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Twenty Young Leaders Selected As Ontario Community Changemakers For Their Innovative Ideas To Improve Their Communities
Raghad El Niwairi, Envisioning an Anti-Racist London
“Given the continuous traumatic events and tragedies happening worldwide and especially impacting Londoners who’ve just experienced the one-year anniversary of The Our London Family tragedy, Raghad understands exactly how important it is to provide opportunities for our communities to heal together. Through community-focused events such as a BIPOC Grief and Healing session, solidarity-building conversations with other racialized leaders and Indigenous solidarity training, she will prioritize free and open events that allow marginalized folks to participate, engage and feel connected in this work to their community members.”
“Embers in the Forest: Islamophobia”
“On June 6th, 2021, a Muslim family was killed in the deadliest mass murder in London history. Embers in The Forest sheds light on the realities of Islamophobia, the path to healing and resiliency.”
Raghad was featured in VirtueTwentyFive’s film where she shares her experiences as a Black hijabi in London: “I think Islamophobia in London is particularly insidious because of the fact that while I might not have specifically had anyone rip off my hijab, I can’t say I felt welcomed, felt accepted or felt safe even in the city.”
Redefining Leadership with Noor Simsam
“Noor Simsam is the Co-founder and Director of Innovative Strategy at the London School of Racialized Leaders and a Redefining Leadership Fellow at Platform.”
“Being young, marginalized, working class and an immigrant, I don't have a lot of institutional power, social capital or financial capital yet. But it's trying to accumulate that over time, so that I can have a more sustainable impact in building upstream and resilient systems.”
TVO the Agenda: What is Allyship?
“Allyship was the word of 2021, according to Dictionary.com. Has it become a buzzword? What differentiates real action from performative activism? How does society foster allyship and solidarity through community? “
Sarah Barzak, Executive Director of the London School of Racialized Leaders, discusses her understanding of allyship and personal journey with it.
CTV News: Voters’ Viewpoint Panel
“On election night, CTV National News is checking in with a group of young Canadians who will be sharing their thoughts on the federal leaders, their promises, their campaigns, and what issues they feel were ignored over the past 36 days.”
Anne-Marie Mediwake is joined by Sarah Barzak, executive director of the London School of Racialized Leaders. Barzak, who is of Malay-Palestinian descent, was inspired to create the initiative following the Islamophobic attacks against the Afzaal family in London, Ont. earlier this summer.
London Morning CBC Radio Interview
“Noor Simsam and Raghad El Niwairi tell London Morning why they founded the London School of Racialized Leaders as a way to create a more dignified and safer London for visible minorities through transformational leadership.” (9:14)
Her only regret is that she didn't leave London, Ont., sooner
“Sarah Barzak, 28, wrote a scathing account of what it was like to grow up Muslim in London. She talks to London Morning host Rebecca Zandbergen about her experience.” (7:52)
This feature is in reference to Sarah Barzak’s self-published essay, “Alhamdullilah, I left London: Racism, Islamophobia, and Neoliberal Wet Dreams in London Ontario.”
Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario: Speaker Series
“Hear from Panelists as we discuss Gender Equality and apply a gendered lens to Islamophobia.”
“Raghad El Niwairi is a Black Muslimah living in London, Ontario. She grew up watching news broadcasting as a child and was, like many others, moved by the social issues she witnessed on TV. Since then, she has committed most of her childhood and adolescence to hands-on community and advocacy work. This has led to her to receiving various volunteer-based awards and to working in projects such as the InterAction Collective and London School of Racialized Leaders. She is currently a university student, still looking to serve through community work and learning wherever she can.”
Protests planned in London, Ont. as province moves to end ‘illegal occupations’
Don’t engage, racialized leaders say
“We all feel it’s important that it’s best not to engage with the convoy,” said Sarah Barzak, executive director at the London School of Racialized Leaders.
‘When Is London Going to Wake Up?’ Muslims Describe the Terror of Living in Canadian City Where Family Was Killed
“In the wake of the killing of the Afzaal-Salman family in London, Ontario, Muslim Canadians told VICE World News Islamophobia is palpable in their daily lives, but not enough people care.
Sarah Barzak, told VICE World News, ‘Leaving London was the best decision for my well-being as a (woman of colour).’ Sarah, a former community organizer who now lives in Toronto, said she was frustrated by the lack of support from community leaders to uplift young women of colour.”