How to Host Safer Events

Kerry Duncan (they/them) is an academically trained and community-educated white, queer, and disabled full-time family caregiver. They have 15+ years experience with activist collectives, non-profits, and unions,  often involving direct action tactics – from planning for mass mobilizations to building up responsive counter-protesting efforts. Kerry is the coordinator at OPIRG Brock, a campus & community organization in Niagara that is focused on connecting people to activism and resources. In their role at OPIRG, Kerry works with community groups and coalitions related to reproductive justice, International Overdose Awareness Day, Migrant Justice, Palestinian solidarity, May Day, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ liberation. Kerry likes to focus on sharing skills and strategies for incorporating safety, harm reduction, and alternatives to policing at our events and in our day-to-day activism as essential to strengthening our networks of solidarity and abundance.
Kerry will be speaking about considerations and strategies to help activists expand their understanding of safety in organizing and direct action.

Avreet Jagdev (she/her) is a student at the University of Toronto, studying Political Science and Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity. She became involved in reproductive justice-related work through campus involvement, after starting a pro-choice club in her first year, the U of Toronto Students for Choice, which counters the graphic anti-abortion displays on campus. Avreet is also a National Youth Organizer with Amnesty International, supporting the coordination of actions for their campaigns. Avreet joined the ARCC Board a year ago and serves on the Reproductive Justice, Strategic Planning, and CPC Project Committees.
Avreet will speak about virtual safety for digital events over Zoom or other online forums.

Erin Bierzychudek (she/her) is a proud member of Niagara Reproductive Justice who also runs a doula practice, A Quiet Place, for people who have experienced or are currently experiencing miscarriage, abortion, TFMR, stillbirth, or infant loss. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo in Social Development Studies where she specialized in Social Policy and Social Action as well as Social Work. Previously, she worked as a Registered Pharmacy Technician in various hospitals in the Toronto area. Erin currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband, son, and two dogs.
Erin will be speaking about how to safely counter-protest, especially in relation to anti-choice protestors.

Nora Ahmadi Vosta Kalaei (she/they) is Co-President of U of T Students for Choice, a Board Member at SRHR Hubs, and Board member at ARCC. They are a community organizer, activist, and careworker in the anti gender-based violence and SRHRJ field, highlighting the role and intersections of queer and trans liberation in these areas. They are also involved with countering graphic anti-abortion displays on campus through the Rapid Response Project by Students for Choice. As a trained peer supporter and abortion doula, Nora is committed to creating a community that prioritizes accessible, needs-based support for all students and community members alike.
Nora will speak about the Rapid Response Project run by U of T Students for Choice to minimize the harmful impact of graphic anti-choice images.