Dr. Lara El Mekaui

Statistics Canada data shows racialized women average 74 cents to every dollar made by a white man. Black women make 58 cents and experience lower employment rates. 💵

#InternationalWomensDay

A female librarian hands two books to a woman at a library check-out desk.

A new blog from @cfetmu.bsky.social says libraries are among Canada’s most trusted institutions because they're grounded in expertise, standards and accountability. On Freedom to Read Week, celebrate libraries as democratic institutions designed to serve all. Read more: tinyurl.com/ydkuhann

New research from @lelmek.bsky.social explores how Caribbean festivals like Caribana and Carnival function as powerful sites of cultural preservation and resistance.

🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

#DiasporaStudies #CaribbeanCulture #ArtAndActivism

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

My latest article, “Caribana and Carnival: Belonging as Resistance and Remembrance,” has been published in the Journal of Black Studies @sagepub.com

Read it here:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

#BlackStudies #DiasporaStudies #CulturalMemory #Carnival #Caribana #MigrationStudies

🌏 Every migration journey is unique. This #InternationalMigrantsDay, we asked our researchers: What’s your migration story? From the Middle East to Nepal to the Dominican Republic, here’s a glimpse into their stories and how these experiences shaped their research and work. 1/2 🧵

This is a thank-you post to the incredible people at @thenewquarterly.bsky.social for organizing another successful iteration of the Wild Writers Festival and for allowing me to read and lead conversations with exciting #CanLit authors.

#WildWriters2025 #AuthorPanels #WritingCommunity

🌍 Migration as a Social Good: We Stand with Migrants. Join us for a global teach-in/out in Toronto. Open dialogue + Film screening + Discussion. Event is FREE and open to all.

📅 Nov. 11, 12-2pm
📍First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 116 Bond St.
🔗 migrationscholarsmobilize.org/toronto-tio

Buzzing after moderating the panel, Rewriting The Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with @mbatiz.bsky.social @kasiajaronczyk.bsky.social and @karensmythe.bsky.social at the 2025 Wild Writers Festival @thenewquarterly.bsky.social

Check out their phenomenon novels!

Apply by Oct. 15! ➡️ Are you a non-Canadian born #entrepreneur in Toronto with a business idea or early-stage venture? Enterprise Bridge Toronto: Community Bootcamp & Mentorship for Immigrant Entrepreneurs is now accepting applications!
🔗: www.torontomu.ca/cerc-migrati... #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs

The #WildWritersFestival is back! I am excited to be moderating 2 panels this year.
1-Rewriting the Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with Kasia Jaronczyk/Karen Smythe/Martha Bátiz
2-Telling Other People’s Stories with Mélikah Abdelmoumen/ Sadiqa de Meijer
#literaryfestival #canlit

For labour market mobility, Canada got extra points especially for women and youth. This means we’re seeing positive signals for improvement, according to Marshia Akbar, Director of the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab.

🎓 Doctoral Fellowship Opportunity - #ImmigrationResearch The Immigration Research Initiative at @concordia.ca is offering THREE 3-month doctoral fellowships in 2026.
⏳ Application deadline: September 12, 2025
🔗 Full details on IRI's website: www.irimmigration.org/chercheuses-... #DoctoralFellowship

Announcement post that the results for the 2025 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest are here.

The results for the 2025 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest are in! Congratulations to the winning writers. We look forward to publishing these personal essays in future issues: tnq.ca/the-2025-edn...

Excerpt from Vincent Anioke's "Finite Automata" from Special Issue #174 of The New Quarterly.

Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Vincent Anioke's "Finite Automata", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/finite...

Attention writers! The annual Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Contest closes in one week! Be sure to get your submissions in by June 10th! ⏰

For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...

Enter the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize The 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, the sixteenth edition of the prestigious prize, is open from 30 January to 30 June.

The Queen Mary Wasifiri New Writing Prize now with an exciting new development as it’s now open to entries in translation – across all three categories

Link here wasafiri.org/writing-priz...

Please share :)

Graphic from The New Quarterly stating that submissions are now open. We are now accepting submissions for regular nonfiction until June 30, 2025.

Attention nonfiction writers! Submissions are now open for regular nonfiction until June 30, 2025.

Note: Although there is a deadline, the total submission cap for nonfiction is 50 submissions. Be sure to submit your essays as soon as possible: tnq.ca/submit/

#litmagsubmissions #nonfiction

As AI reshapes education, it's vital to prioritize human-centred learning, which complements rather than opposes technology. Grateful for the insightful discussions—thanks to all who participated!
#ACCUTE2025 #WritingEducation #MovementLearning #AIandEducation

Today, I co-led the workshop "Refresh and Reset—Exploring Movement Activities in the Writing Classroom in the A.I. Era." We discussed how movement-based activities foster creativity and critical thinking in writing.
@federationhss.ca

#toronto
Show love to Petra Avenue Market on Dundas and Elizabeth.

I'm constantly missing Lebanese/Levantine food, and their baked goods are the real deal.

They've only been open for a month, but what a great culinary addition to the city!
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com

@houseofanansi.bsky.social

I had the pleasure of interviewing Tasneem Jamal for the new Wild Series section on her latest book "I Never Said That I Was Brave" ( ‪@houseofanansi.bsky.social‬ 2024) ! We talked about quantum physics, literary festivals, and the role of gossip as a narrative device. Check it out! #TasneemJamal

Congratulations to 2023 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest honourable mention @chrisbanks6625.bsky.social!

Congratulations, Saeed Teebi! 🎉

Calling all short fiction writers!

The New Quaretly @thenewquarterly.bsky.social is a great home for first-time and seasoned publications. Check out the Peter Hinchliffe Award for Short Fiction, and apply!

I had the pleasure of researching & compiling the new section on Black Canadian Lit & Book Prizes—check it!

blackcanada.ca/black-writin...

Excerpt from Jennifer Cassidy's "first words" from Special Issue #174 of The New Quarterly.

Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Jennifer Cassidy's "first words", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/first-words/

Lara El Mekaui Belonging in our Scattered World

Hi, I’m Lara—editor, writer, and researcher based in Ontario.
I also teach writing and communications.
My work explores storytelling, migration, and belonging.
You can find more of my work at thehesitantlocal.ca.