FOCUS Media Arts Centre / COVID-19 Coverage


Journalist Jessi B interviews Jane Doe Smith, a Toronto based musician, fashion designer, video artist and community worker about a life in the arts during Covid 19.

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We hear a report from the four-day Peace and Unity event recently held in the Regent Park Athletic field, engaging with local youth in life skills development.

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Journalist Jesse B interviews Michael O’Connell, a beloved Ontario-based musician and Community Arts Worker about his experiences being an artist during Covid and facilitating arts programming for marginalized youth in downtown Toronto.

David Wall interviews law student and activist Ramesha Javed about her experiences learning about conditions for migrant workers in Ontario.

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Jarvis collegiate teacher Nathan Eusevio discusses strategies for improved mental health for young people.

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We present excerpts from two community current events radio shows created by summer student staff at the Focus Media Arts Centre in Regent Park, including excellent interviews with a person with disabilities and a community youth worker.

David Wall speaks to Lori, a Windsor - based nurse who volunteers supporting migrant workers in Leemington, Ontario.

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-David Wall speaks to York University Psychology Professor Michaela Hynie about the social determinants of mental health in refugee and migrant populations.

-journalist Nea Maaty discusses the efficacy of online learning during Covid with educator Thorn Rox Hayward and students of St Jamestown’s Rose Avenue School

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Part 2

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David Wall speaks to Dr. Wendel Block, a family physician with the East End Community Health Centre and long-time advocate for marginalized communities, focussed on human rights and the social determinants of physical and mental health.

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David Wall speaks to Nadjla Banaei, a Client Care Coordinator at the South Riverdale Comunity Health Centre about her ongoing advocacy for Ontario’s uninsured.

The people at Focus Media in Regent Park answer important questions on the minds of many about the Covid vaccine

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In this episode of Radio Regent News and Views, journalist Ayesha Khan interviews Ayesha Amin, a community researcher with the SDP Employment and Economic Development Working Group, about the state of employment in Regent Park; we present a second excerpt from a recent online discussion featuring academic/writer/activists Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Astra Taylor, regarding paths forward for America’s left in a post-Trump world; and journalist Minerva Nevasca asks the question “To Work or Not to Work; Youth Employment in a Pandemic.”

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Journalist and Justice for Migrant Workers volunteer Fabio Heredia Casalins interviews food justice advocate Leslie Campbell about Foodshare, an organization dedicated to supporting populations facing food insecurity, including Canada’s migrant workers.

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In this episode of Radio Regent News and Views, David Wall speaks to Joan, an activist and volunteer with Justice for Migrant workers about her important work delivering clothing and food to migrant workers in Leemington, Ontario; Ibby Albazz brings us a report about how environmentalism and activism around Climate Change have taken a bit of a back seat to Covid 19 concerns; Talha Hashmani and Masih K bring us part two of their report on the impact that Covid 19 has had on the world of human trafficking; and we hear a second excerpt from a recent conversation between author Johann Hari and writer/activist Naomi Klein about Donald Trump’s shock election politics.

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In this episode of Radio Regent News and Views, David Wall interviews academic and activist Salmaan Khan about the roots of racism in capitalist society and its connection to the legacy of migrant worker exploitation in Canada; Focus Media Arts Centre Video Journalist Dimitrije Martinovic visits an event at Moss Park in Toronto marking International Overdose Awareness Day; and we hear part of a recent online conversation between British author Johann Hari and writer/activist Naomi Klein about Donald Trump’s shock election politics.

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David Wall interviews Meshell Theresa, a volunteer with Justice for Migrant Workers about the ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers in the country and how they relate to the overall failure of the country to uphold human rights.

Talha Hashmani and Masik K report on the impact that Covid 19 has had on the world of human trafficking.

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In this episode, journalist Ella Coccimiglio discusses the Regent Park Community Pods Initiative, a network of local safe-socializing hubs, with two participants; Nate Gurarie interviews Maya Bryon of The Neighborhood Information Post about the Toronto Rent Bank Program; and David Wall talks to Toronto Central School Board Trustee Chris Moise about a number of topics, including the reopening of schools across the city and his plans for redistributing resources in different communities in the name of equity. 

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David Wall speaks with Taneeta Doma and Sarah Khan, both law students at the University of Windsor as well as volunteers with Justice for Migrant Workers.

Journalist Ibby Albazz presents his editorial on how Covid 19 has affected the livelihoods of Canadian musicians.

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Talha Hashmani and Masih K discuss how frontline healthcare workers are facing down the Covid-19 pandemic across the GTA
David Wall interviews lawyer and activist Maleek Mohamed about a recent legal victory for migrant workers in Ontario
Journalist Ella Coccimiglio talks to Regent Park area business owner Chris Klugman about the reopening of Paintbox Bistro.

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1. David Wall interviews Justice for Migrant Workers activist David Fox about his experiences with migrant workers while volunteering in Asia and some of the commonalities he has found with similar workers in Canada.
2. Journalist Gaelle Kosi discusses the challenges of owning a business in Regent Park during the Covid-19 pandemic with a local hair salon owner

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1. Talha Hashmani and Masih K discuss Doug Ford’s recent announcement regarding the reopening of schools across Ontario
2. Sang-Hun Mun of Injured Workers Action for Justice discusses various organizations currently advocating for injured migrant workers in Canada, focusing on situations arising during Covid 19
3. As always, our headlines are compiled and read by Cassandra Earl.

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1.Talha Hashmani and Masih K report on the World Health Organization in relation to Covid-19.
2. Gaelle Kosi talks to Theresa Betou, co-owner of Dundas Beauty, a hair salon in the Regent Park area, about the effects Covid-19 has had on local businesses.
3. As always, our headlines are compiled and read by Cassandra Earl.

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News and Views journalist Minerva Navasca reports on the effects COVID19 is having on students in Ontario; and Talha Hasmani and Masih K discuss the ramifications of impending rule relaxations in Ontario around COVID19. As always, our headlines are compiled and read by Cassandra Earl.

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Featuring: COVID-19 updates.

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We present a second extended segment from a discussion between writer/academic/activists Lhana James, Naomi Klein and Rinaldo Walcott about big tech in the context of Covid-19.

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Big tech in the age of COVID-19.

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Featuring: COVID-19 update; talking about homeless during COVID-19.

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Featuring: COVID-19 update; and the differences between COVID-19 and the 2009 H1N1 Influenza "Swine flu" pandemic.

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Featuring: COVID-19 Update; Health disparity and tracking Race Based Data; COVID-19 Shock Doctrine - Using the crisis to prepare for the integration of Technology in every aspect of life; Dominica Situation.

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Featuring: COVID Update; exit strategies from societal restrictions.

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Featuring: COVID-19 Update; Trump’s de-funding of the World Health Organization.

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