Sara Ferguson
Law students wear many hats, and at Osgoode, many students also wear the hat of being community organizers. I had the honour of interviewing 12 JD students about their involvement in various social justice movements and community initiatives this past year. Here is an overview of their work.
Sara Ferguson (2L) grew up in Northern Ontario and is a first-generation law student. They are actively involved in social justice movements that focus on uplifting marginalized and underrepresented communities.
For several years, Sara was involved with Egale Youth OUTreach, which offered a safe community for transgender youth to express themselves artistically through music and performance. Friends of Ruby’s is now the facilitator of the trans youth outreach program, and Sara continues their work with this organization. The mandate of this group, they said, is “to offer support to transgender youth and remove stigma and barriers by offering resources that empower them as individuals. Also, by putting on performances, the goal is to educate the community about transgender issues.”
In addition, Sara works with the Nai Children’s Choir, which is run by CultureLink, where they offer support to refugees who are new to Canada, providing the children with community-based resources. Sara explained that the Choir’s mandate is also “to integrate refugees into communities within Canada by hosting community events that support anti-discrimination and anti-racism.”
Sara reflected on what drew them to these movements: “From a young age, I knew I was a part of the LGBTQI2S+ community. Growing up, I experienced a harsh amount of rejection due to my sexuality and gender identity and have had to overcome these obstacles through perseverance and education. Now, my mission is to advocate for LGBTQI2S+ rights and other marginalized communities, and to empower those who have hidden their true identities for fear of social reprisal.”
When asked whether community involvement informs their work as a law student, Sara said, “all the social justice work I am involved with enriches my work as a law student because it allows me to be an informed advocate. I work closely with these communities, so I understand the real issues and real concerns that these communities face. I listen to their stories, I know their experiences, and I understand what they require from the legal community in order to feel safe.”
In their call to action, Sara encouraged all law students to “get involved with social justice communities. They need you and would love to have you!” they said. “No matter what area of law you get involved in, it is important to support the community as a whole. When you go out and get firsthand experience working in social justice, it changes and shapes your mission as a law student because the heart of law is social justice.”