From Rights to Realities: The LHAE DSA Hosts the 4th Annual Human Rights & Equity Symposium

A vibrant and engaged audience filled the OISE Auditorium on February 28, 2026, as the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education’s Students’ Association (LHAE DSA) hosted its 4th Annual Human Rights & Equity Symposium (HRES 2026). The event brought together students, educators, scholars, and community advocates. It created a dynamic space for reflection, dialogue, and action on pressing topics within human rights and equity across Ontario.

Building on the momentum of previous years, this year’s theme, “From Rights to Realities: Strengthening Accountability, Belonging, and Equity in Ontario,” emphasized the urgent need to move beyond discourse and toward meaningful, sustained change. This year’s symposium centred on three core objectives: deepening understandings of accountability in human rights work; examining how belonging is cultivated within educational and institutional spaces, and identifying actionable pathways to advance equity across diverse communities.

The audience, composed of OISE students, faculty, and members of the broader community, was welcomed by the LHAE DSA, who acknowledged the collective effort behind the Symposium and the importance of creating spaces where critical conversations can lead to tangible impact.

Showcasing Diverse Perspectives

HRES 2026 brought together a distinguished group of panelists whose expertise spanned multiple dimensions of human rights and equity:

• Kien Nam Luu: Accountability in Action: Enforcing Human Rights in Institutions
• Paul Nalli & Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson: Faith, Culture, and Rights: Navigating Creed and Cultural Identity
• Adrian Petterson: Dismantling Ableism: Advancing Disability Rights and Accessibility
• Maira Tavares Mendes: Classism, Race, and Place in Human Rights

The discussion was expertly moderated by LHAE Alum Shelly Khushal, a respected voice in human rights and equity, whose facilitation brought depth, clarity, and cohesion to the conversation. Drawing on her expertise, she guided panelists and audience members through complex and intersecting issues, ensuring a dialogue that was both critical and accessible.

Highlights and Key Takeaways

The Symposium offered a rich exploration of how human rights frameworks are experienced, challenged, and operationalized in real-world contexts.

Kien Nam Luu grounded the conversation in institutional accountability, emphasizing the importance of enforcement mechanisms and systemic responsibility in upholding human rights. His reflections highlighted that policy alone is insufficient without structures that ensure meaningful implementation.

Paul Nalli and Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson explored the intersections of faith, culture, and identity, examining how educators and leaders can navigate creed-based rights while fostering inclusive environments. Their discussion underscored the importance of cultural literacy and dialogue in addressing tensions within increasingly diverse communities.

Adrian Petterson centred on disability rights and accessibility, calling attention to the persistence of ableism within institutional systems. He advocated for proactive approaches that move beyond accommodation toward universal design and equity-centred practice.

Maira Tavares Mendes brought forward critical insights on class, race, and place, highlighting how structural inequities are spatially and socially reproduced. Her discussion emphasized the need for intersectional approaches that account for the layered realities shaping individuals’ lived experiences.

Together, the panelists reinforced a shared message: advancing human rights and equity requires moving from performative commitments to sustained, accountable action.

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A and networking lunch, where audience members connected the panelists’ insights to their own experiences in education, policy, and community work.

A Collective Effort

The success of HRES 2026 is a direct reflection of the dedication, extensive planning, and collaboration led by Michael Coleman, Vice President Academic, alongside the Human Rights and Equity Planning Committee, whose work shaped the vision and execution of this year’s Symposium.

Special recognition is extended to Shelly Khushal for her continued support of the Symposium. In addition to serving as this year’s moderator, she contributed to the planning process and helped shape the direction of the event’s programming.

The event’s strong visual identity and outreach were driven by Iman Sherazi Syeda, Vice President of Communications, and her team, who ensured the Symposium reached and resonated with a wide audience across the OISE community and beyond. Special recognition is extended to Iman Sherazi Syeda and Selma Hammad (Communications) for their on-site photography and video coverage, which captured the energy, dialogue, and impact of the event.

The Symposium also reflects the broader efforts of the LHAE DSA executive team and volunteers, whose commitment continues to make HRES a meaningful and evolving platform for critical engagement.

The 2025-2026 LHAE DSA Volunteer Team: 

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all volunteers for their dedication and many unseen efforts behind the scenes that supported this event.

• President (Mandy Nelson), VP Academic (Michael Coleman), VP Communications (Iman Sherazi Syeda), VP Internal (Seo Young Lee),  VP Finance (Tom Young)
• Associate VP Academic (Samantha Borraccia, Miguel Palacios, Samantha Salter, Ivana Tewelde)
• Associate VP Communications (Selma Hammad, Kristine Latincic, Krystal Huang)
• Associate VP Finance (Wenzhe Sherrie Xu, Kyle Tran, Jennie Anderson)
• Associate VP Internal (Jingwei Ma)
• Associates to the President (Jasmine El-Hacha, Yan Xiao)

As the Human Rights & Equity Symposium continues to grow, it remains a testament to the power of student leadership, collaboration, and the collective commitment not only to discuss human rights but to actively realize them in practice.