Urban Limitrophe

Talking Toronto's Housing Affordability on CBC News: A Special Election Night Episode

November 21, 2022

I recently had the honor of speaking on CBC News about the housing affordability crisis in Toronto. This special election night episode, which you can watch on YouTube, featured an engaging discussion with Naama Blonder of Smart Density. Together, we delved into some of the most pressing issues affecting our city’s housing landscape.

Our conversation covered a range of critical topics:

The Missing Middle
Transit
Red Tape
Garden Suites
The Affordability Crisis

It was a privilege to share insights and ideas on these vital issues. If you’re interested in learning more about our discussion, be sure to check out the clip on YouTube. Together, we can work towards a more affordable and inclusive housing future for Toronto (and beyond).

Reach Symposium 2022: A Discussion on Resilient Cities for Sustainable Development with the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr

October 23, 2022

In April 2022, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr about her work in Freetown, Sierra Leone and her take on resilient cities as part of the annual Reach Alliance Symposium: Resilient Together: Pathways for Sustainable Development.

We spoke of the city's #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative, the importance of community and youth engagement and what it takes to make cities more resilient to climate change and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To hear the Mayor's keynote address and our interview tune in below:

To listen to other discussions held during the symposium, please visit https://reachalliance.org/2022-symposium/

Timestamps

15:20 | What do you recommend other cities do to ensure that they are meaningfully engaging with their communities when tackling climate change? And why is having a comunity-oriented approach to tackling climate change so important for resilience and sustainable development?

26:20 | It is often said that the next generation of young leaders are agents of change and are valuable contributors to climate action. Why do you think this is true and critical not only for climate action but for achieving the SDGs? How have young leaders played a role in the City of Freetown's success?

29:50 | What makes cities uniquely positioned to drive change and advance the achievement of the SDGs?

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE was sworn in as mayor of Freetown in May 2018 with a commitment to transform Freetown using an inclusive, data-driven approach to address challenges in the city. The 3-year Transform Freetown plan details 19 concrete targets across 11 sectors and covers issues ranging from tackling environmental degradation to facilitating the creation of jobs in the tourism sector. A finance professional with over 25 years of private sector experience in strategic planning, risk management consulting and project management, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s public sector engagement began with her work during the 2014–2015 Ebola epidemic and her subsequent role as Delivery Team Lead for the second phase of a multi-stakeholder program to drive socioeconomic recovery in Sierra Leone post Ebola. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr is a chartered accountant and holds an MSc in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and a BSc Hons in Economics from Fourah Bay College. She was recently recognized in the BBC 2020 100 Women list.

To learn more about the City of Freetown and Mayor Aki-Sawyerr's work, please visit https://fcc.gov.sl/

About the Reach Alliance

The Reach Alliance, founded in 2015 at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, was inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Reach is a student-driven, faculty-mentored research and leadership initiative examining how critical interventions and innovations reach those who are the hardest to reach: those living in extreme poverty, the geographically remote, administratively invisible and marginalized. Our research has been featured in leading outlets, and our in-depth case studies are available on the Reach website.

The Reach Alliance recruits top students – equipping the next generation of leaders, to produce actionable insights – and catalyzes impact through our institutional partners.

To learn more about The Reach Alliance, please visit https://reachalliance.org/

Épisode 19: Comment le Centre d'Art Waza fait la promotion des artistes et de l'art populaire à Lubumbashi

October 09, 2022

En novembre 2021, j'ai eu le plaisir de parler avec M. Patrick Mudekereza le Directeur Exécutif du Centre d'Art Waza. Le Centre d'art Waza, situé à Lubumbashi, en République démocratique du Congo une ville désignée en 2015 par l'UNESCO, comme étant la Ville créative d'artisanat et des arts populaires. Ainsi, pendant notre discussion nous parlons par rapport de la créativité des Lushois, du rôle de l'art public dans la ville, les projets divers dirigés par le Centre et ce qui fait de Lubumbashi une Ville Créative.

Dans cet épisode, vous découvrirez:

pourquoi l’art public est si important pour les villes et les communautés qui les accueillent,
l'histoire de la ville de Lubumbashi d'un perspective artistique,
qu’est-ce qui fait de Lubumbashi une ville aussi créative,
et bien plus encore!

Invité: Patrick Mudekereza, Centre d'art Waza

Patrick Mudekereza est le Directeur Exécutif du Centre d’Art Waza, écrivain et opérateur culturel.

