We are thrilled to announce the return of CHANGE YOUR WORLD on-campus at York University on December 7, 2022.
The goal of the Change Your World conference is to inspire youth in Ontario to be the next generation of environmentally active citizens. We welcome high school students and their teachers to this dynamic one-day conference that brings together youth and community organizations from across Ontario to discuss, collaborate and learn how to make sustainable and equitable change in our world.
Agenda
| 8:30am-9:45am | Registration York University, Keele Campus |
| 9:45am-10:45am | Opening Ceremonies York University, Keele Campus |
| 10:45am to 11am | Break York University, Keele Campus |
| 11am to Noon | Workshop #1 York University, Keele Campus |
| Noon to 1pm | Lunch York University, Keele Campus |
| 1pm to 2pm | Workshop #2 York University, Keele Campus |
| 2:00pm to 2:30pm | Closing Ceremonies York University, Keele Campus |
2022 Keynote Speaker
We are honoured to have three of our outstanding alumni returning to York U to be the keynote speakers for Change Your World 2022.
Jamilla Mohamud (MES ’20)
Associate, Urban Strategies Inc.
Jamilla Mohamud is an urban planner, researcher and writer with experience working on a range of issues including affordable housing, health equity and gendered rights to the city. As a consultant planner with Urban Strategies, Jamilla is focusing on large-scale redevelopment projects and campus master planning. She holds a Master of Environmental Studies in Planning from York University, a Bachelor of Science from Toronto Metropolitan University and is the recipient of the 2022 Canadian Institute of Planners’ (CIP) Young Planner Award.
Jason Robinson (BA ’17, MES ’19)
Policy Intern @ Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Jason Robinson (BA ’17, MES ’19) is an environmental and social advocate and researcher. Beyond Jason’s current role, he is also a policy specialist for the Community Climate Council, and co-founder/research and data lead for Gradient Spaces. As a data analyst, he is responsible for researching various socio-economic issues affecting rural Ontario residents. As the policy specialist, Jason works to develop and execute strategies to increase environmental awareness and climate literacy in the Peel Region. As a co-founder of Gradient Spaces, a space for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ people passionate about making tech more equitable, he works on collecting data to address the issues racialized and queer people face in the tech ecosystem. With a passion for sustainability metrics and issues impacting marginalized communities, Jason has led workshops and seminars on the interconnection of human, economic and environmental systems among various demographics. He is the 2021 North American Association for Environmental Education’s 30 under 30.
Aliya Din (BES ‘20)
Parks Program Officer, City of Toronto
Aliya Din is a Parks Program Officer with the City of Toronto in the Urban Forestry department. In her current role, Aliya is working towards enhancing the natural areas of Toronto's Urban Forest through tree planting, community stewardship, and environmental education. Her passion for making positive change lies in environmental conservation, forestry management and ecology.
2022 STUDENT WORKSHOPS
The conference would not be possible without the support of many community partners. This year’s student workshops are provided by:
Nurturing hope and belonging in a world of social chaos through landscape experiences
Young people today are more socially conscious than ever before. Through school, media, and everyday discussions with family and friends, they are exposed to the weight of social-ecological issues like climate change, racism, food and job security, addiction and mental illness, etc. What heavy burden it is for young people to live in a world that has been deemed “damaged” and now they are the ones responsible to fix?
Migration, Status, & Allyship
Youth who are living in Canada since childhood without immigration status face significant barriers and uncertainty. Sometimes referred to as “undocumented”, these young people face complex and overlapping issues of marginalization and do not have any legislative protections or support. This workshop will explore the impact of not having immigration status as a young person and how precarious immigration status is created and maintained. We will also explore how we can support youth without immigration status and how we can achieve justice..
Nature in the City: Understanding Toronto's Urban Forest
Toronto’s Urban Forest comprises of all trees in natural and developed areas, on publicly and privately owned lands. Natural areas include the rich patchwork of Toronto’s ravines, woodlots, forests, and shorelines. In this workshop, you will learn about the basics of understanding Toronto’s Urban Forest including the challenges we face and also how to take care of it to ensure long-term sustainability.
Hear from a City of Toronto Urban Forestry staff on what it’s like working in the Urban Forest, join in on a tree identification walk, and learn about how you can make a difference in your community through volunteering.
Note: This workshop includes an outdoor hands-on tree identification walk around York University grounds. Students are encouraged to dress warmly and wear proper footwear.
