Hall of Justice is a community based research initiative that seeks to address the need for new Positive Space materials at George Brown College and address the absence of Francophone 2SLGBTQ+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Queer) resources in Ontario. This project is designed as a collaboration with students enhancing their learning experience and resulting in the creation of new educational resources that raise awareness of 2SLGBTQ+ activism. Hall of Justice addresses a need for 2SLGBTQ+ students to see their identities and communities reflected on the walls of the spaces they frequent. It challenges homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia with a focus on Community Wellness, Health and Education.
This George Brown College Ignite research project is led by John Caffery. The project builds on his long-term work to engage youth in social change, inspiring creative responses to oppression. For the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of his Master's degree in Environmental Studies at York University, John successfully coordinated an earlier iteration of the poster project working with youth from the community development organization Supporting Our Youth (SOY).
The current Hall of Justice team consists of three George Brown College Community Worker students who contribute as Assistant Researchers; Nahida Nusrat, Maud Weaver, and Kealin Williams. The project also involves a team of two GBC Graphic Design students; Mary Getsen and Gloria Liu, who created outreach materials and are responsible for the design of the posters. The team effort will be supporting the engagement of 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies across the college.
How have 2SLGBTQ+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer) communities had an impact at challenging oppression? How can knowledge of this be discovered and shared in a meaningful way? Hall of Justice explores the historical and contemporary methods and practices 2SLGBTQ+ communities have developed to resist injustice.
Answering the above questions involved a project with 2SLGBTQ+ youth leaders from HEAT (Human Rights Equity Access Team) examining historical records of 2SLBTQ+ communities challenging oppression locally and globally. The results informed the creation of a poster series celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ activists. This process of creating the poster series explored the intersections of art and activism and the pedagogy of social justice.
Hall of Justice addresses a need for 2SLGBTQ+ youth to see their identities and their communities reflected on the walls of the spaces they frequent. Sharing the posters celebrates both the work of the youth and their growing connectedness with the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
This community based project was created with youth from HEAT (Human Rights Equity Access Team). The Youth Advisory Committee members included Syriah Bailey, Elton Campbell, Michael Chiimba, Keyshia Corothers, Rebecca Jaine, Faelix Kayn, Alyssa Meyer, Donna Row, J Sloat Spencer, and Vanessa Stirling.
Globe and Mail - Hall of Justice poster program in Toronto to honour LGBTQ heroes NOW Magazine - What does Doug Ford's plan to scrap the sex-ed curriculum mean for queer kids? Gay At Heart - A podcast that explores the Hall of Justice project Community One Blog - Success Story: John Caffery's Hall of Justice Poster Series York University - What to do with an Environmental / Geography Degree? Arts-based Social Justice Educator
Exhibitions
GLAD DAY BOOKSHOP - January 18, 2018 ZIG ZAG GALLERY at YORK UNIVERSITY January 22-February 13, 2018 RAINBOW HEALTH ONTARIO CONFERENCE, SUDBURY March 2018 LONG WINTER at Tranzac - March 24, 2018 519 Community Centre, NUIT ROSE PRIDE, June 2018 GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE - Permanent SHERBOURNE HEALTH CENTRE - Permanent
LAUNCH @ GLAD DAY BOOKSHOP, 499 CHURCH ST TORONTO - JAN 18, 2018