In this episode, Emma Bellamy-Dodd interviews Gloria Tabi, founder of Everyday inclusion and Enable Women Africa, about her journey from Ghana to Australia and her fight against systemic racism. Gloria shares how colonial legacies and the search for opportunity shaped her migration, and describes the invisible barriers she faced in Australia’s workplaces despite her qualifications. She discusses how researching race structures helped her move past self-blame and highlights the personal and political impact of hair discrimination, explaining how Black women often feel pressure to hide their natural hair. Gloria recounts the fear and eventual empowerment of wearing her natural hair openly, and her commitment to ensuring young Black girls can embrace their identity without shame.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Gloria Tabi's Journey

02:15 Experiencing Racism in Australia

06:30 Transitioning to Advocacy

10:05 Hair Discrimination as a Form of Racism

13:50 Embracing Natural Identity

17:10 The Struggles of Identity and Professional Spaces

21:35 Systemic Change for Inclusion

26:05 Celebrating Natural Hair and Empowerment

30:00 Personal Actions Against Racism

33:20 Navigating Hair Discrimination

36:40 Books That Inspire and Empower

40:10 The Power of Adaptability and Resilience

43:50 Finding Home and Belonging

Resources mentioned:

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Traces of History by Patrick Wolfe

Gloria’s upcoming book: Enough

Connect with Gloria:

Gloria’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriatabi/

Gloria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriabinks/

Gloria’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloria.tabi.binks

Everyday Inclusion: https://www.everydayinclusion.com.au/

Vote for Gloria at the Legacy International Pageant:

https://legacyinternationalpageant.com/gloria-tabi

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this insightful episode, Maryam Zahid shares her powerful journey from being a refugee in Afghanistan to becoming a community leader and advocate for women's rights in Australia. She reflects on her childhood experiences during the war, the challenges of resettling in a new country, and her mission to empower Afghan women. Through her work, she addresses issues of trauma, gender inequality, and the importance of building supportive networks for new arrivals. Maryam emphasizes the resilience of refugees and the need to challenge misconceptions about their experiences.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro & Maryam's Journey: From Afghanistan to Australia

(04:15) - Childhood Memories: The Impact of War

(08:42) - Understanding Gender Inequality in Afghanistan

(12:37) - The Decision to Leave: A Family's Escape

(17:20) - Arriving in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities

(21:55) - Healing Through Helping: The Power of Community

(26:40) - Empowering Afghan Women: A Mission of Advocacy

(31:10) - Overcoming Barriers: Building Confidence in Women

(35:30) - Facing Resistance: The Struggle for Gender Equality

(40:05) - Visibility and Leadership: The Price of Being Outspoken

(45:18) - Advice for New Arrivals: Building a Support Network

(49:45) - Debunking Misconceptions: The Reality of Refugees

(54:10) - Embracing Australian Identity: A Personal Reflection

Maryam’s book recommendation:

Happy Refugee, by Anh Do

To contact / follow Maryam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-zahid-858893143/

https://www.instagram.com/maryam_popal_zahid_/

https://afghanwomenonthemove.org.au/

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this conversation, Catherine Maguire-Donvito, Co-founder and Director of Treehouse Theatre, shares the program’s unique approach to supporting refugee adolescents through storytelling and theatrical performance. The initiative is designed to facilitate trauma recovery and raise awareness about the refugee experience among high school students. Catherine emphasizes the importance of building trust and connection among participants before delving into their trauma stories. She explains how narrative exposure therapy helps them develop new cognitive networks and process their traumatic experiences effectively. Catherine also recounts memorable performances and the ripple effect of these performances on both participants and viewers, underscoring the need for empathy and understanding in addressing the refugee crisis.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:28) - The Treehouse Program

(03:43) - Origins of the Treehouse Program

(04:31) - Storytelling as a Path to Connection

(05:55) - Art Therapy for Trauma Recovery

(06:43) - Sharing Happy Stories Before Trauma

(07:22) - Creating a Sense of Belonging

(08:01) - Building Confidence Through Performance

(09:02) - The Healing Power of the Program

(10:17) - Grief, Loss, and Rejection

(11:44) - Curiosity and Respect for Individual Stories

(13:08) - The World’s Response and Responsibility

(14:26) - Changing Perceptions and Fostering Empathy

Link to Treehouse theatre: https://treehousetheatre.org.au/

Cast From the Storm trailer: https://youtu.be/zRF-yDMVYdk

Tedx Video - Missing" Shalah's Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MplBF_AYYfM

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.