Join Hart House Global Commons to explore the myriad of reasons driving refugees, asylum seekers, displaced peoples, and migrants to take significant risks in their search for a new home; and to consider ways to respond effectively and with empathy and respect for all peoples.
Now in its 6th year, the Hart House Global Commons continues to engage students from all three U of T campuses as an interdisciplinary space to connect in real-time dialogue and learning with students from global partner locations at Ashoka University, India; Universidad de los Andes, Colombia; Sciences Po in France; University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Indiana University Bloomington in the U.S.A.
Theme
In 2022-2023, Hart House Global Commons will focus on Migration: Global Perspectives on the Search for Home. This is an exciting opportunity for both University of Toronto students and students from around the world to participate in international dialogue and learning, and to share global perspectives and lived experiences.
Migration is a vital, timely and hugely compelling topic. According to the World Migration Report (International Organization for Migration, 2022), in 2020 over 280 million people were on the move across the planet, seeking to escape poverty, the impacts of the climate crisis and environmental degradation, natural disasters, human rights abuses and conflict. Millions of refugees and migrants are vulnerable, living and working in difficult or unsafe conditions.
“Today there are some one billion migrants globally, equating to about one in eight people,” says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. He underscores, “The experience of migration is a key determinant of health and wellbeing, and refugees and migrants remain among the most vulnerable and neglected members of many societies.” The UN Sustainable Development Goal: Reducing Inequality highlights the need to address conditions for migrants and refugees across a broad range of their experiences.
What are the key drivers of migration? What are the risks and impacts on migrants and refugees who leave difficult circumstances? How do we support the well-being and safety of migrants and refugees. And how can countries work collaboratively to ensure that safe pathways for migration exist, effectively supporting and welcoming newcomers?
How to get involved
There are several ways to engage in the Hart House Global Commons. All are free:
Dialogues:
Hear from thinkers and do-ers about the key issues and engage in discussion with students from across the globe. (Online - registration required)
Local Commons Action Hour:
Social action pop-ups, where students discuss global issues within our local, tri-campus U of T community. These run monthly through the Fall and Winter semesters.
Hart House Library – Migration Stories:
Visit the library at Hart House and explore a curated selection of stories, books, and perspectives on migration.
Social Media & Outreach
Design Jam:
Work with students from around the globe, using design thinking to develop responses to critical issues. The Winter 2023 theme is focused on Exploring Migration Stories. (Online – Registration opens in January, 2023 – Virtual sessions run on March 4, 2023 and March 11, 2023)
Work-Study roles:
Student staff work together to plan, design, discuss, and lead sessions and implement dialogue-to action opportunities for students.
Connect with our Artists In Residence:
Through the Artists in Residence program, connect with artists as they share their experience coming to Canada as migrants and utilize their journey as inspiration for their work.
Artists in Residence
Hart House is delighted to host the Artist in Residence Program.
As part of Hart House Global Commons’ timely theme this year ‒ Migration: Global Perspectives on the Search for Home ‒ the House is delighted to be hosting two exceptional Artists in Residence, from January to April 2023: musician Nina Platiša and photographer Masoud Riyazati, a mature U of T Student. The Artists in Residence program allows artists to share their experience coming to Canada as migrants and utilize their journey as inspiration for their work.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Local Commons Action Hour #1 - LGBTQI+ Migration & Movement
Join University of Toronto students and participate in a timely session and discussion on the migration and movement of LGBTQI+ individuals around the world.
Locked Up: Exploring the Use of Immigration Detention
Please join us for this timely virtual event to hear from Dr. Laura Cristina Dib Ayesta and Nicholas Keung discuss the practice of immigration detention.
Dialogues
Each session is 2-3 hours and highlights global experts working on the issues, followed by small group discussion with peers from around the world. U of T students may receive Co-Curricular Record (CCR) recognition for attending.
The CCR is designed to help students find opportunities at U of T beyond the classroom and to have their skills and experiences captured on an official document.
Upcoming Dialogues
Speakers and dates will be confirmed in the fall.
- May 2023
Past Dialogues
Perspectives on Democracy and Active Citizenship
Join students and guests from around the world for an interactive discussion about how civil society engages democracy and citizenship.
Local Commons Action Hour
Drop-In Monthly Conversations & Pop-Ups
Hart House Local Commons are social action pop-ups, where students discuss global issues within our local, tri-campus U of T community, meet with and hear from local advocates and thinkers, and engage in dialogue and action opportunities related to the Global Commons program. These run monthly through the Fall and Winter semesters.
Design Jam
The Design Jam runs on March 4 and March 11, 2023. Registration opens January 2023.
Work with students from around the globe, using design thinking to develop responses to critical issues. The Winter 2023 theme is focused on Exploring Migration Stories (Online – Registration opens in January, 2023 – Virtual sessions run on March 4, 2023 and March 11, 2023)
Training & Workshops
Registration Open Soon.
Training and workshops allow participants to gain more insight from experts and researchers and build new skills and competencies through a 2-hour learning session. Workshops may include breakout group discussions, learning about concepts, strategies, and actions related to working with intercultural teams, advocacy, and more. Workshops and training sessions took place in the Fall 2022 term. Global Commons will not deliver any additional workshops in the Winter 2023 term.
Social Media & Outreach
Throughout the year, we will be using social media channels, art exhibitions, and tabling activities to explore the many facets of migration.
We will educate the community on topics related refugee experiences, issues related to the displacement of entire communities, and sharing the stories and experiences of migration. We look forward to you engaging with us, through sharing on social media and visiting various in-person tabling initiatives.
Partners
Hart House is grateful for the support and assistance of its many partners in the presentation of the Hart House Global Commons.
International Partners
Community Partners
University of Toronto Partners
Contact us
For general inquiries about the Hart House Global Commons 2022/2023, please contact Marco Adamovic.