Workshop Summary

The workshop will provide culturally informed discussions on climate justice, to encourage racialized youth to explore their relationship with their environment and to build ideas for a sustainable future. From this engagement, youth will use critical thinking to affirm a their vision of their future self and community. As part of this workshop, youth will engaging in meaningful peer-to-peer connections as they share ideas of a future where racialized youth are leaders protecting their environment and community. In the workshop youth will collaborate to identify what sustainable climate justice can look like in their Durham communities and identify the kind of activities that can be championed through youth action.

The workshop seeks to strengthen youth leadership through knowledge of self and wellness. The programming is focused on facilitating inclusive dialogue on our collective climate future. The workshop also provides co-benefits as it is informed by key social determinants of health that are transformative for youth empowerment such as culture, community engagement, social inclusion and education. This initiative will be particularly relevant for high school students as it will equip youth with the tools and confidence to shape the next generation.

Course Learning Objectives

1. To empower black, racialized and Indigenous youth in the Durham region on Knowledge of Self through leadership and community impacts of climate action and environmental justice.
2. Encourage knowledge of possibilities through critically thinking and cultivation of creativity and ideation through key drivers of change

Learning Objectives:

1. Knowledge sharing, climate awareness and social inclusion in the climate movement.
2. Encourage youth perspectives and reaffirming Ubuntu of community belonging and learning with the environment.
3. Promote sustainability as a way of being and approach for future careers.

About the Speaker

Biography:

Faith Edem is a sustainability leader experienced in climate policy, climate justice and youth leadership development. Faith has contributed to international and domestic policy that champions environmental protection and global partnerships. She has been recognized as a 2026 Lawson Foundation Youth Leader, 2025 CXC Changemakers for the Planet Fellowship,  2024 Clean50 Emerging Leader, and published climate resilience author. Faith is also a Board of Director for the Black Environmental Initiative focused on accelerating BIPOC engagement on climate justice, youth development and community climate action.