Title: “Tenderly bumping elbows and stories”: Collective Kinaesthetic learnings towards mutual flourishing
Abstract:
It’s hard to write a catchy abstract in a moment of mounting grief and fear. So many of the initiatives, and places, and people I love are increasingly under threat. I find myself surrounded by arguments over strategy. But if the last 10 years of collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intersectional research has taught me anything, it’s that moments like these are served less by questions of what we should do, and more by methodological and often kinaesthetic reflections on how we might proceed. This talk draws on deeply embodied methodologies of thinking and making and moving alongside diverse scholars and community leaders of the Re-Creation Collective, the Just Movements CreateSpace, ismart, and the Maskwacis Disability Futures Project. It draws on intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and cross-community knowledge about how we might build personal and collective spaces for grief, learning, (be)longing, imagining, and even flourishing—together, across difference—from the edges of survival.
Bio:
Danielle Peers (they/them) is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Disability and Movement Cultures, and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Dr. Peers studies how embodied practices and movement cultures (including art, recreation, and sport) can be used to transmit and transform a community’s values, politics, and inequities. Mobilizing embodied disability justice approaches, Peers prioritizes deep, intersectional collaborations, in order to co-create knowledges and practices that reduce harm and create more accessible, affirming, and transformative communities. Dr. Peers co-leads the Recreation Collective, the Just Movements CreateSpace, and is Co-PI on iSMART’s new $24 million NFRF project focused on creating transformational health technologies through participatory, and justice-based processes. Dr. Peers’ work draws from their experiences as a Paralympic athlete, coach, dancer, and filmmaker. Danielle has done extensive accessibility and equity consultation in education, sport and recreation, and non-profit sectors, and is currently the University of Alberta’s Academic Lead, Disability, Cultures and Access.
Location: Life Sciences Building, Room 1001
This seminar will be in hybrid format. Please reach out to kin.communications@ubc.ca for the Zoom details.
Students and early career scholars are invited to join Dr. Peers for a casual conversation following the presentation. This will happen in the foyer of the UBC Life Sciences building or outside if the weather allows. Coffee and cookies will be provided. Email Dr. Andrea Bundon (andrea.bundon@ubc.ca) if you have any questions.
ACCESSIBILITY INFO:
- Dr. Peers requests all attendees wear a mask for their safety. Masks will be provided on site.
- The event will include live captioning by the Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility. The link for caption will be available at the event and in the ‘chat’ on Zoom.
- Copies of slides can be requested in advance by emailing andrea.bundon@ubc.ca or by QR code at the event. A small number of printed copies will also be available.