Join the YUFA Climate Emergency Committee (YCEC) for our York Climate Talks speaker series. This series highlights the scholarship, research and activism of scholars and climate organizers across York University and beyond. The aims of this series are to advance the discussion on climate issues and to build a strong community of people in order to collectively strategize for climate action at York University and through YCEC.

YCEC was created by the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) to address climate issues and advance climate actions and activities at York University. Working with staff and students, YCEC is building a strong coalition of researchers and activists concerned with the climate emergency.

To be added to the YCEC listserv or to learn more, contact us at: yufaclimateemergency@gmail.com

Schedule

Talks in this series will be held on Fridays from 1:00-2:30pm:

February Panel: Food Justice and Community Food Work in Toronto with Melana Roberts, Leticia Ama Deawuo, and Butterfly GoPaul

February 4th, 1pm

This panel features three long-time food justice leaders and activists:

Melana Roberts is a federal and municipal food policy strategist and food justice advocate based in Toronto. Committed to building a more equitable food system, Melana brings an anti-racist, intersectional approach to her work and focuses on community driven solutions that democratize decision making to ensure communities can shape policy decisions that influence their lives. Focused on improving access and equity and inclusive economic development through her work, she is Chair of Food Secure Canada and supports various national food-focused community development initiatives. She brings experience in local procurement, student nutrition, urban agriculture and emergency food planning, and has been supporting policy work to advance a Black Food Sovereignty Plan and improved outcomes for Black Torontonians through her role as staff at the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit.

Leticia Ama Deawuo is currently the Executive Director at SeedChange Canada and has been a leading activist for food sovereignty and food justice for the past 15 years. Previously, she was the Director of Black Creek Community Farm, an organization that works to increase access to healthy food and food justice in the Jane and Finch community of Toronto through food distribution and training programs. Ama was also instrumental in the creation of a number of community groups and initiatives including Jane Finch On The Move, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, Jane Finch Political Conversation Café, Black Creek Food Justice Network, and Mothers-In-Motion.

Butterfly GoPaul is one of the Co-Chair’s of the Black Creek Community Farm Steering Committee. She’s a proud for lifer resident of the Jane-Finch community, mother of two sons, a journalist and is a community health worker for more than 10-years. She’s a resident member of Jane-Finch Action Against Poverty and Black Creek Food Justice Network. She’s passionate about racial justice, workers’ rights, and food justice.

March Climate Talk: Cancelled

April YCEC Meeting: April 8th @ 1PM