Hosted by ELLY POND

Free food! Journalling! Prizes! Community building!

In uncertain, scary, and infuriating times, how can we care for each other in spite of existing power structures? Mutual aid is designed for communities and by communities - to organize to meet  each other's needs and support each other's dreams beyond the election results.

What this event will look like:
This is a casual event exploring mutual aid and community/self-care. We'll learn about different care solutions across the world, explore our own needs, unpack self-care, and find new ways to tend to ourselves. This event is hosted by Elly Pond in collaboration with Apathy is Boring.

You do not need to be an activist to attend this event. The night will focus on community conversation, creativity and curiosity.

Elly Pond (she/they) is a performer, artist, and activist from Montreal, QC. She loves trees and green tea. They are a proud RISE Cohort 11 alum, an original member of the theatre company PlaceHolder Productions, and most recently, 1/5th of award-winning comedy-coven Tongues. You can find Elly scouring the ground for moss or vigorously searching for the glasses on top of their head.

Hosted by ASSANE KABA

In this Table Topics event, we want to talk about gender inclusion and how we can collectively create a more inclusive society. Art is often a means of expression that goes beyond words.

For the first part, we invite artists to present their work, which reflects an inherent aspect of gender inclusion and what it means. This will be followed by a discussion with our guest speaker, Lionel Lehouillier, and a group discussion activity. 

Lionel Lehouillier is, first and foremost, a theatre artist. His artistic practice is found at the limit of theatre and activism. Recently, he wrote and starred in Laitue Matinal·e (Morning Lettuce), a theatre piece about the French language and non-binary identities. Lionel works with the trans community as a consultant, offering workshops, facilitating and participating in round tables and public speaking. He is also the president of the board of directors of Trans Outaouais, a support organization for trans people and their loved ones.

Assane Kaba (he/him/his) is an Ottavian (Ottawa unceded lands and waters -Adawe) from Quebec City. Former RISE Ambassador (Cohort 6), he is inquisitive about the commutative nature of global issues in resolving large-scale problems.

His principal areas of interest include the social determinants of global health, ecosystem conservation and its impact on public health, and the dynamics that economic hegemonies in a globalized world can have towards sovereign entities and indigenous communities in postcolonial times.

Currently studying Global Development at Queen's University, he is convinced that languages are more than mechanisms for communication but rather the means to engage in an interaction founded on openness and empathy towards a culturally diverse third party, its history and challenges. Assane is currently leading Project Amity, an organization whose aim since its creation in 2019 has been to contribute to alleviating social isolation, tracing its objectives around awareness-raising, social action, and research initiatives. When he's not busy planning a French tutoring lesson, participating in his honorary society's endeavours, or learning new recipes, he can enjoy a good run in his spare time.

Assane is also a talented barista and likes to write poetry. He is also passionate about wellness and the role of music in the latter, the themes of humanism and resilience in World War II cinema, and West African literature.

Hosted by YIMING ZHANG and SAYEMIN NAHEEN 

In Metro Vancouver and around the world, climate change doesn't impact everyone equally. Differences in race, identity, sexuality, nationality, and income can amplify its challenges, which is why a climate justice approach is so important. But what is climate justice?

If this topic interests you, you might be also wondering:

• Why is climate justice essential for Metro Vancouver?
• How can we, as community members, champion daily acts that lead to broader climate equity?
• What role does each of us play in building a resilient community amidst these changes?

To find these answers, join us on Saturday, September 23 for an enlightening workshop in Downtown Vancouver on climate justice!

Yiming Zhang (he/him) is a recent graduate from UBC Master of Land and Water Systems. He has strong passions in leading projects related to climate mitigation, sustainability, and community engagement with expertise of project management, public communication, and visual design.

As a nature lover, Yiming loves walking in parks and along beaches to find inner peace. Participating in community events and making new friends is also his hobby. Nowadays, he is exploring the role of being an Environmental Writer.

Sayemin Naheen (she/her) is an empathetic sustainability professional committed to fostering a more equitable and inclusive future – one project at a time. As a Policy Analyst for the Province of British Columbia, she lends her expertise to clean transportation policy development.

Born and raised in Bangladesh, Sayemin's passion for sustainable development and social justice has inspired her work with diverse communities in the non-profit, development, and education sectors worldwide. She holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

Deeply connected to Vancouver's sustainability community, Sayemin serves as Co-Director of Mentorship for CEP Vancouver, a Youth Board Member at CityHive, and contributes to the Solastalgia Project, a zine amplifying youth eco-anxiety through art and storytelling. As an alumnus of the US Department of State Exchange Program's Global UGRAD, she brings cross-cultural knowledge and curiosity to her endeavors.

In her free time, Sayemin enjoys exploring nature 🌲, delving into philosophy 📚, learning about different cultures 🌏, and dancing to Afrobeat rhythms 💃. 

