Housing Justice

Voices for housing justice: A community panel addressing the role that artists can play in building the struggle for housing justice

A conversation on the intersections of movements for housing justice and creative arts initiatives. This will be an open conversation moderated by Stefan Christoff the host of Free City Radio, a weekly community radio program that airs on a network of campus / community radio stations in Canada. This event aims to create space for ideas and an exchange between activists and artists working on different fronts to address and challenge the realities in relation to the housing crisis in Montreal.

Speakers:

• Chris Brown, Comm-un
• Hubert Gendron-Blais, Réverbérations d'une crise: une enquête sonore sur le logement
• Dru Oja Jay, SEIZE - Solidarity Economy Incubation
• Jonathan Lebire, Comm-un
• Joseph Sannicandro, Réverbérations d'une crise: une enquête sonore sur le logement
• Speranza Spir, OBORO
• Moh Abdalreza Zadeh, Comm-un

This event is taking place in collaboration with CKUT Radio 90.3 FM (as the discussion will be recorded for later broadcast on the program Free City Radio) and the Social Justice Centre.

Artist and activist David Widgington will be hanging protest banners in the space. Photographer Amru Salahuddien will be documenting this event.

More info: Facebook event

Speaker bios:

Chris Brown, born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1975, I've experienced homelessness and battled alcohol addiction. My long journey of resilience led me to overcome addiction and I advocate for homeless rights and housing justice. Through my own struggles, I've become a passionate advocate, working to break the cycle of homelessness and address systemic injustices. Today, working with Comm-un I am committed to supporting others on their journey to recovery while fighting for a more just and equitable society for all.

Hubert Gendron-Blais est un musicien, chercheur et activiste de Tiohtiá:ke/Montréal travaillant à la confluence de la art sonore, de la philosophie et de la pensée politique. Il est notamment l'initiateur du projet Réverbérations d'une crise, du Devenir-ensemble et est également membre de la formation rock expérimentale – ce qui nous traverse –.

Dru Oja Jay is a Montreal based writer and organizer. He is currently Executive Director of CUTV and Publisher at The Breach, and is a co-founder of Courage, the Media Co-op and Journal Ensemble, among other past experiments in media and politics.

Jonathan Lebire is a creative director in the field of social services, with a specific focus on addressing homelessness in Montreal. As the founder of Comm-Un and Street University, he has developed innovative programs that emphasize empowerment, inclusion, and community-based support. Jonathan began his career as a street worker, offering direct assistance to homeless individuals. His hands-on experience and deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations have informed his approach to developing sustainable solutions for social issues. Under his leadership, Comm-Un and Street University have become models for creating safe and supportive environments that promote healing, education, and social reintegration. Jonathan is also an active advocate for the rights of homeless people and works with a variety of organizations and institutions to drive systemic change.

Joseph Sannicandro is a writer and artist based in Montreal, studying creative labor and (un)popular culture, with a particular attention to sound. His work has appeared in publications including dpi., Oxford Art Journal,The Journal for Sonic Studies, Cultural Critique, and in edited book collections. He is co-founder of the music blog A Closer Listen, and producer of the Sound Propositions podcast. He co-produced the podcast Réverbérations d’une crise with Hubert Gendron-Blais.

Moh Abdalreza Zadeh, Moh is a researcher and event organizer at Comm-un with a decade of experience in community-led research, architecture, and socially engaged art. As an Art Hive facilitator and Ph.D. candidate, he is currently researching homelessness at both policy and local levels, emphasizing grassroots change and the creation of socially just urban environments.