This student-led panel discussion, organized by students from the Community, Public Affairs, and Policy
Studies program, will critically engage with the rising backlash against equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
initiatives across academic, political, and social contexts. As universities, governments, and organizations
increasingly adopt EDI frameworks, resistance has simultaneously intensified—manifesting in policy
rollbacks, rhetorical attacks, and structural challenges. These dynamics risk undermining hard-won progress
toward justice, while disproportionately harming marginalized communities.
The event’s purpose is to create a public space at Concordia University for dialogue, learning, and collective
problem-solving. Panelists will include scholars, activists, and community leaders with expertise in
anti-racism, gender justice, disability justice, and policy advocacy. They will reflect on the challenges
encountered in advancing EDI, analyze the broader implications of this resistance, and share strategies to
sustain justice-centered commitments despite opposition.
By foregrounding the voices of those most impacted, the discussion will highlight both the barriers and
possibilities in today’s landscape. The conversation will explore:
– How backlash against EDI reflects broader political and cultural anxieties.
– The material consequences of resistance for racialized, Indigenous, disabled, queer, trans, and other
marginalized communities.
– Innovative, care-centered approaches that communities are developing to advance inclusion and equity
despite constraints.
The forecasted results of the event include:
1. Awareness-building – Students and community members will gain a nuanced understanding of current
debates around EDI, including the stakes of backlash and the importance of resilience.
2. Capacity-building – Participants will learn concrete strategies for sustaining commitments to justice in
academic, workplace, and community settings.
The impacts of the project extend beyond the panel itself. The discussion is intended as a catalyst for
3. Community-building – The event will foster solidarity by connecting Concordia students with broader
networks of advocates and practitioners engaged in EDI and social justice work.
deeper campus-wide conversations about equity and belonging, as well as a prompt for collective reflection
on Concordia’s role in advancing justice. By situating the event within broader movements for transformative
change, it aims to strengthen Concordia’s culture of sustainability—not only in environmental terms, but also
in social and community dimensions.
Ultimately, this project reflects a commitment to creating spaces of dialogue, care, and creativity in the face
of resistance. Rather than treating backlash as a deterrent, it positions it as an urgent call for renewed
engagement, resilience, and collective imagination. In doing so, the panel contributes to the university’s
mission of fostering critical inquiry, public engagement, and justice-oriented leadership for the future.
YEARS FUNDED
2025
AMOUNT ALLOCATED
$3,000