Morgan, Mickey

This Coalition of Peers are working hard to dismantle the drug war, particularly by working toward these central demands: 1) Repeal the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA) ; 2) Release everyone imprisoned under the CDSA; void all criminal records ; 3) DEFUND all police services, including the RCMP and prosecutors; use those funds as reparations to those most harmed by the Canadian war on drug users to rebuild their communities ; 4) Immediately expand safer supply programs, including non-prescription drug programs developed by drug users. Learn more about the fight at the CPDDW website (https://www.cpddw.ca/) which has communiques, research, and much more to take action upon.

<p>A meeting to build organized neighbourhood power in response to the expansion of the millenium line along the Broadway corridor. Large-scale transit projects have consistently caused immediate and long-term dis-placement of those who are most vulnerable under capitalism: working-class, unhoused, and/or low income folks; this instability often compounding with and/or as a result of other intersections of oppression such as Dis-Ability, racialization, criminalization, immigration-status & citizenship, language fluency, and Queerness. 'Consultations' via questionnaire and public announcement via billboard are how the city is responding to this dire situation which will effect 25% of all purpose build rentals according to a source <a href="https://syc.vancouver.ca/projects/broadway-plan/broadway-plan-emerging-directions-intro-and-context.pdf?_ga=2.21315634.804160822.1614277085-894155598.1614277085">cited by the city in an early report</a>. Though transit expansion is necessary, this should not and does not have to come at the expense of our community's lives. We can fight this. </p> <p> "WE DON'T NEED MORE CONSULTATION–WE NEED POWER" </p> <a href="https://www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca/broadwayplan_meeting">Visit the Broadway Plan First Meeting event page on VTU website </a>

As an actionable extension of this work, I acknowledge that by doing community-based art or creating in/of/inspired by a community I owe my neighbours. Beyond artists and learners, in being part of community, living, fighting playing, creating on stolen Land and Waters, we must combat the systems of colonial-capitalist violence beyond just thinking and talking about it-- decolonizing, fighting oppression, acknowledging pluralistic understandings requires action. Praxis. ​ Fundamentally, cultural work and world-building and space-making/holding and helping your neighbours is creative praxis. Simultaneously while re-appropriating our extractive role as students/researchers/artists by bringing community work into the classroom, we also expand or perhaps decolonize by re-conceptualizing the container of a classroom as not a container at all but rather a place where you learn. A wonderful Nishnaabeg articulation of this is from Leanne Simpson in the text: Land as Pedagogy. ​ Further updates and inspirations/references will be uploaded on an ongoing basis, including a Manifesto on Neighbourliness reporting what I've learned and critical discussions encountered on doing community work while "in but not of the University" (Moten and Harney, The University: Last Words).

Mapping East Van by Mickey Morgan. "This is a map of East Van, and in no way is it objective. No map is. From their legacy in documenting/justifying colonization to a visual aid for developers and city “revitalizers” chopping up the Downtown Eastside and other anchors of East Van into smaller and smaller pieces, maps are collections for stories of violence. So too, can maps hold tales of resistance and hope and those who refuse to keep quiet, those who know that a story told can never die."

This episode is hosted by Fan Wu, Mickey Morgan, Jocelyn Kim, and Harry Leshgold. Each of us recorded an interview with friends to discuss and better understand how we each interpret and engage with the natural world around us.

Dialogue between sound is the interwoven soundscapes of Mickey and Yi Lu (Zoe) for the Nature Speaking Podcast.

Exploring a big black and white fish, settler-colonialism, tourists, and ancient waters of the Salish Sea which has sustained more nations than I know how to count for thousands of years...and what's happening to them now.