Website: www.centredartwaza.org
Twitter: @centredartwaza
Instagram: @centredartwaza
Pour en savoir plus sur Patrick veuillez visitez ce lien.

Horodatages

2:40 | Est-ce que vous pouvez me dire qu’est qui vous a inspiré a créé ce centre?
7:08 | Est-ce que tu peux expliquer un peu plus par rapport au programme et aux activités culturelles que vous offrez au centre?
11:07 | Est-ce que tu peux expliquer un peu plus par rapport au Mitaani Mapping Moments?
18:01 | Selon vous, pourquoi l’art public est-il si important pour les villes et les communautés qui les accueillent?
24:27 | C’est quoi ce projet Waza Wazi? Selon vous, pourquoi est-il important d’avoir un centre d’art à Lubumbashi?
29:18 | A ce propos, Lubumbashi est la ville créative de l’artisanat et de l’art populaire désignée par l’UNESCO, mais à votre avis, qu’est-ce qui fait de Lubumbashi une ville aussi créative?
37:10 | D’après vous, quel genre de soutien (ex. politiques, partenariats, etc.) les villes devraient-elles offrir à des organisations comme la vôtre pour appuyer la créativité des citoyens et pour aider à établir des centres culturels?
41:27 | Comment voyez-vous l'évolution de Waza? Quels sont les autres projets sur lesquels le centre travaille?
46:42 | Comment les gens peuvent-ils s'impliquer davantage avec le centre?

Notes de l'émission

Johan Lagae
Paulo Freire
Pierre Romain-Desfossés et le Hangar
Congo Biennale
Projet Waza Wazi
Ferme Hasna
Lubumbashi: Ville créative d'artisanat et des arts populaires (UNESCO)
Projet Kirata
Programme Kazi 2.0
Project Kirata à Documenta 15
Projet Mitaani

Remerciements

Parrainage

Cet épisode est co-parrainé par l'Université de Toronto School of Cities et le Département de Geographie et de l'Aménagement

The School of Cities, convoque des chercheurs, des éducateurs, des étudiants, des praticiens et le grand public axés sur l'urbain pour explorer et relever des défis urbains complexes, dans le but de rendre les villes et les régions urbaines plus durables, prospères, inclusives et justes". Pour en savoir plus sur The School of Cities visitez www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

Pour en savoir plus sur le Département de géographie et d'aménagement et les différents programmes de premier cycle veuillez visitez www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Assistance

Monteur et producteur de musique: Imany Lambropoulos
Animatrice de podcast et graphiste: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Pour rester informé sur nos activités !

Si vous souhaitez être interviewé, avez une idée intéressante à partager pour un épisode ou avez des commentaires sur le podcast, veuillez m'envoyer un courriel à hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

Si vous aimez l'émission, partagez-la avec votre famille, vos amis, ... et laissez un avis sur Apple Podcasts!

Assurez-vous de vous abonner à la newsletter et de suivre le podcast sur Instagram pour rester au courant par rapport aux prochains épisodes.

Urban Limitrophe Podcast Featured in University of Toronto Black Research Network

September 30, 2022

I'm excited to share that the Urban Limitrophe podcast was recently featured in a University of Toronto Black Research Network article titled "From behind the mic: Why Alexandra Lambropoulos is telling the stories of urban innovation in Africa and beyond." This article highlights how the podcast explores urban planning innovations across Africa and the diaspora, focusing on education, the arts, and climate change initiatives. It also showcases the impact of Urban Limitrophe on research and knowledge mobilization about urban planning for a Canadian audience.

To read the full story and gain deeper insights into the podcast's journey and the transformative projects discussed on the podcast, check out the full article here.

Episode 18: How CLUSTER is Bridging Western Urban Understanding From the Middle East to North Africa

August 21, 2022

In this episode, my co-host Sami Ferwati and I chat with Salma Elbasty from CLUSTER (Cairo Lab for Urban Studies, Training and Environmental Research). CLUSTER undertakes a number of research, architecture, and arts-based urban initiatives with a special focus on analyzing urban informality and highlighting its role in our cities. During our discussion, we explore the impact of two of CLUSTER's major projects—the CAUL (Critical Arab Urban Lexicon) and their Creativity in Action toolkit—and how through their diverse programming they work with artists, artisans, academics, businesses, communities, and everyone else in between to bring their projects to life.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

urban informality and its role in creative cities,
the process CLUSTER follows to undertake their various creative, community-based activities,
the Critical Arab Urban Lexicon (CAUL) and the importance of translating urban terms into different languages,
ALFABRIKA, CLUSTER's maker space and community hub,
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Salma Elbasty, CLUSTER