Gone Fishin'
Participants will learn about how ecosystems are protected, monitored and restored by conservation staff at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), about local environmental issues facing urban watersheds, and how collecting fish samples help us understand the health of our watershed. Youth will take part in a hands-on “mock” electrofishing activity where they will identify fish as indicator species to determine the health of creeks and rivers. Students will learn about stream ecology and make connections between physical properties of water quality and fish ecology.
Eco-Arts Collage Workshop
The goal of this workshop is to get creative, have a good time and create some cool art! All levels are welcome, no experience is required.
We are going to use magazine cutouts, paper, paint, drawing tools and other recycled materials to create unique art pieces surrounding the theme of nature and society.
This workshop is also a great opportunity to learn more about the Eco-Art scene here at EUC. So sign up and let’s get crafty!
Becoming a Food Citizen: Food, the Environment, and You
Every day, we make choices about food – as part of our routines, as part of our cultures, as part of our identity. These choices link us inextricably to the environment that make us part of our Food System. What is the impact of our food choices on our local (and not so local) environment? How do we make mindful choices that are empowering and have a positive impact on our communities? How can food be used as a tool to bring people together and make environmental change?
This workshop will explore the environmental impacts of food, as well as how to navigate our choices around food in a meaningful way that makes an impact – with some delicious recipe suggestions along the way, guided by activities tested and developed by youth from Ecosource’s Food Citizen Manual.
A revolution of communication
Ever get that feeling that no one is ever changing. How about the feeling like we aren’t going to solve this crisis?
This is your session.
Enviromentum has been supporting environmental communicators like you to be more successful at drawing out change. The workshop facilitator will be facilitating a training that has been delivered to over 1000 climate change advocates across more than 10 countries, and helped Canada to be the first country in the world to have a federal carbon fee and dividend pricing policy.
There will be no powerpoint with words so small you can’t read them. This session will be experiential, involving movment, visualization, silent brainstorms, and other fun interactive approaches to learning.
Las Nubes Study Abroad
Las Nubes offers a 10-day program for high school students at our EcoCampus and other locations in Southern Costa Rica. This field course is intensive and rich in experiences that range from food production, forest ecosystems, indigenous issues, Costa Rican history and rural culture and biodiversity conservation. Through this program, students can experience first-hand lessons on tropical ecology, sustainability, indigenous education, arts, health, and conservation through the courses now offered. Participants are given an unprecedented opportunity to interact with and learn from the local rural Costa Rican communities.
The Green Economy
Government and companies around the world are creating targets to reduce emissions and become more sustainable, but what must be done to achieve these goals? During the presentation, participants are shown the many sectors and industries that will see growth during the low carbon transition of the economy. Real companies and start-ups are discussed, showcasing the various climate, low/zero carbon, sustainability, and environmental stewardship goals that their services and products address. A highlight is placed on Canadian companies and organizations throughout the presentation.
Topics that are discussed:
• Companies and Governments investing in net-zero emissions
• Energy efficiency, and the many industries and companies working toward efficient practices
• Clean technology, such as renewable energy, energy storage, district energy, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen
• Bringing circular thinking to linear industries
• Active forest management and responsible resource extraction
• Best use of land and how to grow food in unconventional ways
• Conservation authorities and environmental stewardship
• Resources are shared for future green professionals
Rooted and Rising: Re-Imagining Climate Leadership
Have you ever stopped to think about what leadership really means? How is the leadership we need for climate justice different from the mainstream ideas of leadership that contributed to the crisis? In this workshop, we’ll re-imagine leadership together. Thinking with an ecosystem perspective, we’ll explore: (1) What is Leadership anyways? (2) Understanding our Leadership Ecosystem (3) Tapping into our Unique Gifts (4) Caring for our Climate Justice Ecosystem
Addressing the intersection of biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental inequity through youth-led action projects
Lauren Saville, the Roots & Shoots Manager, will present for the first 30 minutes about the Jane Goodall Insitute of Canada and our Roots & Shoots program. Lauren will explain why we have focused on the three crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity – while centering them all around Indigenous Perspectives. Lauren will review the 4-steps of the Roots & Shoots program and share how students can get involved.
For the second 30 minutes, students will be divided into groups of 5 to brainstorm about the issues they see in their community using our community mapping worksheets, to help them figure out issues they would want to take action on. Support with be provided by Lauren, as well as members from our Youth Advisory Council to help students and answer questions.
