Embracing Complexity with Sarah Mohammed: Rethinking Strength and Self-Care in Challenging Spaces

RESOLVing Violence

In this week's episode, we're joined by Sarah Mohammed as we explore the experiences of newcomers and children of newcomers in Saskatoon, who have faced social fracture due to not belonging to their original community. We discuss how they are searching for a community that aligns with their values and offers compatibility and reinforcement. Through their involvement in activist communities, these individuals have found solace in community care practices.
As these individuals strive for change and improvement in their lives, they progress towards practicing restorative self-care. Restorative self-care aims to compensate for the lack of support from their surroundings, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's identity and self-sustenance. However, the traditional wellness market fails to cater to their unique needs, leaving them to fight for their own care and protection.
The episode highlights the fulfilling nature of participating in the cycle of care, where individuals both receive and provide care within their communities. By redistributing resources, sharing knowledge, and organizing gatherings, these marginalized activists make a significant impact on their community's wellness. However, the cycle can also lead to burnout, feelings of hopelessness, and paralysis, necessitating a critical look at sustainable care practices.
Today's episode urges us to question and reshape our understanding of wellness, emphasizing the power of community care and advocating for a more inclusive and transformative approach to self-care. By centering the experiences of marginalized communities, we can create a society that consistently supports and uplifts all members, fostering true well-being and resilience.
Learn More About Our Guest:
Sarah Shandie Mohammed (she/her) is a qualitative social sciences researcher with a range of interests including cultural identity, subalternity, social media, and health and wellness of marginalized peoples. At present her work focuses on the care practices of racialized activists. She holds a BA in psychology from Penn State University and is completing a Master's in psychology at the University of Saskatchewan with an emphasis on Culture, Health, and Human Development. She is a Trinidadian-American migrant to Canada and settler on Treaty 6 Territory.
To connect with Sarah Mohammed, contact her at [e-mail].

To learn more about Resolve SK, head to research-groups.usask.ca/resolve/