Hosted by LAURA BOYLE

The topic of our event is Queer Belonging - highlighting the importance of queer community, and how to foster it. The event is targeted at youth ages 18-30. 

We’re aiming for this to be a discussion-style event, including opportunities to ask questions to event participants. Anyone looking to learn more about fostering queer community and connecting with others is invited to attend.

Laura Boyle was born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, colonially known as Winnipeg, MB. Following a passion for environmental sustainability, policy, and education, Laura pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2020. Around this time, Laura also came out as gay and is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. After struggling in isolation around her own identity, Laura found a passion for fostering community among queer folks and specifically those who identify as lesbian, like herself. This passion led her to co-found Please Say Dyke, a community-based creative lesbian zine that highlights the lesbian experience and identity. After a successful first launch, Laura is excited to continue creating a space and creative community within Please Say Dyke. In her free time, Laura enjoys rock climbing, natural wine, and being outside with friends and loved ones.

Hosted by Sara Eftekar

Sara Eftekar is a health equity advocate. As a Nurse Practitioner, she has been deeply moved by the injustices experienced by her patients, inspiring her to become an activist. She has actively volunteered with AccessBC, advocating for free prescription contraception, helped implement Canada’s first ever youth policies, published a policy report and advocated for paid leave for survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) as part of Vancouver Foundation’s Level Program, created public service announcements on the radio about the barriers of health care and represented Canada at the United Nations as the first ever youth delegate.

Furthermore, she has served as a Lead Advisor with Hollyburn Community Services, focusing on improving GBV services for BIPOC+ women, and as a consultant with New Westminster School District, working to revitalize their teen dating violence and sexual health curriculum.  She is the elected Vancouver Councillor of Nurses and Nurse practitioners of British Columbia (NNPBC), a Board Member of North Shore Community Resources and sits on the Advisory Child Care Action Board at the City of West Vancouver. She is also an active member of the North Shore Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women, spearheading the implementation of forensic nursing services at Lions Gate Hospital.

Hosted by TAÏNA MUETH

Taïna is a Montreal-born multimedia artist and community organizer of Haitian and Cameroonian descent. Taïna's work explores the relationships between the future, past and present through a Black cultural lens, and seeks to create narratives beyond the dominant cultural narrative that often invisibilizes Black people, Aboriginals and people of colour.

Her work is research-driven and draws on history, fantasy and science fiction to explore the concept of Black identity. Taïna began collage art in 2020. Since then, she has been part of several group exhibitions and has had a solo show. She also runs workshops on themes like art, identity, social justice and education.

Hosted by RANEEM GHALAYINI 

Raneem will share her expertise with you as she explores the significance of addressing mental health in general. Common misconceptions surrounding mental health and emphasis on the importance of empathy, compassion, will be discussed. As mental health experiences affect people of all backgrounds, ages, and professions, this event will be especially valuable for educators, healthcare professionals, employers, and community leaders who play essential roles in creating inclusive environments that prioritize mental health.

Raneem Ghalayini is a nurse with a passion for mental health. Born and raised in Toronto, she has always had a curiosity for healthcare. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Raneem finds joy in making patients feel comfortable and safe, and is constantly seeking new opportunities for personal growth and learning. She believes in the power of compassion and strives to make a positive impact in her community. Raneem's passion, dedication, and expertise make her a valuable asset in nursing. She is committed to advocating for her patients and looks forward to improving mental health recognition for all patients, regardless of the area of care they are receiving.

Hosted by ROWAN GHALAYINI 

First aid provides immediate care to injured or ill individuals before professional medical help arrives. By knowing how to administer basic first aid, the general public can take immediate action in emergency situations, potentially saving lives and preventing further harm or complications. The presentation aims to raise awareness for these life-saving measures and potentially save a life. It will include information on basic life support (BLS), initial response to emergencies, treating medical emergencies and choking.

Rowan Ghalayini is a fourth-year nursing undergraduate student with the goal of becoming a nurse educator. She is located in Toronto, Ontario. As a fourth-year nursing student, Rowan has gained valuable hands-on experience through her clinical placements in hospitals and community health centers across Toronto. These experiences have allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities of patient care, while also honing her ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Hosted by TOPAZA YU

Integrating an Anti-Racsim and Anti-Oppression (ARAO) lens in your youth leadership work is critical in creating an accessible and effective initiative, non-profit, and/or company or whatever it is you are developing because ARAO is everywhere. ARAO means learning and unlearning colonial structures deeply ingrained into our society and being mindful of the conscious and unconscious ways we enable them. These can be biases and prejudices that we have picked up over time or things we have learnt from western media where people of colour are often portrayed in a stereotypical way. ARAO also means that we utilize strategies and practices that challenges and counter racism and systems of oppressions. It is about fighting and pushing back on these systems of oppressions like sexism and heterosexism that has silenced and harm marginalized groups for decades and decades.

An interactive space will be created for youth leaders from across Canada to connect and learn from each other!