Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Upcoming Events-GRASP

HBP is co-sponsoring an event with GRASP (Graduate Research Association of Students in Public Health), you are invited to attend:



Imagining Global Health in the 21st Century by Solly Benatar

Date: Thursday November 5, 2009

Time: 12noon – 1:30

Room: 280N York Lanes, York University

New Event-Photo Voice

"Applications can be requested by sending an email to hbpclub@gmail.com "


What is Photo-Voice: Photo-Voice uses pictures, video, and drama to showcase lived stories that need to be told.

Mission: To create a safe environment for York University students to share stories related to their own health, culture and identity. By engaging in non-judgmental conversations in artistic ways, students will connect with others and learn that we can have various perspectives and opinions but still work towards a common goal of peace.

Objectives:
- To use photography and drama to educate and share information about health, culture and identity
- To empower students to engage with each other and artistically express issues related to their health, culture and identity
- To encourage the sharing of various perspectives about issues that we all care about
- To represent one’s world view through artistic expression
- To capture the diversity of our experiences, stories, perspectives and emotions
- To ensure that all stories, especially those that have been silenced or overlooked come into the open

What we are looking for:
HBP is looking for a group of 16 dedicated York University students from a variety of experiences and walks of life to participate and share their stories.

Prior experience in the arts is not required because training will be provided.

Time commitment:
Photo-Voice will run for the academic year commencing November 2009 and concluding March 2010. There will be workshops on creating a community, photography and storytelling. The workshops will be facilitated by Joel Walker, Photographer and Psychiatrist, and Kathleen Gould- Lundy, Drama Educator and Coordinator of Destination Arts.

Dates: Wednesdays (5:00-8:00pm): November 18, December 2, 9, 16, 2009, January 6, 20, 27, February 10, 24. March 3, 2010. On February 10 we will meet from 4:30-5:30pm.

Why get involved:

Personal reasons
- To share your story
- It is free
- To better understand yourself and others
- To express yourself in new artistic ways
- To share these expressions with the other students, family and friends
- To educate others on specific issues
- To give voice to issues that are often overlooked
- To enhance life skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, team work and develop leadership skills.

Social reasons
- To be recognized by your peers and community and receive a certificate of participation
- To make a difference
- To draw attention to important issues
- To empower communities to work towards a common goal
- To learn that we have more in common than we originally thought



Photo-Voice: What is Health?
Application Form 2009-2010

Health as a Bridge to Peace (HBP) strives to encourage cooperation by getting people to work towards a common goal. The club uses health to foster peaceful cooperation both at the campus and international level through various events, shared projects and networking. Using the principles of the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (www.cisepo.ca) and Global Youth Voices (www.globalyouthvoices.org), the club hopes to build positive relations on campus and internationally.

About Photo-Voice: Photo-Voice uses pictures, video, and drama to showcase lived stories that need to be told. By using art as the vehicle of expression and communication, previously overlooked topics are given a voice. Participants will be required to attend regular workshops on photography, story telling etc. Each workshop will be 3-hours in duration. Participants are not required to have a background in photography or the Arts.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Health as a Bridge to Peace

September to May – regular meetings

October 5 – Inclusion Day, Centre for Human Rights

October 8 – General Members meeting

October 14 – Faculty of Health Student Clubs Expo

November to March – Photo-Voice

March – Photo-Voice celebration

March – 3rd Annual Day of Dialogue Series

Welcome to the new Academic Year

On October 5, 2009 HBP participated in a York U sponsored event called the "Day of Inclusion". HBP hosted one of the events. The HBP keynote address was by Professor Mahdieh Dastjerdi who spoke about the importance of language in the Canadian Health Care system. At the event, attendees participated in an activity called "Agree Disagree". This was a fun and unique way of initiating dialogue on important issues and ideas that comprise our diverse society. In all it was a fun and informative event.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Future Plans

To the HBP community, executive and volunteer positions are now available. Please send us an email hbpclub@gmail.com to express your interest. We are looking for anyone and everyone with an open mind and who want to make a difference and spread the values of diversity.

have a great day

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

May 14 event a success

On May 14, students, faculty and members of the community gathered to partake in a panel discussion of global mental health. The event entitled "Mental health mental illness: Does culture matter?" was a success. Representatives from the Canadian center for diversity created a workshop in which groups discussed ideas about diversity and its importance to Canada. The HBP executives look forward to more successful events in the future, and we want to thank all those that attended.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Health as a Bridge to Peace Initiative

HBP: Health as a Bridge to Peace Student Club
York University

The 2008 -2009 academic year at York University has been a turbulent one. Starting in November 2008, the university was closed as issues of labor were argued. After about three months, classes resumed in February 2009. As it has been apparent in the news, other events transpired on the York University Campus that caused upheaval. Students were met with issues of racism and discrimination due to their religion and ethnicities. The purpose of this article is not to discuss who was right and who was wrong. Rather, the most important aspect to be dealt with is positive directions that the university has taken to promote diversity on campus.

