SJE DSA March Workshop and Colloquium Recap
In March, the Social Justice Education Departmental Student Association (SJE DSA) was excited to host a Lunch & Learn workshop and the second session of the SJE DSA Colloquium Series 2026. Together, these events created space for both practical skill-building and rich, critical dialogue—supporting students in their academic work while also engaging broader questions of leadership, solidarity, and collective resistance.Read on for a recap of both events.
Lunch & Learn: Literature Reviews (Mar 26)
The SJE DSA hosted a Lunch & Learn session titled “Literature Reviews: the story of the field,” led by Hoda Gharib, PhD Candidate in Social Justice Education. This session invited students to bring their questions, in-progress ideas, and outlines, while offering practical strategies for structuring, sourcing, and writing literature reviews at the graduate level.
Hoda guided students through the what, who, why, when, and how of literature reviews, emphasizing how they tell the evolving “story” of a field. Central to the session was a helpful mnemonic—DEAPTHS (or DPTHS)—for conducting a literature review:
- Determine your topic, research questions, and search strategy
- Explore the literature through preliminary searching and reading
- Adjust your approach as your understanding evolves
- Perform a thorough and systematic search
- Theme Ideation by identifying key patterns and insights
- Synthesize findings into a coherent narrative that highlights gaps
Students also discussed how the process shifts depending on context—whether writing a course assignment or a thesis/dissertation chapter. The session concluded with interactive exercises to strengthen research questions and apply key concepts in real time.
Hoda is a PhD Candidate in SJE, a student advisor at the OSSC, and a research consultant. Her doctoral research explores the psychosocial factors that shape collective action, with a particular focus on the emotional dynamics that influence behaviour. She supports leaders and students in building their capacity to use research to drive meaningful change.
Additional resources:
- How to use U of T LibrarySearch Function
- OISE Academic Skills Hub: How to Prepare a Literature Review
Colloquium Series Session 2: Transnational Solidarities – Leadership, Power, and Collective Resistance (Mar 27)
The SJE DSA also hosted the second session of the 2026 Colloquium Series, “Transnational Solidarities: Forging Abolitionist Communities,” with a focus on Leadership, Power, and Collective Resistance. This series creates space for scholars, students, and community members to come together and explore how solidarities are built across borders, identities, and institutions. Grounded in questions of migration, belonging, and carcerality, the session asked: how can we foster meaningful solidarities across difference?
Chaired by Devonnia Miller (MEd student), the panel featured Dr. Njoki Wane (Professor, Social Justice Education, OISE) and Dr. Rachael Kalaba (Founder of AfricaWILL and ZamWILL).
They explored leadership through anti-colonial, Black feminist, womanist, and abolitionist frameworks—challenging dominant models rooted in hierarchy and control. The discussion invited participants to consider whose models of leadership are legitimized and whose are erased. Panelists emphasized leadership grounded in community, accountability, and care, and reflected on the importance of sustaining collective work through relational practices.
A particularly resonant conversation centered on reframing “selfishness” as a necessary component of self-care—one that enables individuals to build the capacity and connections needed for long-term engagement in leadership and social justice work. Dr. Kalaba also shared reflections on her PhD journey, offering insight into maintaining motivation, fostering connectedness, and persevering through the writing process.
