HEDIYEH KARIMIAN
Hediyeh Karimian, grew up in Toronto, Ontario. Hediyeh is a Master of Social Work candidate at Laurentian University. Hediyeh is studying the lived experiences of Black and racialized student-athletes living in the City of Sudbury, focusing on the impacts of athletics and academia.
Hediyeh has extensive experience working with marginalized communities in a professional role in Toronto and Sudbury, particularly with people involved in the correctional and child welfare systems. Hediyeh has developed the capacity to effectively engage children, youth and their families to take an active role in improving their lives. Privileging their lived experience and agency while working with them to navigate systems, fulfill their psychosocial needs, work towards their goals and overcome systemic barriers using anti-oppressive and anti-racist frameworks.
Her hopes are to teach and empower children, youth and families to advocate for themselves. Life has not been an easy journey for Hediyeh, understanding firsthand the effects of poverty and what lack of resources can really do to individuals and families. She pledges to invest in her community, family and friends to help change that narrative. Hediyeh believes despite centuries of oppression our people have the ability to achieve greatness. We must all come together with respect, dignity, unity and love. Hediyeh’s vision is inspired by Malcolm X, Viola Desmond, Harriet Tubman and Angela Davis because she believes that their leadership has provided her the voice she needs to stand up and speak out for her people “by any means necessary” ~Malcolm X.