To celebrate Pride Week 2021 the School of Business and Economics in partnership with the Algoma University LGBTQ2S+ Working Group is hosting a panel discussion: Creating Safer Spaces. This panel of LGBTQ2S+ community members will include conversations about allyship and building safer, more inclusive spaces.

Deborah Woodman – she/her – Moderator
Algoma University – Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, teaches, in particular courses, on Gender and Sexuality and is a Proud Member of the community here in the Sault

Krista McCracken – they/them, Panelist
Krista McCracken is a queer, non-binary archivist and public historian. They are the interim director of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre at Algoma University’s Sault Ste. Marie campus. Krista’s advocacy work focuses on trans and gender diverse inclusion in libraries and archives. They are currently co-editing a book on Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in LIS with Kalani Adolpho and Stephen Krueger.

Bushra Asghar – she/her, Panelist
Bushra Asghar was born to an ex-pat family in Saudi Arabia and identifies as part of the South Asian diaspora on Turtle Island (aka Canada). She’s currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations/ Political Science at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.

Bushra is a community organizer, proud feminist + abolitionist and is very excited to spend her life working on dismantling border imperialism. As an organizer with Climate Justice TO, she feels that social movements and civil society are key to having a strong community.

Marisa Stopes – she/her, Panelist
Marisa was born and raised in the small town of Thessalon and moved to Sault Ste. Marie when she started her BBA program at Algoma in 2014. Now working in the School of Business and Economics at her alumna matter as the administrative assistant to the directors of the program. She focuses on spreading education and awareness through her community in how we speak and act towards each other. Marisa is engaged to panellist Kelvin Bordin and they share a home together with their 3 cats, a bird and soon-to-be chickens.

Kelvin Bordin – he/him, Panelist
Kelvin Bordin – he/him – 27-year-old openly transgender man who documents his transition online in the hopes it’ll help bring more awareness to everyone around him. A down to earth guy who currently works at the bank. The lucky dude who’s engaged to Marisa Stopes. Kelvin’s active in the community and always encourages his peers to question society’s definition of “normal”.

Happy father to the coolest, most loving Bird ever.

Wylla Caveen – they/them, Panelist

Wylla is a Queer, Two-Spirit Anishinaabekwe. They are an Algoma Alumni, with a BA in History. Currently, they are attending Carleton University, working towards an MA in Public History. Their thesis will look at Active Reconciliation in Museums and Archives.

Wylla is also a practicing witch, a hobbyist philosopher, and a Crazy Cat Enby.