The Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) is pleased to highlight an upcoming presentation by Dr. Vivek Venkatesh, hosted as part of the Spring 2025 GSS-SAGGSA Colloquium Series at Florida International University (FIU). Organized by the Department of Global & Sociocultural Studies (GSS) in collaboration with the Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography Graduate Student Association (SAGGSA), the talk will take place on Thursday, April 10, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM in Miami.
Social Pedagogy for Building Sustainable Resilience with Dispossessed Communities
Dr. Venkatesh will explore the foundations of a theory of social pedagogy, framed within humanism and community co-creation. He will discuss his critical perspectives on the impact of identity politics and the erosion of public trust due to systemic imbalances and partisan disinformation. Through his work with Project SOMEONE and the UNESCO Chair in Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism, Dr. Venkatesh and his team emphasize the role of community-driven arts and advocacy initiatives in fostering pluralistic dialogue and countering divisive rhetoric. This presentation will showcase various creative and policy-oriented efforts aimed at strengthening social cohesion and inclusivity.
About the Speaker
Dr. Vivek Venkatesh is the Dean of the Faculty of Education and a James McGill Professor at McGill University. Since 2017, he has held the UNESCO co-Chair in Prevention of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism. As a filmmaker, musician, curator, and applied learning scientist, his research focuses on community resilience and pluralism through public pedagogical approaches. His feature films, including Blekkmetal (2015), Where in the Hell is the Lavender House? (2019), and Enslaved 25 (in post-production), document underground cultural movements.
Dr. Venkatesh's research-creation projects—BANAL, Halka, Landscape of Hate, and Landscape of Hope—engage in creative counter-narratives to xenophobia. These projects incorporate film, music, and live performances, reaching thousands across festivals in Canada, Norway, Mexico, and Iceland.
This presentation promises to be an insightful discussion on the intersection of education, community activism, and the arts in building sustainable resilience.