Back Door Mission Speaker Series

The Back Door Mission proudly presents a community-focused speaker series, featuring experts from various educational backgrounds and personal experiences. Join us in the sanctuary of Simcoe Street United Church at 66 Simcoe St S. on April 4th, 11th, and 18th. Every Thursday, from 6-8pm, residents, community partners, students, and all interested individuals are invited to join us and hear from our esteemed speakers as they share insights on specific societal and community-based topics. Please see the schedule below and pre-register before attending. Thanks to the Back Door Mission's commitment to providing a platform for community learning, and with support from sponsors like Durham College, these discussions are free to attend. Details of the dates, presenters, and topics are provided below. Each talk will be 45 minutes long, followed by a Q&A session.

Thursday, April 4th, 2024, 6pm - 8pm:

Maria Iannuzziello, B.Sc., M.A.
Professor & Coordinator of Police Foundations Program at Durham College
Faculty of Social and Community Service

Maria will discuss the importance of community policing and her experience within law enforcement, leading her to her current role guiding students interested in policing through the Police Foundations Program at Durham College.

Thursday, April 11th, 2024, 6pm - 8pm:

Tyler Frederick, PhD
Associate Professor & Undergraduate Program Director at Ontario Tech University
Criminology and Justice, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

Dr. Frederick will speak on his research project concerning the transition away from homelessness for young people, following 80 individuals across 4 Canadian cities for up to 34 months, exploring their backgrounds, wellbeing, and experiences through qualitative interviews.

Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 6pm - 8pm:

Karly Church
Human Trafficking Program Coordinator and Survivor Advocate
Victim Services of Durham Region (VSDR)
Trainer, Specialized Anti-Human Trafficking, The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS)

Karly Church, a survivor of human trafficking, will share her personal journey and experiences, along with her work with the Durham Regional Police, after earning certifications in Social Services and Mental Health & Addictions at Canadore College.