Here’s some words by Tiffany Lethabo King that beautifully encapsulate OPIRG Kingston’s commitment to social and environmental justice:
“I think that on a fundamental level the process of decolonization requires that we are undone and unmoored by the idea of living in a way that requires mass death (in its various forms) in exchange for other’s self-actualization. By become undone, I mean it really has to fuck us up in our core and make us relentless about seeking out and making alternatives possible. And also realizing that the alternative can be much more pleasurable than the current situation that we are merely surviving. Also, decolonization is not just about the ascetic project giving things up but fundamentally about creating new and pleasurable ways of living.”
Interview with Maha from OPIRG
What is your group’s objective?
OPIRG Kingston (Ontario Public Interest Research Group) seeks to inspire research, education, and action for social and environmental justice. We are student-directed, community-minded, and have supported numerous local projects, initiatives and groups for over 30 years!
Our approach to social and environmental justice is anti-colonial, non-partisan, and anti-capitalist. As colonialism, imperialism, white supremacy, and capitalism intertwine to create and maintain the world as we know it, we understand decolonization to be the synthesis of environmental and social justice.
Much of our programming is educational in nature: we bring diverse scholars and activists to host talks; host reading and discussion groups on various topics such as anti-colonial solidarity; screen films; and give workshops.
Organizations and initiatives such as Loving Spoonful, ReelOut Arts Project, Queen’s Positive Space, Queen’s Coalition for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination, Yellow Bike Action, the Earth Centre, Roots & Wings, and about half of all community gardens in Kingston originated from OPIRG Kingston as either a working group, research project, or educational campaign.
We hold weekly office hours and queer and trans co-working sessions. Our office is meant to be a space for all community members to connect on matters of social and environmental justice, bring up issues they care about, vent, engage in conversation, and learn with each other.
Who are your constituents or core demographics?
OPIRG Kingston may be primarily student-directed, but connecting students and non-students is a core strength of our group. Social and environmental justice is for everyone!
Our core leadership is made of diverse community members who are dedicated to making Queen’s and Kingston more just for all.
OPIRG’s working groups meaningfully impact a wide range of folks in Kingston. For example, Mutual Aid Gardens is a volunteer-run garden network that distributes free produce around various neighbourhoods in town; while Roots & Wings offers social justice workshops for racialized youth.
How do you want to support or collaborate with other groups?
We are always looking to collaborate with groups whose mandates fall in line with ours! If you have an idea for an event, or would like us to host a workshop on rad social and environmental justice topics for your group, please get in touch!
OPIRG Kingston also has a working group system where groups supported (and sometimes started) by us get what they need to carry out their work, while remaining autonomous and separate. This gives groups freedom to work in the way that is best for them, but also the support that it takes to carry out their initiative. Reach out if you have a rad idea and need support to make it happen!
Is your group seeking to coordinate with other activist groups?
Yes! We love to foster connections with local activist groups.
What is the point? Why do you fight?
Here at OPIRG Kingston, we understand that dominant Eurocentric, capitalist, colonial systems are socially constructed – that is, they are created by humans and are not natural or essential – and therefore, they can be critiqued, contested, deconstructed, and rebuilt.
We support Queen’s and Kingston community members taking non-partisan action to collectively build our capacities for change-making, radical care, and mutual aid.
Contact OPIRG:
Facebook: facebook.com/OPIRGKingston
Instagram: instagram.com/OPIRGKingston
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