Salma Elbasty is an architect at CLUSTER Cairo. She obtained her BSc. in Architecture from the German University in Cairo, and she completed her pre-master studies with a focus on urban design in 2020. Her research interests involve the intersection of architecture with social sciences. Besides her architectural career, Salma experiments within the field of design, crisscrossing into the realms of graphic and visual design.

Website: www.clustercairo.org
Twitter: @clustercairo
Instagram: @clustercairo

Co-Host: Sami Ferwati

Sami is in his second year in the Masters of Science in Planning program. Before attending the University of Toronto Sami attended McMaster University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. He is also a part of the Graduate Geography and Planning Student Society (GGAPSS), where he serves as the VP of Space. Sami's primary research interests in planning surround housing, economic development, urban design, and how people interact with their urban environment.

Timestamps

03:25 | An introduction to Salma and CLUSTER
04:25 | What is CLUSTER and how did this organization get started?
07:31 | What is the Critical Arab Urban Lexicon (CAUL) and how did it get started?
10:05 | What has been the impact of CAUL since its initial launch?
12:06 | What is the Creativity in Action project and the resulting toolkit? And how did this project get started?
20:46 | What has been the impact of this project on the communities?
23:35 | What does informality look like in a city such as Cairo?
25:49 | Has the government played any role in supporting urban awareness or urban solutions?
29:27 | Why do you think it's important for cities to invest in these creative hubs and artisanal workshops?
32:05 | What’s next for CLUSTER and how would you like to see the organization evolve?
34:05 | How can people get involved with CLUSTER?

Show Notes

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about the School of Cities visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Editor and Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please send me an email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, quahogger, quality lab technician, quarterback ... and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop

Episode 17: How Book Bunk is Restoring Public Libraries Across Nairobi

August 14, 2022

How Book Bunk is Restoring Public Libraries Across Nairobi | Urban Limitrophe Podcast

In this episode, my co-host Jane O'Brien Davis and I chat with Marion Anvango at Book Bunk. Book Bunk is "working to restore some of Nairobi's most iconic public libraries into sites of heritage, public art, collective memory, knowledge production, shared experiences, cultural leadership and information exchange." During our discussion, we explore the diverse series of programming that they offer in their public library branches. We also chat about Book Bunk's approach to restoring libraries to make them more inclusive and accessible and cultivate a sense of belonging for the local community.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

how they involve the community in the restoration of public libraries,
their experiential, digital, architectural, and social approach to restoring public libraries,
their efforts to make library services more accessible for those living with disabilities,
why public libraries are so important for cities to have,
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Marion Anvango, Book Bunk

Marion Anvango is a literature enthusiast. She works at Book Bunk as the Acquisitions Liaison, in charge of curating and managing collections at the libraries.

Website: www.bookbunk.org/
Twitter: @thebookbunk
Instagram: @thebookbunk

Co-Host: Jane O'Brien Davis

Jane is a MScPl student in the Department of Geography and Planning. Her interests lie in heritage planning, cultural planning, and public histories. Jane’s research looks at counter-monuments and alternative commemorations of space and place. She is interested in how grassroots organizing in Canadian cities engages with built heritage in a settler colonial context.

Twitter/Instagram: @janeobd
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jane-o-brien-davis-772211197/

Timestamps

01:46 | An introduction to Jane
05:22 | An introduction to Marion and Book Bunk
07:45 | What is the Book Bunk and how did it get started?
10:41 | We read that your approach to public library restoration is “experiential, social, digital, and architectural”. Can you walk us through the restoration process from these different lenses?
14:35 | Given Kenya’s colonial legacy, what is Book Bunk doing to promote traditional Kenyan culture in these spaces?
21:28 | How does Book Bunk involve the community in the physical restoration of the public libraries?
23:45 | Can you explain some of the programming that Book Bunk has?
29:28 | Can you share with us who is the target audience of Hepa Jam because its activities target so many people?
28:01 | Can you paint us a picture of what the public space landscape looks like Nairobi?
30:17 | Why public libraries are so important to cities?
32:50 |What support or partnerships do you think municipalities can provide to help the maintenance and expansion of your programming and services?
34:50 | What’s next for Book Bunk?
38:27 | How can people get involved or support Book Bunk?

