Horizons - Plenary 5 - Community Conversation: Nurturing Critical Hope: Songs, Sustenance and Somatics

Drawing on the newly released book, Critical Hope, this session will build creative connections between conceptual aspects of critical hope and the vibrant ways we can live it as a dynamic practice. A mix of academic research, storytelling, song, and movement, this session brings together the author of Critical Hope, Dr. Kari Grain, with three inspiring community leaders who are featured in the book and who cultivate critical hope through policy activism, food, and music: Climate activist and researcher, Dr. Peter Wood will discuss the role of “climate rage” in the ability to enact systemic change; Founder of Syrian Women’s Catering Company (Tayybeh), Nihal Elwan, will share how food can cultivate solidarity in community; And our guide in somatic healing, singing, and movement will be community organizer, Vanessa Richards.

Dr. Kari Grain is the author of ‘Critical Hope’ (2022). Kari is an experienced education, community engagement, and leadership specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education and non-profit industries. She is skilled in Equity and Inclusion, Strategic Planning, Non-profit Fund Development, Adult Education, Editing, and Public Speaking. Strong human resources professional with a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD focused in Educational Studies and Global Engagement from The University of British Columbia.

Vanessa Richards is an artist and facilitator. Her practices encourage the personal and civic imagination towards positive social change and sustainability. Since the 1990’s she has been devising and delivering arts-based engagement, education and programming through collaboration with community programmes, universities, unions, cultural organizations, healthcare providers, and projects that serve the imaginations of young people and elders. As a community choir leader, she also brings collective singing to conferences and gatherings to connect ideas, emotions and people. Vanessa’s poetry and critical works are anthologized in the UK, Holland, United States and Canada. As a performer she has been nominated for a Jesse Richardson Theatre Award. Vanessa is on the advisory committee for the RADIUS Fellowship at Beedie School of Business SFU and a producer/facilitator for the Social Venture Institute with Hollyhock Leadership Institute. For many years Richards served as a volunteer on the City of Vancouver Black History Month Advisory Committee as well as the Hogan’s Alley Working Group and Society. For her work in community engagement Richards was the recipient of the 2018 City of Vancouver’s Mayor’s Achievement Award.

Nihal Elwan is the founder and CEO of Tayybeh Foods, a social enterprise, caterer and food processor with a mission of empowering women, uplifting community and offering delicious and healthy Syrian food. Nihal is an international development professional with over ten years of experience researching, developing, monitoring and evaluating economic and social inclusion programmes, with special focus on gender and youth. She has an extensive understanding of gender issues across various sectors ( e.g., labor, employment generation, and education.

Peter Wood is a passionate advocate for environmental protection and human rights, and see the two as inseparable. Peter has experience working at the nexus of these two issues in a number of countries around the world and within Canada, including his home province of British Columbia.