Kalayaan School: Roots of Change, Roots of Freedom
Schedule
Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Sat, 25 Apr, 2026 at 10:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation | Montreal, QC
About this Event
Important Information
Kalayaan (Freedom) School is a hybrid workshop series offering both online and in-person sessions. The series is open to participants aged 18 and over. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all five sessions. Those who complete the full series will receive a Certificate of Community Engagement from Centre Kapwa.
For in-person sessions, we ask for a suggested $5 donation per session to help support shared food.
You can make a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/centrekapwa
Session Schedule and Format
Please register for each workshop separately.
Saturday, March 14 | 2:00–4:00 pm
Listening as Care: Active Listening Workshop | Facilitated by France Stohner
Online (Zoom link will be shared days before the workshop)
Saturday, March 21 | 2:00–4:00 pm
Après Moi, Le Déluge: The Origins of Corruption in Philippine Politics | Facilitated by Dr. Allan Lumba
In person at SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation
Saturday, April 11 | 2:00–4:00 pm
How to Leverage Tech to Simplify Your To-Do List | Facilitated by Katerina Perez
Online (Zoom link will be shared days before the workshop)
Saturday, April 18 | 2:00–4:00 pm
Youth Leadership and Advocacy | Facilitated by Veronica Bertiz
In person at SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation
Saturday, April 25 | 2:00–4:00 pm
Jaconda: Portraits of Filipinx Belonging | Facilitated by MJ Desharnais
In person at SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation
About Kalayaan School
Kalayaan School is a workshop series that supports youth in connecting their personal stories to broader social and political realities through storytelling, creative expression, and dialogue. Led by Filipino/a/x leaders, artists, and scholars, the sessions combine mentorship with critical exploration of identity, migration, and community. Over the course of five workshops, participants will cultivate cultural pride, strengthen their voices, and collectively imagine more just and inclusive futures rooted in shared experience and empowerment.
Follow us for updates or if you have any questions:
Instagram: @centrekapwa
Website: centrekapwa.org
Email: [email protected]
March 14 (Online)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Listening as Care: Active Listening Workshop
Host: France Stohner
Info: Listening as Care is a trauma-aware workshop that strengthens active listening as a practice of care, accountability, and collaboration. The session explores presence over fixing, intention versus impact, and how power, role, and identity shape how we listen and are heard. Participants leave with practical tools for reflective listening, navigating rupture and repair, and offering care without absorbing everything.
March 21 (In-person)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Après Moi, Le Déluge: The Origins of Corruption in Philippine Politics
Host: Dr. Allan Lumba
Info: Recent months in the Philippines have seen mass protests against systemic corruption, failures of governance, and mass criminalization of dissent by the Marcos administration. This seminar will shed light on the colonial and neocolonial histories that continue to structure the contemporary political terrain of the Philippines, and the possible social movements that are struggling to emerge.
April 11 (Online)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
How to Leverage Tech to Simplify Your To-Do List
Host: Katerina Perez
Info: This hands-on workshop explores how everyday technology — from apps to smart devices — can help you organize, prioritize, and streamline your to-do list. Learn practical tips and discover digital tools that make managing your time easier, reduce stress, and help you stay on top of what matters most. Whether you're tech-savvy or just getting started, this session will empower you to take control of your schedule with confidence.
April 18 (In-person)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Youth Leadership and Advocacy
Host: Veronica Bertiz
Info: Participants will learn the basics of community organizing strategy such as problem analysis, resource mobilization, and advocacy. With a focus on leadership, empowerment, and collective action, this workshop will inspire youth to become agents of change.
April 25 (In-person)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Jaconda: Portraits of Filipinx Belonging
Host: MJ Desharnais
Info: This workshop invites participants to reflect on how Filipino/a/x identity can be carried, revealed, or echoed through the everyday objects we keep close. Whether inherited, purchased, improvised, or carried through migration, these small items often hold stories of care, culture, survival, and connection that are not always spoken aloud.
Where is it happening?
SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation, 1400 Boulevard De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00