Show Notes

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please send me an email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, podiatrist, personal shopper, pharmacist... and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop

Episode 16: How Black Futures Now Toronto Turned Local Histories into a Virtual Community Centre

July 24, 2022

In this episode, I chat with Adwoa Afful, the founder of Black Futures Now Toronto (BFN TO). BFN TO is a collective that uses a mixture of storytelling, radical mapping, and a whole lot of creative talent, to develop a number of interactive ways of archiving, experiencing, and celebrating overlooked Black histories and building community both online and offline. During our talk, we explore their innovative Mapping Black Futures (MBF) story mapping project, and how in collaboration with Black nonbinary youth and women from across the Greater Toronto Area, they built a virtual community centre that highlights Black histories and geographies.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

why it's important to map Black histories and Black geographies,
what is counter/radical mapping and how it can be used as a tool for community building,
how Black Futures Now Toronto developed their virtual community centre,
the youth responsible for creating the content for the Mapping Black Futures project,
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Adwoa Afful, Founder

Adwoa Afful is the founder of Black Futures Now Toronto (BFN TO), the Project Manager for the Mapping Black Futures Project, and an Executive Producer of "'Dis Place," podcast. She has a background in urban planning, and founded BFN TO to create intergenerational spaces where Black people from across the GTA interested and engaged in community building may share and create strategies for doing with each other.

Website: www.blackfuturesnow.to/
Twitter: @BlackFuturesNow
Instagram: @bfntoronto
bfntoronto[at]gmail.com

Timestamps

03:39 | An introduction to Adwoa and Black Futures Now Toronto
07:53 | What is the Mapping Black Futures Project and what inspired you to start this?
13:54 | Can you walk us through the process of creating the Mapping Black Futures Project and collecting the different stories?
18:28 | What are some of the highlights from the stories shared?
24:27 | What has been the response from the community ?
29:28 | What is radical mapping and why is mapping, archiving, and curating the stories and places that hold such meaning and memories for the Black community (particularly Black nonbinary youth and women) so important?
35:11 | What kind of supports (i.e. policies, partnerships) do you think cities should offer groups like yourself to help celebrate these lesser-known histories and spaces and support placemaking for diverse communities?
40:16 |What’s next for Black Futures Now Toronto?
42:18 | How can people get involved or support Black Futures Now Toronto?

Show Notes

Want to learn more? Check out this episode's references!

Black Futures Now Toronto. (n.d.). About. Mapping Black Futures. https://mbf.blackfuturesnow.to/about/
Byard, M. (2022, June 14). Museum makes case to UN committee to designate Africville as an international site of historic memory. Halifax Examiner. https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/museum-makes-case-to-un-committee-to-designate-africville-as-an-international-site-of-historic-memory/
Oxford Dictionary. (n.d.). Palimpsest. In Lexico. https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/palimpsest

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Editor: Hannah Ahamedi
Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please send me an email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, optometrist, OB/GYN, naval architect... and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop

Episode 15: How Buildher is Empowering Women Through Construction

June 30, 2022

In this episode, I speak with Tatu Gatere, the co-founder and CEO of Buildher. Buildher is a non-profit based in Nairobi Kenya that is on a mission to promote gender equality within the construction industry through the provision of accredited construction, artisanry, and manufacturing skills to women that participate in their training program. Through their holistic approach to skills training and workforce development, Buildher is working hard to knock down biases and close the gender gap in the construction industry in Kenya and beyond.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

Buildher's holistic approach to training women in the construction and artisanry,
why it's important for women to be involved in the construction/urban infrastructure sector,
recommendations for integrating more women into the construction sector,
the exciting projects (i.e. their new product line) that Buildher has in store,
their upcoming podcast's and programming's focus on youth employability in Kenya,
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Tatu Gatere, CEO and Co-Founder

Tatu is an entrepreneur, an architect and a built environment enthusiast. She is the Co-Founder & CEO of Buildher, an organization that works to integrate skilled women artisans into the male-dominated construction industry in Kenya.

With over 15 years’ experience in the built environment sector, Tatu has focused her career on exploring the intersection of culture and the built environment both locally and internationally, in a variety of socio-economic and cultural contexts linking her Architectural background to participatory design; community engagement & investment; built environment education; and place-making to facilitate physical, social and economic development.

