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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have defined the field of development as the blueprint for social, environmental, and economic change for the future. However, as there are only 8 years left to reach the 2030 Agenda, why are we #OffTrack? Are the SDGs the only way to a just future for all? Attend the ReImagining the Future Conference, where we seek to discuss these big questions, tackle the biggest challenges of today, and more!
In a 2 day long virtual conference, youth are invited to engage and collaborate with leaders of advocacy, activism and social justice. ReImagine17 seeks to “reimagine” the future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), critically reflecting upon their mission, values, and trajectory for the youth of the future. Youth will have the chance to engage with stakeholders in the nonprofit sector and other community leaders to learn, develop, and challenge the Sustainable Development Goals as we know them.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
August 6th
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT | Online
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Land Acknowledgement
8:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Introduction & Opening Remarks
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Keynote Address
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Panel 1: Critical Reflections on Anti-Colonialism and Radical Imagination
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Closing Remarks
August 7th
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM PDT | Online
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Land Acknowledgement
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
ReMobilizing Youth Program Presentations
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
INTERMISSION
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel 2: Critical Reflections on Anti-Oppression & Responsible Allyship
11:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Judges Announce ReMobilizing Youth Program Winner
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE RECORDINGS
Welcome Address by Joyce Murray
Panel 1: Critical Reflections on
Anti-Colonialism and Radical Imagination
Keynote Address by Habon Ali
Panel 2: Critical Reflections on
Anti-Oppression and Responsible Allyship
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Habon Ali
Habon Ali is a systems thinker who has been recognized as Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2021) and was recently named a Schwarzman Scholar. She is passionate about removing systemic barriers for youth, especially youth from communities who were made to be marginalized and vulnerable.
PANEL 1:
Critical Reflections on Anti-Colonialism and Radical Imagination
Radical Imagination is "the ability to imagine the world, life, and social institutions not as they are but as they might otherwise be,” challenging the possibility of sociopolitical systems as we know it (Haiven and Khasnabish, 2010). As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not being met worldwide, youth today must turn to alternate forms of organizing and knowledge to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. In this panel, we collaborate with creative minds who exemplify imagination and discuss the broader possibilities for change. Radical imagination champions transformative justice, and panelists and participants will be encouraged to think outside of the box, engaging critically with their understanding of the world around them.
Panelists will also embark on a discussion about the insidious nature of colonial institutions. They will lead by describing the pathways to anti-colonialist thinking and challenging settler-colonial frameworks. This panel reimagines current systems of oppression and discusses the possibility of dismantling oppressive institutions.
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PANEL 2
Critical Reflections on Anti-Oppression and Responsible Allyship
How do you become a better ally? How do you avoid performative allyship? How do you ensure your activism is genuine? These are all critical questions that youth today encounter when deciding to venture into activism. This panel seeks to discuss the challenges, limitations, and potential solutions to allyship and how to incorporate an anti-oppression lens within one’s activism. Panelists will have the opportunity to delve into their strategies, theories, actions, and practices that actively challenge systems of oppression.
This panel also explores the embedded role of intersectionality within anti-oppression practice in community organizing and how to be a responsible ally at the interpersonal level. It will explore challenging and thought-provoking inquiries on saviourism, settler colonialism, and how institutions and oppressive systems impact grassroots movements.
REMOBILIZING YOUTH PROGRAM X REIMAGINING THE FUTURE CONFERENCE
The ReMobilizing Youth Program calls upon youth across Canada who are critical and creative thinkers to create networks of social change. The program supports diverse, passionate youth with a national community of practice and equips them with the tools they need to advocate for sustainability and social justice within their communities. The ReMobilizing Youth Program’s “Mobilizers” attend weekly virtual workshops throughout July and early August which seek to reimagine current frameworks of sustainability and advocacy to reflect the values of youth of today. Drawing upon the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the ReMobilizing Youth Program evaluates and critiques oppressive frameworks of development and guides youth to imagine alternatives and design innovative projects for their communities.
At the end of the ReMobilizing Youth program, Mobilizers are tasked with developing a brand new project of their own that fulfills a gap in their community, inspired by the ReMobilizing Youth Program workshop series. As a final project, the Mobilizers will showcase their learning and development throughout the program and prove their skills in a fun and engaging presentation and pitch that will inspire young people like them to reimagine the landscape of development and community activism.
The Mobilizers will host a panel on day 2 of the ReImagining the Future Conference where they will present their project pitches to an audience of well-renowned judges, talented youth, and diverse members of the community.
MEET THE MOBILIZERS
Amna
Adnan
Julianne
Unick
Annabelle
Liao
Liana
Salviejo
Asser
Sigmund Ang
Mishika Khurana
Christina Maida-Cook
Nawrin
Ridha
Javeria
Rana
Solmaz
Salehi