The Migration and Diaspora Studies (MDS) program congratulates Joshua Hollick-Kenyon on the successful defence of his MA thesis! Well done, Josh!

The thesis was supervised by Prof. Laura Macdonald and Prof. Jill Wigle, and was examined by Prof. Jean Daudelin.

Here are the details of the thesis:

Migrants as Residents in São Paulo: “Different” Citizens and the Right to the City

Over the past 10-15 years, international migration to São Paulo and Brazil has steadily increased, with more arrivals from countries within the Global South. This has driven a progressive normative shift in federal law and the creation of a municipal migration policy. However, migrants still face barriers in accessing rights and services, particularly in securing affordable housing amid a broader crisis affecting both citizens and noncitizens. Within this context, and with a central focus on informal housing, this thesis examines (1) how Brazilian ideas about urban citizenship and the Right to the City (RTC) intersect (or not) with the rights of migrants in São Paulo, and (2) how this situation is reflected in the municipal government’s policy for migrants (PMPI) and its ongoing implementation.

The main arguments of this thesis are that migrants face barriers in accessing rights and the city that stem from factors related to both their insertion into the lower rungs of Brazil’s differentiated citizenship regime and their specific position as noncitizens. Although the PMPI presents a strong framework and actions to reduce these barriers, these ambitions have been undercut by challenges to implementation connected to a lack of prioritisation within the municipality. Municipal migration policy is also heavily impacted by weak public policies in other areas, such as housing, and by a lack of federal government action. This confluence of obstacles pushes many migrants to live in informal housing and marginalised neighbourhoods, where they experience precarious living conditions and constrained access to basic services. Despite the potential for greater political participation, migrants’ involvement has so far been limited due to cultural differences, language barriers, their lack of political weight as non-voters, and other factors, such as not seeing São Paulo as their final migration destination.

This study is based on 12 semi-structured interviews with staff from SĂŁo Paulo-based NGOs, a media organisation, a housing movement, migrant collectives and the municipal government carried out in 2024; analysis of the Municipal Policy Plan for Immigrants 2021-2024 (the core document guiding the PMPI); and a review of Brazil-focused literature on citizenship, the RTC, and migrants’ access to rights.

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Congratulations to MDS graduate Goundo Diarra on her collaborative research on refugee education in Kenya!

Goundo has been an active contributor to LERRN: The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, a partnership between academics and civil society partners, primarily in Canada, Kenya, Lebanon and Tanzania. A focus of LERRN since 2018 has been partnered research with those most affected by displacement. With the support of LERRN, Goundo has been working with the (DRA), a refugee-led community research organization in Kenya, to co-design and undertake research on refugee education.

In 2024, Goundo worked through virtual platforms with DRA partners in Northeastern Kenya to co-design research to examine if and how global commitments on refugee education were implemented in the context of the Dadaab camps. The research involved focus group discussions and key informant interviews with teachers, students, and school administration across four different secondary schools undertaken by members of the DRA. Goundo then collaborated with the DRA to conduct a thematic analysis to identify key themes, patterns, and insights. Narrative analysis was used to interpret the stories and experiences shared by participants.

The results of this research was published by LERRN as a Research Summary in March 2025. Goundo then travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in April 2025 to present the findings along with members of the DRA at a regional conference organized by the Ethiopian IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement.

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On April 16, 2025, the Migration and Diaspora Studies (MDS) Student Society hosted its first annual conference, Routes & Roots: Navigating Migration and Identity, at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University. The event brought together students, faculty, and guests for a vibrant day of research presentations, critical dialogue, and community-building.

The conference opened with a keynote address by Dr. Gulay Kilicaslan, followed by three engaging panels:

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  Identity and Belonging (moderated by Dr. Laura Madokoro)

  
  
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  Diaspora Politics and Labour (moderated by Dr. Jeff Sahadeo)

  
  
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  Transnationalism and Mobility (moderated by Dr. Christina Clark-Kazak)

  
  

Across the sessions, speakers explored themes such as refugee identity, Caribbean-Canadian narratives, migration and education, settler colonialism, immigrant labour challenges, and transnational mobility. The panels featured presentations from students including Erika Ehrenberg, Hannah Baksh, Hibagh Ahmed, Brittany Babij, Myron Liew, Gloria Lamptey, Abraham Alexander, Chizorom Ogbuagu, Victoria Salomon, Sally Duhaime, and Katie Kissick.

The program also featured a spoken word poetry performance by Yalda Sarwar, a roundtable discussion session, and a closing reflection led by Program Director Dr. James Milner.

Organized by MDS Student Society officers Sal-Sabila, Sally Duhaime, Nadia Schwartz, and Olivia Rose, the conference created a dynamic space for scholarly exchange, personal reflection, and collective learning. Participants left feeling inspired by the quality of the research, the openness of the conversations, and the strong sense of community that defined the day.

We extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, moderators, performers, and organizers for making the inaugural Migration and Diaspora Studies Student Society conference a resounding success.

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The Migration and Diaspora Studies (MDS) Student Society has announced the 2025 Routes and Roots Conference Itinerary and Speakers List.

The Student Society’s first conference will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Dunton Tower room 2017. !

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The Migration and Diaspora Studies Community welcomed Dr. Wisdom Tettey, ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University President and newest MDS Faculty Associate, to share his research on race, citizenship and diasporas and to hear about the diverse and compelling research of MDS faculty and students.

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Migration and Diaspora Studies MA Student Veronika Frydrych shared her experience as an intern with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):

Thanks to Quebec’s Governmental International Organization Internship Program under the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MRIF), I had the opportunity to intern for six months at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

During this internship, I joined the Migration and Development unit, which provided a dynamic environment where I took on significant responsibilities to advance the unit’s projects. These included preparing an international policy conference in Tunisia on South-South migration and conducting research on new migration flows along the Western Balkan route. These tasks allowed me to deepen my understanding of contemporary issues and hone my skills in project management, data analysis, and report writing.

In addition to my internship, I was elected co-head of social events for the Intern Circle Board. This role enriched my communication, leadership, and event management skills, while also allowing me to forge memorable connections that I will cherish throughout my life.

I believe that a key factor in securing this internship was my participation in the MDS program as a Master’s candidate. This unique program set me apart from other Canadian candidates by showcasing my specialized knowledge and skills in the field of migration.

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MDS Program Director James Milner, spoke with ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University’s independent student newspaper, The Charlatan, about how student researchers are working with the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) to make research on refugees more inclusive and equitable. Visit to read the article and carleton.ca/LERRN/ for more about the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN).

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A momentous first! On June 24, MDS Program Director James Milner was named Canada’s first Sergio Vieira de Mello Chair. As Chair, Dr. Milner will lead a three-year pilot program that includes the intended development of an education pathway to permanent residence in Canada for refugee students. Dr. Milner’s hosting of the de Mello Chair was a key commitment included in two new Memorandums of Understanding— one with the Office of the United Nationals High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Canada) and one with Jumpstart Refugee Talent—to support global refugee responses including teaching, research and community outreach activities that address forcible displacement.

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Congratulations! Prof. James Casteel has won a Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award (FGMA). Graduate students sent in nomination letters to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA) supporting their favourite supervisor and the impact they have made. This award is in recognition of faculty who provide exceptional service to graduate students as supervisors and research mentors.

Prof. Casteel was the founding Program Director for MDS, and is still associated to the program.

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