
About us
In 2023, SpeakUP! International Inc. has experienced remarkable growth, with a staggering increase of 266%! Our outreach has extended across the globe, connecting us with individuals from Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, and Australia. Engaging with people on an international scale has been a truly enriching experience, showcasing the beauty of diverse perspectives while unveiling our shared humanity.
It is this very common thread that serves as a catalyst for meaningful change. Our mission at SpeakUP! International revolves around the pursuit of dialogue within marginalized communities, providing a wellspring of inspiration and motivational conversations. These conversations offer valuable guidance to individuals seeking the path to success.
In the blink of an eye, we often lose individuals with powerful voices and inspiring messages, leaving a void that can never be filled. Our unwavering commitment is to preserve and curate these positive messages, creating a repository for people to access and draw inspiration from indefinitely.
What message burns within you? What life experiences have profoundly transformed you? How have you contributed to your community? It's essential to recognize that the most profound change often starts with seemingly small acts of kindness, from assisting a neighbour with food to ensuring the elderly receive the care they deserve. Reflect on the emotions that performing these acts of goodwill evokes. Every action, no matter how inconspicuous it may seem, holds immense significance and value. Your voice matters, your experiences are invaluable, and your contributions make a difference in ways you may not even realize.
Upcoming events
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EQUITY WORK: Stop treating everyone the same
Location not specified yetIn this episode, Rita Burke and I sat down with educator and community leader Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad in October 2023 to unpack what real institutional change looks like from the ground up. Forget the buzzwords—we are talking about the courage, strategy, and humility required to do the actual work. The October 2023, version of this podcast was excellent! We decided to release the video so you can experience the full effect! Thank you, Dr. Ardavan Eizadirad!
What we unpack in this episode:
Breaking Silos: Concrete strategies bridging education, healthcare, and justice.Real Representation: Elevating leaders with lived experience, dismantling "fit" as a gatekeeping tool, and tackling the school-to-prison pipeline.
True Accountability: Why a lack of data is a story institutions must answer for.
ListenerNote: If you care about Canadian education, Ontario teacher pathways, community safety, or institutional reform, this conversation is for you.
Listen or watch podcast. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1988087/episodes/19517351-equity-work-stop-treating-everyone-the-same.mp3?download=trueListen to or watch the following podcast collections.
www.speakuppodcast.ca (audio)
https://www.youtube.com/@speakupinternational/videos (video)Elton Brown
speakup@speakuppodcast.ca1 attendee
Nana Dei: Black Strength & Resistance
Location not specified yet“I don’t see colour” can sound polite, but Nana Dei calls colourblindness an insult and explains why: the problem isn’t colour; it’s the meaning and power we attach to it. We talk about what it takes to teach with critical consciousness in Canada, where anti-Black racism, colonial history, and school gatekeeping still shape who feels valued, safe, and seen.
Nana Day, a globally recognized University of Toronto OISE professor and advocate for Black African Canadian education, connects anti-racism education to anti-colonial thought, African indigeneity, and the responsibilities we owe our communities.
Nana Day tackles the backlash to “wokeness” and critical race theory, arguing that anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic, and anti-classist education is not a “special interest” but the common good.If you want sharper language for talking about race, decolonization, and equity in schools, and real guidance for teachers who aim to be “warriors” for marginalized students, press play. Subscribe, share this conversation with an educator, and leave a review with one idea you want schools to act on next.
You can view this podcast using the following link: https://youtu.be/Wja37mZhOvQ
To listen to the podcast, use this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1988087/episodes/19554581-nana-dei-black-strength-resistance.mp3?download=true
Connect to Nana Dei: https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/3369-george-js-dei1 attendee
Past events
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