Reimagining Disabled Futures Podcast

A Podcast by (DisAbled Women Network) DAWN Canada that focuses on the intersection of disability, gender andsocial justice.

Show Notes: Episode 1 - Building Sustainable Livelihoods| Season 1

“Living well is more than surviving” – Nashwa Lina Khan

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we talk about the Sustainable Livelihoods framework and how it helps people living on low incomes. Our guests explain how this approach is different from other poverty programs because it focuses on people’s strengths instead of their problems. We hear stories about the barriers people face when trying to get housing, food, money, andhealthcare. We also learn what “living well” means to different people and how personal and systemic issues affect their well-being.

Hosts: (DAWN Canada):

• Erin Dekker, Former Junior Research Associate

• Nashwa Lina Khan, Senior Research Associate

Guests (Sustainable Livelihoods Canada, SLC):

• Vibhuti Mehra

• Mary Ferguson

Key Topics Covered in the Episode:

Understanding Sustainable Livelihoods (SL):

o What is the SL framework?

o How does it differ from traditional povertyreduction strategies?

Challenges & Strengths-Based Perspectives:

o Exploring how people with low incomes navigate their daily lives and unique challenges they face.

o How SLC is reframing issues from deficit-based thinking to a strengths-based approach to promote resilience and stability.

Community Insights from Interviews:

o Addressing obstacles to accessing housing, food, financial benefits, healthcare, and other essential resources.

o Sharing experiences from community members and participants' lived experiences.

What does “living well” mean?

o Understanding individual and systemic factors that contribute to overall well-being.

About Sustainable Livelihoods Canada: Website: https://slcanada.org/

Sustainable Livelihoods Canada (SLC) works to support organizations and communities in adopting and implementing the Sustainable Livelihoods (SL) framework. They specialize in training, planning, coaching, and evaluation services to improve social and economic inclusion for marginalized individuals and communities.

SLC's expertise areas include: Training and Education: Teaching frontline staff and organizations about the SL framework and how to operationalize it effectively.

Evaluation and Research: Conducting evaluations to identify outcomes, assess multi-site research initiatives, and improve program implementation.

Knowledge Mobilization: Sharing insights and strategies to ensure research and evaluation findings create real-world change

Community Social & Economic Engagement: Strategies thatprioritize inclusion, poverty reduction, and systems change for marginalized groups.

About DAWN Canada: Website: https://dawncanada.net/

DAWN (DisAbled Women’s Network) Canada is a national feminist cross-disability human rights organization that works to address systems of oppression. The organization is dedicated to promoting the rights and inclusion of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities.

About the Feminist Recovery Project:

The Feminist Recovery Project is one of DAWN Canada’s key research projects and explores how recovery strategies can be implemented through a feminist lens. This project examines the intersection of gender, economic equity, and social inclusion, focusing on rebuilding economic security for marginalized groups impacted by systemic inequities, including gender-based violence and economic exclusion. The Feminist Recovery Project seeks to:

• Highlight community resilience through narratives.

• Explore new models of social investment and community recovery strategies to combat systemic barriers and promote gender equity.
• Center the lived experiences of women, gender-diverse individuals, and communities withintersecting identities to inform recovery efforts.