S2 E13: Radical Self-Love and Healing with Eloise Tan, Ogho Ikhalo, and Shelli Karamath

Curated Conversations

In this episode, we're joined by Eloise Tan, Ogho Ikhalo and Shelli Karamath as they bring together their diverse experiences as leaders and educators in the DEI space to talk about what radical self-love and healing mean for them.

We discuss how, in a society that often tries to define our worth for us, practicing self-love, recognizing the importance of healing and knowing your self-worth are deeply radical acts.

Dr. Eloise Tan is a leader with 15 years of experience working in the education research and policy space. She grounds her research, policy and co-design work in an anti-racist and anti-oppression framework and is on a journey to learning how to decolonize research and the policy development cycle. Currently, she is a Manager at the ESDC Innovation Lab where she leads an interdisciplinary team of researchers and design thinkers to co-create policy solutions with those that live on this land. Previously she was the Research Director at People for Education. She created Mama Stay Woke, a free and inclusive parenting group that centred social justice issues facing mothers. She has been a guest on CBC's The Current and Metro Morning, briefed the UN's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, guest lectured at the Maytree Foundation's Policy School and lectured at University of Toronto, McGill University, and Dublin City University. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from McGill University in Culture and Education and was previously awarded Best New Scholar in Qualitative Research from the Canadian Education Research Association. She is proud to serve on the board for the Jane Finch Centre.

Ogho Ikhalo is an experienced leader with more than 15 years of academic and professional experience. She has an extensive background as a strategic communicator, a diversity, equity and human rights specialist, and a social justice community advocate. Prior to her current role as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Talent Acquisition at Hydro One, Ogho served as the Director of Women’s and Human Rights at the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Shelli Karamath (she/her) is an educator for liberation, equity and inclusion. She has been a Primary/Junior educator with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since 2008. Shelli recently completed her Master of Education in Social Justice Education at OISE, University of Toronto. Shelli currently teaches Grade 3/4 and enjoys learning with her students every day! She also teaches steel band, decolonizing music education, and leads the Equity Committee where she works with community partners towards making the school a more inclusive space. She is a professional musician of 30 years, a visual artist, and a world traveller.

Want to learn more about our podcast guests? Find them on:

https://www.instagram.com/mamastaywokeTO/
www.instagram.com/afrodisiacto/
https://www.instagram.com/elo_here
https://www.instagram.com/ogs7
https://www.instagram.com/msk.aramath

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ogho-ikhalo
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/eloise-tan
https://shellikaramath.ca/