Recently, a group of York students, faculty members and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss ways to promote respect for diversity on campus, and to create a safe space for the development of a dialogue among diverse groups. The group calls themselves ‘Health as a Bridge to Peace’ or HBP. A key issue the group hopes to address is mutual respect and listening at public events. Too often, whenever a rally or political issue arises on campus a yelling match among opposing groups ensues. The rallies primarily take place in Vari Hall at the York campus and result in disturbing classes, promoting hate on campus – rarely resulting in anything positive.

The mission statement of a Canadian university is pluralism of ideas and people. York University’s 50,000 students are a diverse group comprised of many cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Whenever a topic of sensitivity arises on campus, there are two ways to go about dealing with the issue. The first way, and the way the university has seen it happen too often, is where groups of students gather in Vari Hall and yell until no one is interested in yelling anymore. The second way, one that has not occurred frequently enough, is to gather both sides and create a dialogue whereby members of the York community, who otherwise have little or no idea about the issues, can listen and learn from each other in a positive manner.

HBP is working with the university leaders to endorse a day on campus for a “Dialogue on Diversity.” This day would be the alternative to the yelling and screaming. The aim is to have not only a day for education, but also an opportunity to encourage other quieter groups to promote their own concerns. For example the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one key matter yelled about on campus, which consequently results in Jewish students getting harassed and discriminated against, and pro-Palestinian students finding themselves heavily criticized for their methods of discussion. Fascinatingly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the only important global issue that has to be discussed and dealt with. If the university is a medium for great minds to gather and discuss ways in which to solve global instabilities, then dialogue is the best most peaceful method for confidence building to see a brighter future for addressing all-important issues.

Especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, open dialogue has to be a viable alternative to yelling matches. In 2009, it is incumbent on every single Canadian to promote diversity and change dealing with sensitive political issues from a manner that treads in waters of questionable racism and discrimination to a positive climate of dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation. HBP therefore is taking a stance to create a brighter student friendly forum for learning about important global issues including diversity. By working on promoting a day of dialogue on campus, HBP hopes to change the image of the hateful community at York University to the wonderfully diverse and accomplished university it actually is.

Health as a Bridge to Peace

Dialogue on Diversity
Health as a Bridge to Peace Student Club
May 14, 2009

What do we have in common?
• Has your culture been discriminated against? Mine has.
• Has your culture experienced travesties? Mine has.
• Has your culture been on the front page of a newspaper? Mine has.
Do you know what culture I represent?

All cultures have experienced tragedies and for this reason, I encourage you to get to know me so we can analyze our similarities and differences, discuss controversial topics and work towards a common goal.

Recently a group of students, administrators, faculty and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss and postulate ways of promoting diversity on campus. The group is called Health as a Bridge to Peace (HBP). Health as a Bridge for Peace strives to encourage cooperation by getting people to work towards a common goal. The club uses health to foster peaceful cooperation both at the campus and international level through various events, shared projects and networking. Using the principles of the Canadian International Scientific Exchange Program (www.cisepo.ca) and Global Youth Voices (www.globalyouthvoices.org), the club hopes to build positive relations on campus and internationally.

HBP has organized an event for May 14, 2009 from 4:30 to 7:30 in 305 York Lanes to discuss Mental Health – Mental Illness: does culture matter? At the event, three distinguished professors will dialogue the role of culture in mental health. Following the panelists, attendees will participate in a workshop organized by the Canadian Centre for Diversity. Through open discussions, we can assess stereotypes, openly talk about covert and overt assumptions and learn something about ourselves and others.

If you would like to become an active member of HBP or receive information on upcoming events, please contact hbpclub@gmail.com The time has come for everyone to promote diversity and deal with sensitive issues respectfully. Take a stance and make a difference.