PLEDJ - Canada

PLEDJ - Canada Building the capacity of marginalized communities to lead transformative social change centering Global South knowledge.

PLEDJ promotes grassroots leadership for empowerment, development, and justice in Canada. We are a training and research non-profit that networks global indigenous and marginalized knowledges to mobilize social justice and address international conflict. We amplify local leadership by strengthening the relationship between academia and community works in the Global South.

Last week, PLEDJ’s Director of Operations, Hanya Omar, attended the Civil Society Summit on the AI Industry hosted by .O...
05/27/2026

Last week, PLEDJ’s Director of Operations, Hanya Omar, attended the Civil Society Summit on the AI Industry hosted by .

Over 9 hours and 9 expert panels, organizers, advocates, researchers, and community leaders came together to critically examine the rapidly expanding role of AI, and the decisions being made and implemented on our behalf, often without meaningful public consultation.

Above is Hanyas reflection on what she witnessed at this Summit.

Sessions examined:
AI’s impact on food systems and agriculture
Digital sovereignty and the intersections of Canadian and Indigenous data sovereignty
Environmental and climate justice in the age of AI
Sexual and gender-based digital violence and harmful algorithms
The impact of “digital razor wire” on migrants and immigration processes
AI’s role in media and the arts
How unions and worker co-ops are responding to AI
Corporate power and accountability in Canada

PLEDJ is looking forward to continuing these important conversations, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and advocating for people-centred approaches to technology, accountability, and justice.

To learn more, visit

Over 8 days and 72+ hours together, PLEDJ welcomed 19 participants into the 2nd cohort of our Solidarity Dialogues facil...
05/19/2026

Over 8 days and 72+ hours together, PLEDJ welcomed 19 participants into the 2nd cohort of our Solidarity Dialogues facilitator training!

Together, we explored what it means to facilitate dialogue in times of polarization, conflict, and unequal power dynamics, not to change people’s minds, but to build shared understanding and build stronger relationships.

As Dr. Amal Elsana Alh’jooj reminded us:
“Dialogue is not only a communication skill, it is about building relationships and seeking to understand the self.”

Grounded in Global South knowledge systems, participants reflected on difficult questions around vulnerability, courage, inclusion, power, systems of oppression, trauma-informed facilitation, and what it means to truly hold space for others.

One of the strongest reminders from this cohort came from participant Ola Khawasik: “Immigrant does not mean that you are powerless, refugee does not mean you are powerless… It’s not integration we want to work on, it is belonging.”

If shared understanding and relationships can begin to grow over 8 days, imagine what is possible over months, years, and across communities.

Stay tuned for upcoming Solidarity Dialogues initiatives led by this incredible cohort! - DM for futher questions

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this possible!

Introducing the first post in PLEDJ’s Knowledge Sharing Series 🌍📚At PLEDJ, we create and share research focused on the m...
05/14/2026

Introducing the first post in PLEDJ’s Knowledge Sharing Series 🌍📚

At PLEDJ, we create and share research focused on the making and mobilization of local knowledges and practices of social justice and conflict. Through participatory action research and experimental methods, we collaborate with local knowledge keepers as experts, centre Indigenous pedagogies, and work toward unsettling inequalities through collective learning and social transformation.

Our work also partners with community-based organizations and supports student training, producing accessible multimedia and open-access resources that amplify knowledge sharing across communities.

As part of this series, we’ll be sharing readings, tools, and resources you can explore and use in your own learning and practice.

📖 First reading source:
ROBERTS, P. (1998). Knowledge, Dialogue, and Humanization: The Moral Philosophy of Paulo Freire. The Journal of Educational Thought (JET) / R***e de La Pensée Éducative, 32(2), 95–117. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23767458

https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/jet.v32i2.52518

Stay tuned for upcoming resources you can use!

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at PLEDJ — link in bio 🔗

05/07/2026

Opening an evening at the Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver, our Director of Operations, Hanya Omar, shared the core of PLEDJ’s work as a Montreal-based nonprofit organization.

From local initiatives to national and international impact, Hanya highlighted our commitment to building stronger, more connected communities. She also spoke about our Solidarity Dialogues Program, creating spaces for meaningful conversations and respectful, civil discourse.

As we head into summer 2026, we remain dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and deepening our community work.

Thank you, Hanya, for your leadership and for helping bring these programs to life!

Learn more — link in bio.

Dialogue is a vital addition to academic spaces as it ensures students are well-prepared to meet the challenges of our ...
04/30/2026

Dialogue is a vital addition to academic spaces as it ensures students are well-prepared to meet the challenges of our increasingly polarized world.

Dialogue prepares students and future leaders to engage in difficult conversations, promote empathy and mutual understanding and create environments where diverse voices can be heard.

By honing these skills, students will not only enhance their professional competencies but also deepen their commitment to transformative justice.

Thank you very much to everyone who participated in our Solidarity Dialogues | Academia.

The Solidarity Dialogues are in partnership with the Peace Network for Social Harmony with funding from the Government of Canda .heritage .

To discover more: link in bio!

04/27/2026

Balkis Elmi, a participant in the Agents for Social Change Program, reflects her journey and experience in co-establishing the Pillars Initiative.

In this interview, Balkis shares several key takeaways from her experience in the ASC program, emphasizing that making a meaningful impact in your community is more achievable than it may seem.

PLEDJ would like to thank you very much for your hardwork including everyone who participated in the program!

