Presenting at the 6th Metropolis Identities Summit

I had the privilege of receiving the Scholar’s Academy Professional and Career Award to support my attendance at the 6th Metropolis Identities Summit: Conversations on Settlement and Integration in Diverse Communities Across Canada. After four months of summer research, under the supervision of Dr. Ajwang’ Warria, I consolidated my findings into a research poster to present at the conference. My research poster was titled “Mapping Experiences of (Un)Safety Among LGBTQ+ Newcomers in Calgary” which explored how LGBTQ+ newcomers navigate place and safety to inform future practices, programs, and policies. Metropolis is the conference where practice, policy and academia merge to ensure that migrant needs are adequately addressed within Canada.

Hearing from service providers, community members, academics, policymakers, and government officials proved insightful. While I could only attend for one day, it was information-packed, and I left with immense satisfaction and curiosity. Key immigrant-serving organizations were in attendance, such as the Centre for Newcomers, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA), and Immigrant Education Society. It was great to hear from people who work front-line and in management, sharing their valuable knowledge about migration and settlement.

Not only was I able to disseminate the exciting research that I engaged in, but I also developed many meaningful connections. The sessions I attended spoke about vital and pertinent issues around immigration. I learned about the overlapping systems that migrant youth find themselves in when at risk of involvement in criminal activity. Furthermore, I learned best practices, particularly assessment and case management tools within domestic violence and mental health crises. From wonderful panellists to a great lunch and breakout sessions, I left feeling empowered to continue research and service in the immigrant-serving non-profit sector.