Intersections of Identity Report and Documentary: A Rights-Based Approach to Poverty and Justice
The Intersections of Identity project is proud to release its final report and accompanying documentary, Intersections of Identity, produced by filmmaker Damian Abrahams. This initiative, spanning five Alberta communities, engaged artists and community organizers in healing-based beading sessions to explore systemic racism and poverty through the voices of those with lived experience.
From March to August 2024, research teams visited gathering spaces for unhoused individuals—including Niganan Housing (Edmonton), Sunrise Youth Shelter (Grande Prairie), Rock Soup Food Bank and Greenhouse (Wetaskiwin), Galt Gardens (Lethbridge), and various locations in Calgary. Guided by an Indigenous artist, participants shared their experiences while creating beaded works, fostering dialogue on key systemic challenges:
Criminalization and barriers to healthcare for marginalized individuals.
Failures in child welfare and their ties to racial and economic discrimination.
Public spaces and their role in dignity, inclusion, and safety.
Shelter inaccessibility and punitive policies disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
“Poverty is not just an economic issue—it is a human rights issue. This project aligns with international human rights law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, advocating for policies that prioritize dignity, equity, and inclusion,” Renée Vaugeois
The report outlines key policy recommendations, including:
Housing as a human right with culturally responsive and accessible shelter models.
Food security initiatives that remove barriers and foster community-based solutions.
Justice system reforms centered on harm reduction and trauma-informed policing.
Improved healthcare access through culturally competent, trauma-informed services.
Public spaces as sites of inclusion, countering stigmatizing narratives about marginalized communities.
This research serves as a roadmap for systemic transformation, amplifying lived experiences and calling for policy changes that address root causes rather than symptoms of poverty and exclusion.
Join the Conversation
We invite community members, policymakers, and advocates to engage with these findings and take action toward a more just and equitable society. The full report and documentary are now publicly available.