To support or learn more, visit our Youtube and watch the Pillars Initiative presentation - link in bio

Thank you to the CYD in their partnership for making these initatives possible.

“Speechless: Where do we go from here?” We are proud to share that Prof. Patrice Brodeur, PLEDJ Board Member and one of ...
04/22/2026

“Speechless: Where do we go from here?”

We are proud to share that Prof. Patrice Brodeur, PLEDJ Board Member and one of our Solidarity Dialogues Trainers, was a panlist on a CBC GEM panel discussion with leaders in the field of civic discourse in Canada. The panel explored how we can move forward to have more open, honest and respectful dialogue with each other.

Prof. Brodeur highlighted the urgency of rethinking how we understand the intersection of identities, lived experiences with power, and leadership in spaces of dialogue. It is not a debate, rather seeking to understand.

He reflects: “ What kind of leadership am I exercising within my own circle of influence?”
This work requires long-term investment, not only from institutions, but from individuals. Leadership must be practiced as inclusive, reflective, and grounded in responsibility.

This conversation raises important questions:
Who holds the power to shape the conditions for civic dialogue?
Can classrooms truly be neutral spaces, or should they be intentional spaces for engaging across differences?
How do we balance freedom of expression with responsibility in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem?

We would like to thank you very much for your ongoing commitment to dialogue training and community leadership!

If we want more open, honest, and respectful conversations, we need to invest in civic education, media literacy, and the practice of dialogue itself, on campuses and beyond.

Watch the full discussion: Speechless: Where Do We Go From Here? - CBC GEM
CBC Gem

SocialImpact

Que signifie réellement appartenir, en période de division ?Le 23 mars, nous avons réuni à Montréal des étudiant·e·s, de...
04/20/2026

Que signifie réellement appartenir, en période de division ?

Le 23 mars, nous avons réuni à Montréal des étudiant·e·s, des éducateur·trice·s et des acteur·trice·s communautaires pour une démonstration puissante de notre modèle des Dialogues de solidarité, un espace pour explorer la religion, la laïcité et l’appartenance à partir des vécus.

Ce qui a émergé dépasse la simple conversation. C’est un engagement collectif à écouter en profondeur, à remettre en question nos présupposés et à créer des liens à travers nos différences. Notre communauté ne s’est pas contentée de parler de polarisation, elle a mis en pratique des façons de la traverser, ensemble.

« La même phrase… va avoir des impacts différents à la lumière de notre position sociale. » participant.e dans le dialogue

C’est ça, le travail : reconnaître que nos réalités façonnent notre compréhension du monde, et choisir l’empathie malgré tout.

Envie de voir à quoi ressemble un dialogue transformateur en action ?

📖 Lisez l’article complet - lien en bio

Nous remercions le Comité Équité, Diversité et Inclusion de l’Institut d’études religieuses de l’Université de Montréal pour leur soutien de cet événement.

Les dialogues de solidarité sont une initiative de PLEDJ en collaboration avec le Réseau pour la paix et l’harmonie sociale.

Cette initiative est financée en partie par le gouvernement du Canada (Patrimoine canadien).

We are proud to announce that Dr. Emilie Le Febvre, Director of Research and Arts at PLEDJ, has recently published her ...
04/13/2026

We are proud to announce that Dr. Emilie Le Febvre, Director of Research and Arts at PLEDJ, has recently published her book “Photography and Making Bedouin Histories in the Naqab, 1906-2013”.

This powerful anthropological study explores photography in the Naqab Desert, tracing how Bedouin communities use photographs to shape, and respond to, their own histories, showing how the past is actively constructed through relationships, memory, and complex political and social contexts.

At PLEDJ, this resonates deeply with our commitment to Global South knowledge: grounded, plural, and rooted in local realities and people’s lived experiences.

Congratulations Emilie on this meaningful contribution.

Interested in purchasing the book - DM our page!

One of the most common questions we recieve is “what can I expect to gain from participating in the Solidarity Dialogues...
04/08/2026

One of the most common questions we recieve is “what can I expect to gain from participating in the Solidarity Dialogues training?”.

Phase I of the Solidarity Dialogues is to train frontline community leaders and members to effectively facilitate meaningful dialogue. Our training consits of 8 full days, using a holistic, experiential, active learning approach to deepen dialogue skills with a focus on self-care and healing.

After the training sessions, participants in pairs lead and facilitate intra- or inter-group dialogue sessions with diverse community groups.

Especially during times of extreme polarization and division, dialogue can serve as a tool to find solidarity among people with shared lived experiences. It reminds us that, despite differences in identity or perspectives, we can still work toward positive social change. That work can begin with engaging in honest, brave and difficult conversations, not necessarily with a fixed goal, but with a willingness to listen and understand.

If you are interested in training to become a dialogue facilitator or would participating in a dialogue - link in bio!

The Solidarity Dialogues are in partnership with the Peace Network for Social Harmony with funding from the Government of Canda.

04/03/2026

Mamdouh Elmoner, participant of the Agents for Social Change Program, and co-founder of Jusoor Initative.

In this interview, Mamdouh reflects on his experience with the program and how it has impacted his life and how he will continue this project with the community. Mamdouh highlighted the importance of ensuring that his children hold onto their values, identity and culture while integrating in the Canadian culture.

PLEDJ would like to thank you very much for your hardwork including everyone who participated in the program!

To support or learn more, visit our Youtube and watch the Pillars Initiative presentation - link in bio

Thank you to the CYD in their partnership for making these initatives possible.

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Montreal, QC

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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