from many different places with many different experiences. Understanding and listening to people is one of the skills I pride myself for, and it is a skill that I believe will be helpful when contributing to the work of OPIRG.
Candidate #4: Aidan Lockhart
1. Are you running as a student or community member?
I am running as a student.
2. What kind of skills and experience (volunteer, work, life) would you bring to the OPIRG Board?
Having worked extensively as a community organizer, conflict mediator, and facilitator with grassroots community based initiatives, I have an intimate knowledge of, and passion for, building relationships with diverse networks of dedicated partners. Professionally, I have worked in areas of Restorative Justice and Transformative Community Justice. On the basis of extensive research and analysis, I have developed numerous course proposals, outlines, and syllabi for the Guelph-Humber Community Justice Services Program, and the Transformative Community Justice program. Additionally, I have created a four-day workshop dedicated to Restorative Justice principles and practice. Importantly, I will bring to the board a sophisticated, and empathic use of restorative and transformative justice sensitizing principles.
3. Why are you interested in becoming a Board member?
It would be a privilege to learn from, and contribute to, a campus organization dedicated to challenging injustice, inequity, and oppression at various levels of intersectionality.
4. List three goals that you would like to see accomplished by the OPIRG Board.
Problematically, I think the rhetoric of the ‘goal’, (something that can be permanently accomplished) assumes a panacea for social and environmental injustice. Instead, I tend to believe the struggle for justice is on-going and will always require, at the very least, a delicate maintenance. Nonetheless, it would be useful to:
1. Continue to bridge the gap between activism and the academe.
2. Expand and develop OPIRG’s Environmental and Social Justice symposium.
3. Develop OPIRG’s presence in student awareness and student life.
If OPIRG is dedicated to responding to the public’s interest; we ought to help develop an interested public.
5. OPIRG is continuing to work on issues of anti¬-oppression, which include, but are not limited to, anti-¬racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism, ableism, and ageism.
a. What are some of the ways that you think oppression can affect our work on social and environmental justice?
As a person of privilege my concern is always to remain cognizant of the ways I may inadvertently participate in the continuation of systems of violence and domination through activism. That is, I must strive to be cautious of an activism which may intensify systems of domination from which I (and perhaps not others) can extricate myself through financial or symbolic capital.
b. Do you have any experience(s) or ideas that you can contribute to our work on anti¬-oppression?
Given my positionality, my contribution will take the form of allyship. I hope to learn from, resist with, and challenge white-able-bodied-heteronormative-patriarchy without obfuscating the resistance of those who are most impacted.