In 2019 Buildher was awarded the UKAID-Kenya Catalytic Jobs Fund (KCJF) Business Innovations Challenge; Buildher is also a Selected Organisation for the Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls. In 2020, Tatu was listed as one of Okay Africa’s 100 Women of Excellence.

Timestamps

02:44 | What is Buildher?
03:20 | What inspired you to start Buildher?
07:38 | What is the Buildher model and can you walk me through the key components of the 12-month training process that BuildHer trainees participate in?
16:13 | What trades do the students learn?
32:40 | What are some of the misconceptions that you have had to overcome from prospective clients and potential Buildher program participants in order to continue to grow the organization?
23:15 | What is the background of the women who take part in Buildher programs?
27:20 | How have the lives of the women trained by Buildher changed since taking part in your program?
30:50 | Why is it important for women to be involved in the construction/ urban infrastructure sector overall?
34:30 | What kind of supports (i.e. policies, partnerships) do you think cities should offer companies like yourself to help establish and expand their efforts of integrating more women into this construction sector?
37:58 | What's next for Buildher?
41:24 | Their upcoming podcast that focuses on youth employability in Kenya
44:40 | How can people get involved with the organization?

Show Notes

Want to learn more? Check out this episode's references!

Buildher. (n.d.). Buildher. https://www.buildher.org/

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Editor: Hannah Ahamedi
Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please send me an email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, news reporter, nurse, naval architect... and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop

Episode 14: How Justice Defenders is Using Education to Defend the Defenceless

April 29, 2022

In this episode, my co-host Hannah Ahamedi and I chatted with Milly Kakungulu, the Education Department Lead at Justice Defenders Uganda. Through our discussion, we learned more about how the Justice Defenders (formerly known as the African Prisons Project) are defending the defenceless by educating prisoners on how to provide legal services for themselves and others. Thanks to Justice Defenders' various training opportunities and a people-centred approach to justice, prisoners and prison staff can become paralegals and lawyers whose newfound skills help improve access to fair trials and legal services, and ultimately close the ever-growing global justice gap. What started off as a discussion about the non-profit's work, ended up in a deeper discussion about justice, equity, humanity, and community and how important it is to keep those four principles if we hope to transform our legal systems for the better.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

the importance of a people-centred approach to justice,
the different challenges that prisoners face with getting access to justice in the current legal system,
the Justice Defenders model (education, training, practice) and the various opportunities that Justice Defenders provides participants,
how prisoners have leveraged the education Justice Defenders' has provided them to transform their own lives and influence policies that improve justice within their communities at various government levels,
the Reach Alliance and how our research project inspired Hannah and I to create this episode
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Milly Kakungulu, Education Department Lead

Milly Kakungulu is a Lawyer who is passionate about working with and transforming lives of the marginalized groups of people in Africa

Co-Host: Hannah Ahamedi

My name is Hannah Ahamedi and I am a researcher at the Reach Alliance focusing specifically on information dissemination in South Sudan. My research interests include the Swahili Coast, oral histories, feminist grassroots peacebuilding, global innovation, and conflict resolution. I am looking forward to graduating from Victoria College at the University of Toronto this spring with a B.A (hons) in Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, Diaspora/Transnational Studies, and History. In my spare time you can usually find me reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, going to the gym, and taking part in numerous volunteer activities that I find incredibly fulfilling.

To learn more about her click here.

Timestamps

01:26 | An introduction to my co-host Hannah, the Reach Alliance, and why we chose this topic
14:25 | An introduction to our guest Milly and her work
16:41 | An overview of Justice Defenders' services and impact
25:00 | Can you walk us through the Justice Defenders model (education, training, practice) and some of the opportunities that Justice Defenders provide to participants?
32:40 | What have been some of the challenges that Justice Defenders face in doing your work?
36:21 | What are the challenges that prisoners face in prisons and how has Justice Defenders' overcome them and provided an amenable learning environment?
41:20 | Understanding that you have probably encountered some very inspirational people in your work with Justice Defenders, would you feel comfortable sharing a story of a moment where you felt the most impactful?
46:47 | Do you think that Justice Defenders has an equal impact on women in prisons?
48:35 | How does working in women's prisons differ from men's prisons?
51:00 | What is people-centred justice?
56:20 | Seeing that East Africa is still considerably impacted by the British colonial system, does Justice Defenders have future plans to emphasize traditional or pre-colonial indigenous justice systems?
1:02:01 | How can people get involved with the organization?
1:01:15 | We know that already expanded to the USA and set up a branch there. Do Justice Defenders see itself expanding across the continent?
1:01:15 | How can people get involved with the organization?
1:05:20 | Key takeaways from our conversation

Show Notes

Want to learn more? Check out this episode's references!

