Ignite Change, Social Stride Zine
This zine is a culmination of voices and art from the bilingual Social Stride Young Leadership and Digital Literacy Series that took place from December 6-8, 2023. This series was an integral part of the Ignite Change ten-day convention to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Anchored in Edmonton, and hosted at iHuman Youth Society, this series encouraged participants to engage in robust discussions and workshops exploring the intricate dynamics of social media and its intersection with hate, discrimination, and racism.
The zine is crafted from the collective wisdom and creativity of 18 young minds from across Canada. It represents the transformative power of dialogue, learning, and artistic expression. Over the course of three days, we embarked on an exploration, guided by the dedicated facilitators of the John Humphrey Centre. Day one laid the groundwork, immersing us in the complexities of our colonial past and the nuances of digital literacy education, setting the stage for deeper exploration and dialogue. Day two marked a turning point as we delved into practical learning and application, honing our facilitation skills with the Social Stride Facilitator Toolkit through hands-on activities and reflective practice. Finally, day three was guided by the transformative artistry of Maigan van der Giessen and Carla Rae Taylor, leading us on a journey of reflection and unpacking through creative mediums of music and visual art.
The resulting zine is a testament to our collective voices, interwoven with art that visualizes our experiences and perspectives. As we navigate the complexities of our digital world, this zine serves as a peek into the inspiration and resilience of young people, reminding us of the power of young people when given space for critical dialogue, artistic expression, and collective action in shaping a more just and inclusive future. We thank all the youth who contributed to this zine by participating in this series and allowing us to share their creativity, voices, and ideas.