Can You Hear the Eco?
This workshop empowers students to consider how they can make a difference in the world by working together to develop and communicate solutions to real-world environmental issues. The audience is presented with a series of case studies, outlining current local and national environmental issues. Then, in smaller groups, the participants must brainstorm solutions and consider the economic, social and ethical parameters of their proposed solution. Teams defend their ideas in a bracket-style debate, which encourages participants to justify their solutions and improve upon their original ideas by taking on other groups’ feedback with each debate round. All participants vote on the winners until a finalist is crowned!
This workshop exemplifies how everything we do impacts all other aspects of life around us. However, in order to get things done, it is important to direct funding and resources to certain goals. How should these goals be determined? Is there an ethical component to social, economic, and political decisions? It’s up to the class to decide. Expect the use of creative digital tools, deep discussions, and debate!
Climate Justice: One Size Does Not Fit All
We hear about Climate Justice but what does it really mean? Where does it lay its roots? Join TYEC in a thought-provoking and hands-on experience as we connect, engage and gather the tools to jumpstart action within our homes, schools and communities. Discover why one size does not fit all when it comes to Climate Justice.
Sustainability & the SDGs
This will be an interactive and fun workshop to learn about sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students will learn about York University’s sustainability initiatives, as well as learn how to take action to contribute to a more just and sustainable world.
Designing Effective Climate Solutions with YCI!
How do you approach a complex problem and create a practical solution for it? At YCI, we leverage human-centered design and radical collaboration to deeply understand and design with the communities we serve. In this collaborative workshop, you’ll learn some fundamental design principles and practice co-creating human-centered solutions!
Empowering Minds for New Times
Youth-led interactive workshop will help students to understand topics such as loneliness, anxiety about the future and ways to build resilience during difficult times. Youth speakers will share personal stories about their lived experience during the pandemic and steps they have taken to integrate self-care practices that work for them. Students will better understand coping tools and ways to build resilience during difficult times.
Presentation format:
Introductions / Warm Ups
Opinion Poll
Speakers Story One
Coping Tools 1-5
Speaker’s Story Two
Coping Tools 6-10
A Message of Hope
Q&A / Resources
York University – Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
Presented by Dr. Deborah McGregor and the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project
Listening to the Land: An Introduction to Climate Justice and Storytelling
Join the Indigenous Environmental Justice (IEJ) Project, led by Canadian Research Chair, Deborah McGregor, to explore stories on the land. How can Indigenous storytelling point to justice, environmental issues and climate crisis? How can Indigenous and non-Indigenous people move toward reconciliation through storytelling? What story can you tell?
York University – Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
Presented by Dr. Sarah Flicker and Nadha Hassan, PhD Candidate
Park Perceptions and Racialized Realties
Green spaces are supposed to be good for your health, right? Well, our research complicates that idea! From July to November 2021, 18 racialized residents in two under-resourced Toronto neighbourhoods (Jane and Finch and St. James Town) went on over 35 greenspace visits. Together, we collected over 200 photos and videos documenting our experiences and capturing our perceptions on issues like access, safety, inclusivity, and mental health and well-being. We had over 55 online discussions to debrief those experiences with researchers and each other. We shared our perspectives on what it means to navigate and use public greenspaces in Toronto as racialized people. We got lots of news and media attention highlighting our surprising results. Come and learn what a group of community members and scholars that partnered with two community organisations learned about Park Perceptions and Racialized Realities. This community-based participatory research project explores the experiences of racialized and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) in public greenspaces. We offer several recommendations for creating more equitable, just, safe, and health-promoting greenspaces. Learn how you can get involved!
TEACHER WORKSHOPS
We have developed a professional development day for teachers attending the conference that centers on bringing environmental education into your classrooms. All teachers will participate in the following session during both workshop periods on our conference agenda:
Action Projects to Change the World
Students and youth are at the forefront of climate and sustainability action. How can you lead your own hands-on Action Project to make your school, your community, or your world a more sustainable place?
Our Action Project Planning workshop will show you what an Action Project looks like and help you consider your interests and skills, your sphere of influence, and the root causes of the issue so you can take on the best Action Project ever! Then you can apply for up to $500 in funding from LSF to make your plans a reality.
Contact
Who
Lily Piccone
Conference Coordinator, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change