Join NEXTNiagara council member Zach Dadson as he leads this REALTalk conversation with our panel of experts about the upcoming election. Irmak Taner, Liam Midzain-Gobin, and Lucas Spinosa will be discussing how to prepare for the election, why voting is important, how to ensure the issues that matter to you are on the radar for politicians, and how voting is just one of the ways you can become an engaged citizen who’s helping to shape the future of your community.
Speakers:
Liam Midzain-Gobin
Brock University Faculty of Political Science
Liam Midzain-Gobin is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Brock University. He is a settler scholar whose research focuses on Indigenous governance, settler colonialism, and Indigenous-settler relationships as a form of international politics. Originally from British Columbia, Liam has also lived in Ottawa for university and while working for the federal government, and has spent time doing organizing work both there and in Hamilton.
Connect:
https://twitter.com/mg_liam
Lucas Spinosa
Owner, Black Sheep Coffee Roasters; Former Councillor, City of Welland
In 2015 Lucas opened what was then called “The Black Sheep Lounge”, a small café in the heart of downtown Welland. After almost 7 years of business, the café has grown into a coffee roaster — prompting Lucas to update the name to “Black Sheep Coffee Roasters.” Lucas’ love for the community grew with daily interactions at the café, inspiring him to sit on local boards and committees, and eventually a successful run for a seat on Welland City Council in 2018.
Connect:
https://www.instagram.com/blacksheepluca/
https://www.tiktok.com/@blacksheepcoffeeroasters
https://twitter.com/reallucababy?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/BlackSheepWelland/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-spinosa-8a8064a4/?originalSubdomain=ca
Irmak Taner
Outreach Coordinator, Apathy is Boring
Irmak is the Outreach Coordinator at Apathy is Boring, working with youth on civic participation and community engagement. She is passionate about inclusion and bridging individual and collective action. In case you need a short bio for our org you can use the following: Apathy is Boring is a non-partisan, charitable organization that works to support and educate youth to become active and contributing citizens in Canada’s democracy.
Connect:
https://www.instagram.com/apathyisboring/
https://www.twitter.com/apathyisboring
https://www.facebook.com/apathyisboring
https://www.linkedin.com/in/irmak-taner-b097a698/?originalSubdomain=tr
More ENGAGE videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSo21T0vOayRR68O-XIeuWAJBq0KjtDDY
