How can we share stories of pain, resistance, and survival without retraumatizing ourselves—or unintentionally inviting voyeuristic responses?
This question anchored the most recent event in the Unveiling Equity workshop series, Safety and the Ethics of Vulnerability, held on Monday, November 11, at 4TH SPACE, Concordia University.
The in-person session invited participants to reflect on the power and politics of recounting personal histories: where healing meets the risk of exposure, how vulnerability can be navigated with care, and what it means to reclaim agency in telling one’s truth. Together, attendees considered the responsibilities we hold—to ourselves and to others—when sharing stories shaped by trauma, oppression, and resilience.
Now in its third year, the Unveiling Equity series continues to bring together artists, scholars, and community leaders to explore issues of representation, justice, and narrative through both personal and collective lenses. Previous workshops have examined themes such as anger and hope, storytelling and repair, and decolonial approaches to healing and resistance.
Reflecting on the importance of this work, Zeina Ismail-Allouche, CSLP Research Coordinator and co-organizer of the series, shared:
“Through our stories, we carry the silenced children and youth with us and speak on their behalf, ensuring that their lives, their pain, and their memory are never forgotten.”
The CSLP thanks all who attended for contributing to a thoughtful and deeply resonant conversation.
A recording of the session has now been posted to the 4th Space YouTube channel.