DigitALL: Innovative Solutions towards Climate Equity

Welcome to this semester’s large SFU Surrey event, and what an event we are throwing together! This March we are inviting you ALL – especially women, femme, and allies to celebrate women with unique backgrounds in our communities who work on developing innovative solutions towards climate equity.

In an extraordinary panel discussion, you will be invited to ponder on how innovation can propel the climate equity movement while hearing students and professionals share their experiences and insights on climate equity in motion. The panel discussion is followed by an engaging community-building discussions with focus on connecting with like-minded folks passionate about innovative and creative solutions.

RSVP required!

This event is a collaboration between Embark Sustainability, Sustainable Energy Engineering Student Society, and SFSS Women’s Centre.

SPEAKERS

Simone Williamson (she/her) is a freelance artist and digital marketer with the national environmental law non-profit, Ecojustice. Her responsibilities include the management, content creation and strategy of Ecojustice’s social media channels and production of in-house graphic design. Her freelance art practice specializes in digital illustration, animation and acrylic painting, with themes of gender justice, the environment and “Hero’s Journey” storytelling.

Outside of her work, Simone is an avid backcountry skier and mentor with Mountain Mentors, a local non-profit that provides peer-to-peer backcountry sports mentorship for gender marginalized people. She loves to dance, make conversations with strangers, and connect with her community.

Allyson (Ally) Soriano (she/her/hers) is a the social media lead for SFU350 – a student-led climate justice club at SFU. She’s in her fifth year studying Communications and Indigenous Studies. I am Indigenous to the lands that make up what is colonially known as the Phillippines, and blessed to be born and raised on the beautiful Coast Salish territories known traditionally as sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxw (Tsawwassen), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Kwantlen, Stz’uminus and šxwməθkwəy̓ əmaɁɬ təməxw (Musqueam) nations.

Allyson is passionate about climate justice, intersectional feminism, being in community, finding and cooking delicious food, and cat parenthood (her name is Cinnamon!)

Rebecca Ballard (she/her/they/them) is a third-year student at SFU. Majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Counseling and Human Development; and Gender Sexuality and Women’s Studies. Working as a part of SFU350 which is a student-led group on campus organizing for climate justice and mobilizing for systemic change in solidarity with intersecting movements. A majority of the work Rebecca does is based in building community and relationality in resistance to individuality that is pushed so heavily in academic institutions and society as a whole.

Jacqueline (she/her) is a uninvited settler on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory in what is colonially known as Vancouver. She is a passionate learner, community builder, and climate organizer who loves bringing awareness to the intersectional nature of climate issues, and centering justice, equity and accessibility in her work. Jacqueline has a background in International Relations from the University of British Columbia, and believes deeply in the power of hope, joy and community in the climate movement! In her current role as Climate Action Programs Coordinator at CityHive, Jacqueline develops and facilitates youth climate programming, such as the Youth Climate Innovation Lab and the Climate ShareSpace.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This event is being put together and coordinated by organizations that work on the occupied, traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Skwxwú7mesh, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Matsqui, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen nations. We greatly encourage community members to reflect on the lands they are tuning in from at this virtual event; learn whose lands you occupy through native-land.ca.

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 will be held at Simon Fraser University Surrey Campus starting in room SRYC 3150 and ending in SRYC 3310. Appetizers and refreshments from Tayybeh will be provided.

Accessibility details include:

• We will be transitioning between two rooms; both spaces are accessible using a wheelchair or mobility aids. Please contact programs@embarksustainability.org for more details or questions.
• All appetizers and refreshments are vegetarian with plant-based options.
• Gender-neutral/disability washrooms nearby.
• We aim to host a scent-free space. Please refrain from wearing scented products in attendance of this event.
• Unfortunately, we cannot provide ASL interpretation at this time. However, we can provide written instructions and a copy of the facilitator’s script.
• Attendees are free to opt in and opt out of activities as suits their needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.
• 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 for this event, you are agreeing to be respectful towards each other, to using appropriate language, and being mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.

The event organizers do 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 usernames they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or video image.

If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests by removing them from the event. Ultimately, we want you all to have fun and meet like minded peers who are interested in communication, justice and change!