Season 3, Episode 5: Mark Solomon, Dean of Students and Indigenous Education

About Today's Show

In today's episode, we speak with the Dean of Students and Indigenous Education, Mark Solomon.

What can Seneca do differently to foster an overarching culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the College? What are those aspects of the Seneca process that exclude cultures, or genders, or abilities, because those processes evolved without the input of everyone who should have been at the table, so to speak, but weren’t. That's a really big question, and Seneca is tackling it as part of their Au Large project we talked about with President Agnew. Today's guest, Mark Solomon, has been tasked with leading that initiative to make Seneca College a more inclusive, and equitable, place to study and work. In today's episode we talk about the initiatives that are underway to turn the vision of a more equitable, and inclusive Seneca College, into a reality.

Also in this episode, we talk about:

1. Potential blind spots to people who are different from us, and how we can identify those blind spots.

2. How the pandemic has impacted people different, particularly based on privilege.

3. What can we do as individuals to gain more awareness of diversity within our communities?

We also asked Mark to create a media playlist! Here it is:

On CBC.ca/gem - some amazing documentaries and anti-black racism:

The film Across the Line tells the real-life story of a young, Black NHL hopeful living in the racially-divided community of Cole Harbour, N.S. in 1989

"Fade Forward" is a short doc that tells the story of the first black-owned barbershop in Newfoundland and Labrador that has become a hub for newcomers in St. John's.

Being Black in Toronto features 6 short films. https://gem.cbc.ca/media/absolutely-canadian/being-black-in-toronto/38e815a-0134fafe7df

The Skin We are In builds upon the work of Toronto Journalist/Activist Desmond Cole https://gem.cbc.ca/media/firsthand/season-2/episode-14/38e815a-00be178daef

On NFB.ca:

Returning to Oshawa and conversations with family about love and relationships. https://www.nfb.ca/film/im-gay/

A short film about gay marriage and divorce https://www.nfb.ca/film/handmade-mountain/

A film about the complexities of escaping war and the immigration experience https://www.nfb.ca/film/far-from-bashar/

Human impact on the world is explored in this “older” film but still powerfully relevant https://www.nfb.ca/film/manufactured_landscapes_edu/

Podcasts by and about Indigenous Creators!

Missing and Murdered - Investigative journalist Connie Walker recounts stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Metis in Space - Chelsea Vowel and Molly Swain, both Métis, drink a bottle of wine and review sci fi movies and television shows from a critical Indigenous lens.

Thunder Bay -- The highest homicide and hate crime rates in the country. A mayor charged with extortion. A police chief who faced trial for obstruction of justice. Nine tragic deaths of Indigenous high schoolers. Why did it all happen in the same town?

About Today's Guest, Mark Solomon

Mark Solomon is a proud member of Henvey Inlet First Nation located one hour south of Sudbury, and he’s born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie. He often claims to be an economic refugee from Northern Ontario living in Toronto. Mark has two undergraduate degrees from Laurentian University in Music and Native Studies, a MA from Brock University in Social Justice and a MEd from York University. Mark has held a number of roles at Seneca College and currently serves as the Dean of Students and Indigenous Education. Mark is also honoured to serve as the President, of his professional association the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). He is the first Indigenous person to hold that role.

The role Mark is the most proud of, is his role as a father to a 13 year old.

Important Links and Contact Information

All COVID-19 related information, questions or concerns should be sent to health@senecacollege.ca

For Updates on Seneca's Policies Regarding COVID-19, visit here:

https://inside.senecacollege.ca/health

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Thanks for listening!

Pat Perdue