The final episode of our second season turns the question on distance: How do we close the gaps we’ve been exploring all season? How do we build a bridge to bring each other closer? To help us consider the answers from different angles, we’ve gathered together some of our friends from the On Canada Project, the Department of Imaginary Affairs, and Filipinos United 4 Palestine. Featured in this episode: • Elvin John Malonzo Velasco (all pronouns) is a 1.5 generation Filipinx-Canadian migrated as a settler-guest in Scarborough, Tkaronto; spiritually rooted in Baguio (Bagiw = Ibaloi word for moss) & Tarlac City (Malatarlak = Alta word for wild cogon grass) of what we colonially know as the islands called The Philippines. They are a queer non-binary interdisciplinary creative artrepreneur, warrior-healer (ancestral lineage) & storytelling caretaker/co-creator of gumawa space; passionate in engaging their creative processes of drawing, drag (TITA), collaging, poetry & bridging community through active & participatory storytelling invitations with the focus on inner child healing & honouring; land stewardship & re-membering our queer ancestral lineage. • The On Canada Project (@oncanadaproject) Gina Uppal is an entrepreneur and community organizer with 10 years experience leading initiatives across public and private sectors. Gina loves creating spaces for leaders to learn, build relationships, and steward systems initiatives. Trust, compassion, and community are central in her approach to this work. • The Department of Imaginary Affairs (@dia_space) Jennifer Chan (@jennzia) is a Mama, partner, friend, sister, aunt, daughter, designer, researcher, facilitator and recovering perfectionist. She craves things to make sense in her double Virgo brain and has a constant need to protect. She has created a job for herself where she gets to imagine equitable futures. • Filipinos United 4 Palestine (@filipinosunited4palestine) Jovie Galit (@joviegalit @pinaycollection) is an artist, racial justice consultant, and community organizer living as a settler in Tkaronto. With years of experience organizing for and learning from migrant and racialized communities, she has been deeply involved in the newcomer and social justice sectors across Turtle Island. As a designer and hand lettering artist, Jovie founded Pinay Collection, a social enterprise and feminist merchandise line supporting liberation movements in the Philippines. She upholds strong abolitionist, anti-imperialist, and anti-colonial values. Gelaine Santiago (@gelainesantiago) is an award-winning social entrepreneur and storyteller working at the intersections of entrepreneurship, social justice, and cultural identity. She's on a mission to build ecosystems (not empires) and helps marginalized founders scale businesses that grow collective, wealth, and joy. Gelaine is the co-founder and CEO of Cambio & Co and Sinta & Co. dedicated to sustainable livelihood for artisans in the Philippines. Living Hyphen is a community seeking to turn up the volume on the voices of hyphenated Canadians. You can purchase our magazine at www.livinghyphen.ca, support us on Patreon, or find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.