Shadya Yasin
Shadya Yasin شادية ياسين | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1983 or 1984 (age 41–42) |
| Alma mater | York University |
| Occupation(s) | activist, poet, teacher |
| Title | Coordinator for the York Youth Coalition |
Shadya Yasin (Somali: Shaadiyya Yaasiin; Arabic: شادية ياسين) is a Somali social activist, poet and teacher.
Personal life
[edit]Yasin was born around 1984 in Somalia. Later living for a period in Tanzania and Kenya, she emigrated to Canada in 1998 while in her teens.[1]
For her post-secondary education, Yasin studied at York University in Toronto. She held a double major in International Development and African Studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 2007.[2] She is presently working toward a master's degree in education at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.[1][3]
Career
[edit]Professionally, Shadya is a certified teacher.[1]
Since 2008, she has served as the network coordinator for the York Youth Coalition, a Toronto-based NGO.[2][4] In this capacity, Yasin manages 18 youth service agencies in the Weston-Mt. Dennis area. She is also on the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities.[1]
In 2011, Yasin along with other Somali-Canadians led demonstrations in support of Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo), who had been forced to resign in June over the Kampala Accord. She concurrently helped organize a youth walk to Ottawa to raise awareness of that year's severe drought in Somalia.[1]
Additionally, Yasin has connected Toronto youth with First Nations communities at Moose Deer Point, located close to Sudbury. Within the framework of the Creating Global Citizens initiative, she has traveled with at-risk urban youngsters to Tanzania in order to inculcate youth volunteerism.[1] In December 2012, Yasin also helped plan the yearly West Won Festival showcase in Weston-Mount.[2]
Besides teaching and activism, Yasin is a published poet and spoken word artist, having performed in a number of venues.[5] As part of her course requirements in York University's CAP program, she played a young Hawa Jibril in Bridge of One Hair, an original musical production inspired by the veteran Somali poet Jibril's verse and life.[5][6] Yasin has also worked with many arts projects aimed at children and adolescents under the auspices of the AGO.[5]
Awards
[edit]
For 2013, the Toronto Star named Yasin among its annual People to Watch in recognition of her extensive social work.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities". Ministries > Agencies > Agency Details > Agency Members Biographies. Public Appointments Secretariat. Government of Ontario. November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Grassroots Organizer Leads York Youth Coalition by Example". Class Notes. YorkU (The alumni magazine of York University). Summer 2013. p. 35. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. "About OISE". University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "Young People's Confidence in School, Community, and the Future: Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It". Canadian Education Association. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Shadya Yasin". Artists. Jumblies Theatre. 27 Nov 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "Bridge of One Hair (April 25th to 29th, 2007): Harbourfront Centre: Fresh Ground and New World Stage". Ventures. Jumbilies Theatre. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ Rankin, Jim (December 30, 2012). "People to Watch: Shadya Yasin / 'A lifelong learner'; SHADYA YASIN, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER / YASIN / 'I organize. To me, it's an addiction'". INSIGHT & BOOKS : PEOPLE (2013) TO WATCH. The Toronto Star. pp. IN1, IN5. ISSN 0319-0781. 22446518. EBSCOhost 6FP0967672058. Gale A313362321. NewsBank 14381B77BB75DCE0. Newspapers.com 950687281, 950687309. ProQuest 1265695170. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ heather (Jan 11, 2013). "The Toronto Star chose CAP graduate Shadya Yasin as one of 13 people to watch in 2013!". Community Arts Practice Program at York University. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