Justice Defenders. (n.d.). Justice Defenders. https://www.justice-defenders.org/

Task Force on Justice. (2019). Justice for All – Final Report. https://bf889554-6857-4cfe-8d55-8770007b8841.filesusr.com/ugd/90b3d6_7cc00af558bf46a88fb262e6a467f819.pdf

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Editor and Research Assistant: Hannah Ahamedi
Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please send me an email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com.

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, magician, makeup artist, meteorologist... and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop

Like it? Share it! Pin it!

Meet the Urban Limitrophe Team

April 23, 2022

If you've been listening to recent episodes of Urban Limitrophe then you've probably noticed a few recurring names in the credits of the podcast. If you're wondering who they are, wait no more! It's time to put some faces to the names you've been hearing and introduce the Urban Limitrophe team: Hannah and Imany!

Hannah Ahamedi, Editor (and Co-Host)*

What is an African city that you would most like to visit?

A difficult question since I have a very very long list BUT Luxor in Egypt definitely takes the number one spot.

What’s your favourite song sung by an African artist?

Malaika by Miriam Makeba. My father used to sing it to me when I was a child and it brings back good memories.

What’s a book that you think people should know about?

Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl! I have probably read it about 5 times. It always provides clarity to me in the moments I need it most.

The future of Africa is ___?

Limitless

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I am of Kenyan/Yemeni/Canadian descent!

Get in Touch with Hannah on:

Instagram: @thefunkystoic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ahamedi/

Imany Lambropoulos, Music Producer

My name is Imany Lambropoulos, and I am a high school student. I am interested in neuroscience, and I am interested in potentially becoming a neuropsychologist or a clinical psychologist. In the future, I would like to attend either Queen’s University or the University of Toronto to further my studies, and I intend on obtaining my Ph.D. degree. In my spare time, I enjoy reading all sorts of books. My favourite genres include fantasy, sci-fi, and the occasional mystery novels. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, finding new restaurants to visit, or watching movies and tv shows together.

What is an African city that you would most like to visit?

There are a lot of African cities that I think would be interesting to visit but, if I had to pick one it would be Cairo.

What’s your favourite song sung by an African artist?

My favourite song sung by an African artist is Tumbum by Yemi Alade

What’s a book that you think people should know about?

Beasts of Little Land by Juhea Kim

The future of Africa is ___?

Its people.

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I can play the saxophone.

* Hannah will be a co-host on an upcoming episode of the podcast where we speak with Milly Kakungulu from Justice Defenders. To learn more about Hannah and Justice Defenders' amazing work make sure to subscribe, follow on social media, and stay tuned for new episodes coming your way.

Episode 13: How Lima’s Sonic Landscapes Are Shaped by Afro-Peruvian Women

April 03, 2022

In this episode, I chat again with Roxana Escobar Ñañez. Roxana is pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Geography at the University of Toronto and she was recently one of five special guests on the 12th episode of the podcast. Given her unique research interests, after our last conversation, I decided to invite her to the show again to dive deeper into her work examining 'the places Afro-Peruvian women hold in Lima’s sonic landscapes' and Black womanhood in Latin America and to get a better understanding about how these themes of music, Blackness, and cities emerge in the diaspora. What started off as a discussion of her research turned into a vivid exploration of Lima's history through the lens of Afro-Peruvian music, food, culture, and most importantly Black joy and resilience.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

the project of mestizaje and the origins of criollo music and culture in Peru,
what are sonic landscapes and how Afro-Peruvian women, in particular, are essential to shaping Lima's vibrant soundscape and unique cultural identity,
the key characteristics of Afro-Peruvian music,
additional resources and artists to help you learn more about Afro-Peruvian culture and its impact in Peru,
the importance of highlighting Black joy when researching Black histories and geographies,
and much more!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

This episode is sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities. The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about their work visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

Episode 12: An Exploration of Black Excellence in Future Geographers and Planners at the University of Toronto (Feat. GGAPSS)

February 27, 2022

This special episode of Urban Limitrophe is brought to you in collaboration with the Graduate Geography & Planning Student Society (GGAPSS) in celebration of Black History/Black Futures Month! In this episode, I speak with Roxana Escobar Ñañez (PhD Human Geography), Brianna Lane (MSc Physical Geography), Priscilla Ankomah-Hackman (MSc Planning), Jane O'Brien Davis (MSc Planning), and Bola Oshinusi (PhD Planning) to explore why they got interested in geography and planning, and their advice for other aspiring geographers and planners looking to study in this field.

