Climate Equity in Conversation

How can you help create a just climate future? Join us in person to chat with climate equity practitioners and sustainability advocates to learn what climate equity looks like in daily and collective practice. You’ll get to:

• Hear inspiring stories from movers and shakers in the world of climate;
• Pick their brain about experiences in local climate equity efforts; and
• Springboard your own climate equity journey alongside like-minded community members.

We’ll be keeping this conversation warm, welcoming, and casual - a great opportunity to connect with current and future changemakers in climate work!

SPEAKERS

Hailey Bird Matheson is Nehiyaw (Cree) from Peguis First Nation, Treaty One, on her mother’s side coming from the Bird Family. On her father's side she has mixed European ancestry including mostly, Scottish and French. She was born on Ktunaxa and Sinixt territory in BC’s interior and grew up in Tonkawa territory in central Texas. As a guest on this land, she tries to be a good relative and support local Nations through activism and learning local languages and creation stories. Hailey holds a degree in social work and her passion for Indigenous-based research and land-based practices led her to intern at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm (the Indigenous garden at UBC) and engage in practicums supporting people who use substances in the Downtown Eastside. On these territories, she has had many mentors and friends who have allowed her to step into her current roles as a program manager for CRUW (Culturally Relevant Urban Wellness), frontline worker at Squamish helping hands society , and as an artist through beadwork, poetry, and drumming.

George P.R. Benson is a climate leader and urban planner based in Vancouver. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Climate Displacement Planning Initiative (CDPI), one of the first organizations in the world to focus solely on climate change and forcible human movement. George also works in local economic development where he focuses on building more just, decarbonized, and democratic economies. He is active in various global, national and local initiatives related to youth empowerment and climate action, and served as the Global Climate Lead for North America in the Global Shapers Community. He’s also served on numerous youth climate networks, such as the Canadian Youth Climate Collaborative, and has been involved in the national leadership of the Canadian and American urban planning associations.

Mica Dela Cruz (she/her) is a first-generation, Filipino settler born in Manila, Philippines, and was raised on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Cowichan Nations in so-called “Richmond”. She is a recent graduate from Simon Fraser University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Sciences. As a public health advocate, she is passionate and enthusiastic about working with the community and improving public health through facilitating positive changes in the environment and opening up discussions about important social justice issues within minority and vulnerable groups. She is currently the Environmental Justice Education Coordinator at Be the Change Earth Alliance, a non-profit organization that aims to inspire, educate, and empower youth to take personal and collective action for a sustainable and resilient world. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, shopping, and swimming.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This event will take place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛw̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations.

ACCESSIBILITY

Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Associate Members.

This event takes place in West Mall Centre in room #2830. This building has elevator access as well as accessible washrooms. We aim to make our events accessible to as many of our community members as possible. If we can take further action to make this event accessible to you, or if you have any questions, please contact us at programs@embarksustainability.org.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENT

By registering to attend this event or events, you are agreeing to be respectful when listening to and communicating with others, and be mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.

Embark Sustainability does not tolerate violence or aggression against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Please also refer to people using the introductions they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance.

If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety of our community members by removing them from the event.