DIDIHOOD ~ Issue 41

And just like that, we've passed the halfway point of 2021!

Though the summer sun is shining, vaccines are getting into arms and we're seeing some semblance of our social lives return — it's been hard to feel joyful as we continue to read about more unmarked graves of Indigenous children being found across this land.Our Didi, Fatima Syed, penned an opinion piece in Chatelaine that put into words what so many of us are feeling as immigrants and children of immigrants, about failing our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Take a read here. 

We have opened our application form for our 2021 Didihood Mentorship program. We are looking for mentors and mentees in all creative industries to pair up for the virtual program that will run from September to December this year. If you have any questions, email us or message us on Instagram.
Apply to be a mentor or mentee here! 

Meet the Didi: 
This month we chatted with writer, storyteller and now documentary filmmaker Serena Lalani. In last month's newsletter, we included the link to donate to Serena's Indiegogo campaign for her documentary on domestic violence, community isolation and building a new life post-trauma. We are happy to announce she achieved her crowdfunding goal and more, and we sat down with her to find out more about the film, This Is My Proof. 

Tell us about your documentary, This Is My Proof: 
This Is My Proof is a documentary that will centre the experiences of domestic abuse, community isolation and rebuilding after trauma. Produced and created by two South Asian women, This Is My Proof is a documentary centring the experience and journey of navigating community isolation after coming forward about assault and domestic abuse. 

Intimate partner violence is something you've experienced yourself and is also prevalent in South Asian communities. What is it like working on a project that's so personal?
It's really important to me that my personal experiences, and the experiences of other survivors are handled with as much care as possible. When I first publicly shared my experiences, domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) weren't openly spoken about, especially within the South Asian households and communities that I was a part of. It was, and still is, a priority for me to have open dialogue about the realities of this issue. Working on this project, while also having a personal connection to it, is a way for me to dive deeper into the conversation and peel back the layers of IPV that many may not be aware of. 

In your career, you are a writer. What inspired you to take that path? 
By nature, I've been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. Writing and storytelling has always been a big part of my life in many different ways: journalling, creative writing, photography and interviewing. Growing up, I knew that a "traditional" career path wasn't for me. I also knew I wanted to tell stories in a powerful way, but I wasn't sure what job category that fell under. Journalism school seemed like the best option to pursue what I already knew I loved and it helped further develop my skills in storytelling, writing, on camera interviews and more — all of which led me here. 

Last year, you left your role in media to prioritize your mental health. What led you to that decision? 
For a long time I thought I had to sacrifice certain elements of my mental health to establish a career path for myself, especially as a new grad. I underestimated the importance of taking care of myself and creating a life outside of my job. While there were many pros to working in the media, I ultimately wasn't willing to sacrifice my well-being anymore. I knew it wouldn't be sustainable to continue at the pace I was at, so I made the decision to focus on myself rather than focus on making space for myself in a field that is difficult to contribute to as a woman of colour. 
*Disclaimer: It is a huge privilege to be able to choose your mental health over a paycheque. I'm very fortunate that I was able to save up enough money to leave my full-time job and pursue freelancing. It is not something that I take for granted or that I take lightly. 

How have you overcome obstacles and challenges in your career as a woman of colour?
Finding your voice and advocating for yourself in the workplace is not easy, especially as a woman of colour. It took me quite some time to build up the courage to get comfortable using my voice in predominantly white workplaces. To overcome these obstacles, I found an ally to talk through my experiences with, which offered a safe space and made me feel less isolated in the workplace. 

Now that you've met your crowdfunding goal, what are the next steps for your documentary? 
Currently, we are working towards our financing goals while also storyboarding our next interviews and production filming dates. In the process of filming, we will also be continuing the expansion of our online community (@thisismyproof_) to build awareness around This Is My Proof and provide domestic violence and IPV resources and education. 

How can Didis still support the project?
Since we reached our crowdfunding goal before our deadline, our campaign remains opens and is funding through InDemand. We're currently working towards a new goal of $20,000 and are trying to bring as much awareness as possible to our campaign. To support the project, Didis can help us circulate our campaign link, or financially contribute to help us reach our goal. 

What is your advice to Didis that are looking to make a career change or exit a toxic situation? 
For a career change, find a mentor. Learning from someone that's working in a role you eventually want to have is invaluable and can really accelerate the process of working towards it. 
For exiting a toxic situation — have an exit strategy. While I wish we could all just pack up and leave situations that no longer serve us, it's not always feasible to do so. It's important to cover your bases in advance, if necessary — whether that's through managing your finances, lining up interviews, making new connections, etc. — so that once you exit, you're confident in your new plan to continue forward. 

What we're reading: 

A profile on Manpreet Toor in the New York Times, A Graceful Place Where Bhangra and Bollywood Meet.

A piece by Prapti Bamaniya with a Didihood shoutout, Why I Hope We Can Ring In The Next Generation of Bharatanatyam Dancers With A New Era Of Arts Journalism.

What we're listening to: 

Gurpreet Kaur Ahluwalia and Anjli Patel were featured on the Retail Insider podcast to discuss their new project Eighteen Layers where they will be style consultants for Holt Renfrew. 

Toronto restaurateur and journalist Samira Mohyeddin just launched a new CBC Radio show and podcast called Unforked where she dives into the culture and politics of food. 

What we're watching: 

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan will be back on our Netflix screens later this month, as season two of Never Have I Ever premieres on Netflix on July 15. 

Filmmaker Shazia Javed has announced a casting call for her next project, Hina. The open casting call is for South Asian women ranging from 25 to 40 years old and the deadline to apply is July 7. 

— Nikkjit Gill 

Issue 41 
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