Season 3, Ep. 4: Lorraine Lam on refusing to dehumanize anyone

In her work with unhoused people and system-impacted youth, this week’s Soulful Revolutionary asks the question, “How do we find the glimmers of light in here?” In a sea of dehumanizing politics and policies, Lorraine Lam is committed to connecting — one human to another. The crisis outreach worker and case manager finds hope in the humanity of those whom society has thrown away. And she shares that hope generously in this episode, through stories of friends met on the streets who forever changed her. Lorraine (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian settler-immigrant with an education in music, sociology and social worker. Driven by her commitment to Jesus’ life and teachings, she has been a crisis outreach worker & case manager in the Downtown East of Toronto for over 10 years, supporting people who are unhoused and precariously housed and is currently a Caseworker with Amadeusz, supporting youth who are incarcerated for firearms charges. Her work focuses on housing & homelessness, systems navigation, advocacy, harm reduction, and trauma-informed approaches to collaboration, survival, and building a more equitable and just reality for all . She was recently nominated for the City of Toronto's Access, Equity and Human Rights Award. She organizes with Christians for a Free Palestine - Toronto and Shelter Housing Justice Network, serves on the board with Building Roots, and is a contributor to Displacement City (University of Toronto Press, 2022). She loves Jurassic Park movies, singing with her gospel choir, taking naps, eating carbs indiscriminately, and exploring the city with her extroverted fur child, Miso.Follow Lorraine on Instagram: @lorrainelamchopsFollow Christians for a Free Palestine Toronto: @christiansforafreepalestinetoA Soulful Revolution is a labor of love. Paid subscribers help me devote more time and energy to this project. Thank you for your support. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurengrubaughthomas.substack.com/subscribe