East Asian Heritage Month: Lived Experience & Leadership in YRDSB

About this episode

The episode features a conversation about identity and representation among East Asian-identifying staff in YRDSB.

In this East Asian Heritage Month episode of Tune In YRDSB , Superintendent Elizabeth Lau is joined by four East Asian-identifying staff, Rebecca Tam Nesbitt, Hilda Cosmidis, Seiji Ishiguro, and Jae Yeon (Jasmin) Kwak, for a rich, reflective conversation about identity, representation, and belonging. Together, they explore the impact of growing up and working in educational spaces. They share stories of struggle, pride, and growth while emphasizing the importance of diverse leadership and visibility in schools. In line with this year’s theme, Unity and Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity , the guests reflect on personal experiences and the broader implications for students, staff, and community.

People in this episode

Guests: Rebecca Tam Nesbitt, Hilda Cosmidis, Seiji Ishiguro, Jae Yeon (Jasmin) Kwak

Topics covered

• East Asian Heritage Month
• identity
• representation
• belonging
• diverse leadership
• visibility
• Asian communities
• Canadian identity

Keywords

• education
• cultural heritage
• community impact

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Tune In YRDSB, Unity and Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity

More episodes of Tune In YRDSB

• Navigating the Shift: A Guide to Post-Secondary Accessibility & Accomodations · June 4, 2026 · 60 min
• Beyond Classroom Walls: The YRDSB Museum & Archives in Action · May 21, 2026 · 27 min
• Preserving Our History: Inside the YRDSB Museum and Archives Grade 3 Program · May 7, 2026 · 25 min
• Navigating AI and Mental Health: Student Perspectives · April 30, 2026 · 29 min
• Course Selection · February 12, 2026 · 16 min
• Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) · November 12, 2025 · 32 min