WE Belong Podcast

Ana (from Iran) and Meghana (from India) share their experiences as international students getting their Masters of Engineering from the University of Windsor, where the Empowr program helped prepare them for the workforce. Victoria Abboud joins to talk about the Empowr program, which she initiated.

Bouthaina, originally from Syria, was inspired to start her small business while participating in a program at UHC Hub of Opportunities, where Kimberly, originally from Minnesota, works as a crisis counselor and orientation worker. In this episode, both women share their inspiring stories and highlight the work of UHC.

This episode is entirely in french. Yasmine est arrivée à Windsor il y a vingt ans et, après avoir découvert les défis auxquels font face les Franco-Ontariens, elle est devenue une véritable championne de la communauté francophone locale — un engagement qu’elle poursuit encore aujourd’hui à travers son travail au CCFWEK et à l’ACFO WECK (entre autres).

Growing up in Zambia, Anold was persecuted for their sexuality. Their experiences led them to working with the United Nations and Amnesty International on 2SLGBTQIA+ activism before coming to Windsor, where they founded an organization dedicated to supporting queer & trans migrants.

Welcome back to the WE Belong Podcast! This season, we'll meet newcomers and long-settled immigrants from all over the world and hear their stories. We'll also be learning about all the local organizations who are here to support them and learn some welcoming strategies. New episodes every Wednesday starting November 13, 2025!

When civil war broke out in Moussa's home country of Ivory Coast, he and his family escaped through the bush across the border to Guinea, where he spent another 14 years in a refugee camp before being brought to Windsor as a Government Assisted Refugee. Once here, the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County's Resettlement Assistance Program helped him get settled and follow his dreams.

Originally from Palestine, Riham moved to Canada with her family in 2001 when she was a teenager. She shares how her experiences with racism following 9/11 inspired her to embrace her identity and how she supports her community through her work at the University of Windsor, her private therapy practice, and her role as WE LIP Vice Chair.

Emily came to Windsor from Lima, Peru as an international student during the pandemic. She shares her experience of choosing Windsor, arriving here, obtaining her Post-Graduate Work Permit, and why she stayed in the region.

Kelsey Santarossa, Director of Community and Workforce Development at Workforce WindsorEssex, discusses the intersection of immigration and workforce development in the region while reflecting on the stories shared over the first ten episodes of the WE Belong podcast.

As a young woman in Afghanistan, Kainat was not allowed to work or go to school. Since coming to Canada with her family in search of safety and opportunity, she has been able to start her education, pursue her dreams, and become a leader for other newcomer youth with the help of the New Canadians' Centre of Excellence's Youth Resource Centre (YRC).