In this episode, you'll learn about each guests':

research interests and upcoming projects,
reasons for studying at the University of Toronto,
hopes for having more diversity in their respective field,
advice for other emerging geographers and planners,
and much more!

Episode 11: How the Black Planning Project is Diversifying Urban Planning One Story at a Time

February 20, 2022

In this episode, I speak with Abigail Moriah, a registered urban planner and founder of the Black Planning Project. Through this initiative, Abigail and her team, collect and share the stories of Black urban planning professionals and students to highlight their important work and encourage more diverse voices to enter the profession. Most importantly, through its various mentorship opportunities and research endeavours, the Black Planning Project builds the relationships and the community ties necessary to make sure that urban planning and hopefully the city building sector overall makes room for new perspectives and ideas.

In this episode, you'll learn:

why it is essential to encourage spaces where urban planners can discuss racial injustices in planning,
about some of the experiences and injustices that Black planners face in their profession,
about resources and advice for emerging urban planners of colour to help them navigate the field,
the importance of including diverse voices in the urban planning profession,
and much more!

Episode 10: How BuildX Studio is Creating Dignified Circular Affordable Housing Across Kenya

February 13, 2022

In this episode, I speak with Carolina Larrazábal, the co-founder and design director at BuildX Studio. BuildX Studio is an innovative award-winning architectural studio based in Nairobi, which is the first architecture, engineering or construction company in Africa to become B Corp™ certified. The team at BuildX Studio is on a mission to build radically better buildings. In our conversation, Carolina explains how her team is building dignified circular affordable housing in Kenya and how through their partnerships (i.e. with their sister branch BuildHer) and design process, their work embeds equity, diversity and sustainability in every stage of the development process.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

what is dignified affordable housing and what considerations go into creating it,
Mass timber/Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and why BuildX thinks that it is the future of building materials in this region and beyond,
BuildX's Circular Cooperative Affordable Housing Project,
BuildX's efforts to build 10,000 affordable homes by 2030,
how BuildX hopes that their affordable homes will provide a pathway to homeownership for low-income sectors of the population,
and much more!

Episode 9: How the Dikan Center is Building the First Photo Library in Ghana

January 17, 2022

In this episode, I speak with Paul Ninson, a photographer, and filmmaker about the importance of visual storytelling and how after collecting over 30,000 books on photography and film, he is in the beginning stages of building The Dikan Center. The center will be the first visual storytelling library in Ghana. The Dikan Center will train not only the next generation of storytellers but build a community hub that welcomes locals and newcomers alike to learn about, celebrate, and create African stories and flip the dominant, negative narrative about life on the continent.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

Paul's vision for the center and the programming it will provide,
the upcoming photography exhibition,
how he collected over 30,000 books to start the Dikan Center,
how the center will be an incubator for talent as well as community,
opportunities to get involved with getting the center built and learning/teaching about visual storytelling,
and much more!

social

Timestamps

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown

About the Reach Alliance

Invité: Patrick Mudekereza, Centre d'art Waza

Horodatages

Notes de l'émission

Remerciements

Pour rester informé sur nos activités !

Guest: Salma Elbasty, CLUSTER

Co-Host: Sami Ferwati

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Show Notes

Acknowledgements

Stay in the loop!

Guest: Marion Anvango, Book Bunk

Co-Host: Jane O'Brien Davis

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Show Notes

Acknowledgements

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Guest: Adwoa Afful, Founder

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Acknowledgements

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Guest: Tatu Gatere, CEO and Co-Founder

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Acknowledgements

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Guest: Milly Kakungulu, Education Department Lead

Co-Host: Hannah Ahamedi

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Want to learn more? Check out this episode's references!

Acknowledgements

Stay in the loop!

Hannah Ahamedi, Editor (and Co-Host)*

Imany Lambropoulos, Music Producer

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