Therapeutic Recreation student Annie Shannon-Dwyer believes it鈥檚 important to encourage uncomfortable conversations. That鈥檚 one of the reasons she鈥檚 happy to be a part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign 鈥� because the challenging conversations are what lead to change.
鈥淔or me, being a part of the 16 Days allows me to聽contribute to a culture that is based on consent, inclusion, and diversity,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e grow stronger by bringing light to the changes that need to be addressed both on and off campus.鈥�
Activism that educates
The annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is brought to campus through a collaboration between Human Rights & Equity Services and South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre, with the support of various faculties, organizations, services, departments and programs. Annie explains there are more than 30 partners involved in total.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing that so many people are eager to get involved to help bring awareness to this initiative. I enjoy my involvement with the 16 Days Campaign as it encourages all forms of activism.鈥�
Her role as an upper-year, off-campus lead for the AV俱乐部 Student Engagement Program (DSEP) led to Annie鈥檚 involvement with 16 Days of Action. The concept of gender-based violence was new to her at first and that鈥檚 why she encourages everyone to participate during the 16 days.
鈥淚 think the events are important not only for victims of violence but also for those who aren鈥檛 aware and need to be educated.鈥� Annie recalls, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 always recognize microaggressions, for example, but coming to events like these helps me learn more so I can support others.鈥�
Opportunities to reach out
Supporting others is a common thread that pulls through Annie鈥檚 experience at university. Since deciding to study Therapeutic Recreation, a direction that was more serendipitous than deliberate, she鈥檚 been motivated by the actions of her classmates and professors to find ways to get involved.
Annie says it goes hand in hand with the program. 鈥淭herapeutic Recreation is about working with vulnerable populations and using recreation and leisure as a treatment modality to help them recover from whatever it is they鈥檙e going through 鈥� we鈥檙e focused on improving quality of life.鈥�
For her honours project, Annie is planning to work with women experiencing perinatal distress and postpartum depression. 鈥淚鈥檓 specifically looking at those assigned to bedrest because there鈥檚 not much out there for them right now to help them work though the difficulties they鈥檙e having.鈥� She鈥檚 hoping to do her research through the IWK Health Centre next semester.
Promoting kindness
Outside of her studies, Annie is involved with , a local charity that works with community members to create handmade crafts and then sell them to raise money for local organizations. She is one of the contributors to their blog about kindness in the community.
She also makes time to attend regular meetings with Sister2Sister. The group provides a safe, supportive space on campus for racialized and Indigenous people who identify as women. The conversations she has with Sister2Sister allow Annie to combine supporting others with being kind to herself.
鈥淢y mom is of Indigenous descent but I don鈥檛 look like my ancestors so people assume I鈥檓 white, based on the way I look. It鈥檚 something I鈥檝e always struggled with and going to the meetings helps.鈥�
Solidarity not silence
Annie often contributes in ways that help bring people together, which makes sense given her belief that conversations are at the root of change. 聽By encouraging others to participate, she鈥檚 supporting the dialogue needed to work toward a common goal.
鈥淲hether people are vocal activists聽or more action based like myself, it is important to get involved in the things we are passionate about. When people channel their passion into actions, the words come with time. When we come together in solidarity, we will overcome silence and find the voices we need to help those around us.鈥