Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum

Breakfast will be provided.

Welcome and introduction to Office of Equity Transformation (Tina Chen, Vice-Provost, Equity)

Community Guidelines and details for the day

Speaker: Kirstin Witwicki and Kay Maskiw-Connelly
Topic: Community Cohesion, Climate Change and Reconciliation Leadership: A conversation between Kirstin Witwicki and Kay Maskiw-Connelly

This session will explore the disproportionate impact of climate change, and specifically wildfires, on Indigenous communities. The facilitators will discuss this topic through a Reconciliation framework and will explore ways in which these disparities could be addressed to create a more equitable future.

Kristin Witwicki

Kirstin is a Master of Environmental and Social Change student at the University of Winnipeg. She is committed to fostering community cohesion and Reconciliation leadership through her educational, professional, and volunteer experiences. Kirstin is passionate about environmental and social change, and particularly the disproportionate impacts on Indigenous communities, including the impact of climate change on First Nations communities. 

Kirstin is a Financial Services Advisor at Assiniboine Credit Union, where she has a proven track record of delivering value-based solutions to members’ lending and investment needs, covering diverse financial topics to ensure exceptional service. She is also a founding member of the Assiniboine Credit Union Indigenous Leadership Circle, an Each One Teach One Financial Literacy Coach, and a Bear Clan Patrol volunteer.

Kay (Kalyn) Maskiw-Connelly (they/she)

Kay is a Student Assistant in the Office of Equity Transformation at the U of M. They are passionate about growing as an educator, facilitator, and community leader, and have nearly a decade of experience in marketing and communications, financial literacy education and inclusive, community-based programming. Passionate about equity, social justice, and education as a tool for transformational change, Kay has worked across academic, nonprofit, and corporate sectors to design and deliver engaging communications and learning experiences.

Currently completing an MBA in Organizational Leadership at the Asper School of Business (October 2025), Kay also holds a Master’s in English with a focus on queer theory, critical race theory, and feminist scholarship. Their interdisciplinary background informs their work in public engagement and leadership, utilizing intersectional and anti-oppression frameworks. They are committed to creating inclusive spaces and building community capacity through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Free time.

Facilitators: Ralph Bryant

This is a 2-part session. 

The first part centers around positive affirmation and creativity in advancing mental health awarness. Led by Ralph Bryant (Love Notes Campaign) we will participate in generating notes and messages that will be promoted across UM Campuses throughout the year in various formats. 

The second part of the session focuses on mental health supports for students at UM, including tips for student leaders and demystifying accessing UM mental health and student counselling services. 

Ralph Bryant

Ralph Bryant is a queer writer, father, and mental health advocate originally from New York City who has called Canada home for almost 20 years.

As creator of the Love Notes Campaign, Ralph transforms public spaces into canvases of compassion, using positive affirmations to elevate mental health awareness throughout Winnipeg, Manitoba, and beyond. He is both director and subject of "On the Verge," a documentary and poetic performance project that creates groundbreaking conversations at the intersection of mental health and spirituality. This powerful narrative delves into healing, confronting generational trauma, and dismantling mental health stigma, particularly among Black men.

Ralph is a member of Black History Manitoba and the Black Film Collective. He serves as Manager of Stewardship and Philanthropy at Rainbow Resource Centre.

Workshop 1: Intersectionality: Building Understanding and Application 

Facilitators: Ivan Nunez Gamez and Alex Rana

Location: 305 Tier

This workshop centers the voice of Kimberlé Crenshaw, the term's originator. At the Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum, the first module in the 4-module workshop will be offered. Module 1 addresses the basics of intersectionality and how to apply intersectionality as critical lens for addressing systems of oppression. 

The full workshop covers: basics of intersectionality, intersectionality in the Canadian context, and how to apply intersectional thinking. Module exercises are specifically tailored to the work of student leaders at UM, with the intent of leaving space to move from theory to practice. Participants should have a basic understanding of different forms of systemic oppression and come open to discussions and exercises to deepen their understanding of intersectionality

Participants at the Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum can choose to attend Module 1 only; or may opt to continue to complete Modules 2 thru 4 in Fall 2025. Those who complete all 4 modules will receive a certificate of completion. 

Workshop 2: What is ableism? Building an understanding and practical tools for anti-ableism and accessibility

Facilitators: Angie Conrad, UM Anti-Ableism and Age-Inclusivity Specialist and Cade Kuehl

Location: 301 Tier

This workshop will discuss ableism, accessibility, related legislation and practical tips for application. The first part of the presentation will define key concepts, models of disability, popular misconceptions and assumptions of people with disabilities, and systemic ableism. The second part will introduce applicable legislation, along with some practical tips on how to address systemic ableism and increase accessibility. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of how to remove barriers for people with disabilities.

Workshop 3: Understanding Environmental Racism, Developing Practices for Sustainability

Facilitators: Bruce Erickson (Associate Professor, Environment and Geography), Christie Nairn (Director, UM Office of Sustainability)

Location: 307 Tier

University sustainability and climate action must go beyond reducing emissions—it should aim to address social components of sustainability. Marginalized communities often face the worst environmental harms, like pollution, lack of green space and access to food. This workshop will look at sustainable actions you can take on campus, examples of environmental racism locally and a discussion on how sustainability efforts can help ensure that environmental benefits and burdens are shared fairly.

Free time.

Session Leads: Erin Heroux, Manager, Design and Creative and Elizabeth Young, Manager, Students and Faculty Communications with Tina Chen (Vice-Provost, Equity) and Kay Maskiw-Connelly (Event Assistant, Office of Equity Transformation)

This session invites participants into conversation on current practices at UM for photography, photo library, and photo use. You’ll have opportunities to share your thoughts on how you want to be engaged and represented, what consent for image use should include, and barriers for representation of systemically marginalized students at UM. You’ll also participate in exercises to develop strategies for visual representation, including contributing  to how the Equity and Anti-Oppression Student Forum will be visually represented in UM Communications.
 

Closing for the forum.