The Ontario University Sexual Violence Network invites you to the first annual Begin by Listening: Sexual Violence Student Activism Symposium to be held virtually November 4 - 5th 2021.
The free conference features outstanding Ontario student (graduate and undergraduate) research, art, activism, and advocacy on sexual violence and consent culture. Please note that this symposium is centred on student voices and experiences. While everyone is welcome, we ask that non-student attendees listen, respect and learn from these voices today.
Begin by Listening is organized by the Ontario University Sexual Violence Network and their partners, including Consent Comes First at Ryerson University, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office at McMaster University, Consent at Trent, the Sexual Misconduct Response and Prevention Office at the University of Windsor, the Sexual Assault Support Centre at Carleton University, the Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office at University of Ottawa, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office at Queen’s University, the Sexual Violence Support Office at the University of Guelph, Consent Belongs Here at Nipissing University, Consent is Golden at Wilfrid Laurier University, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office at the University of Waterloo, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Office at the University of Toronto in collaboration with the Ryerson Students Union and the University Students' Council at Western University.
Learn more and register today for Begin By Listening
Lydia Collins - Keynote Speaker
Lydia Collins is a writer and sexual health educator with a focus on HIV prevention in African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities, and decolonial consent education. Lydia is the author of three self-published chapbooks of poetry. She released Angry. Black. Woman. in January 2019, To Everyone We’ve Ever Been, in September 2020, and In Transit in February 2021. Her writing style is somewhere between Toni Morrison and Tupac; blending artistic genres of literature and music to express herself. Lydia pulls much inspiration from Maya Angelou, Roxane Gay, Kiese Laymon, Claudia Rankine, Damon Young, and Michaela Angela Davis.
Her writing has been equally shaped by some of her favourite musical geniuses including Wu-Tang Clan, Jimi Hendrix, Mereba, Bikini