A PROBLEM. A TEAM. A TRANSFORMATION: ORGANIZING TO SUPPORT SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS IN CONFLICT ZONES

Karen Balcom explains how a small team formed at McMaster University to support students and faculty of the Women’s and Gender Studies MA program at Kabul University. Anyone connected to the programme was and remains  at severe risk in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Seven months later, we are connected to campus and political communities across Canada, we are delivering material support to scholars in Afghanistan, and creating an employment-based immigration pathway as a model for other universities.  And (as of March 10^th, 2022) we have convinced the President, Provost and Deans at McMaster to commit $800,000 for a wide ranging programme in support of students and scholars at risk from any country in crisis.  This talk will also include basic information about Afghan refugee support networks forming in Guelph.

Karen Balcom is an Associate Professor of History and Gender & Social Justice at McMaster University, where is also the Academic Director of the Office of Community Engagement.  She is a somewhat lapsed member of this congregation, who was grateful to raise her daughters (now 17 and 20, YIKES!) in this community. She will be speaking today about her work with McMaster’s Committee on Scholars and Students in Crisis.