The Black Students of Public Affairs Association (BSPA) at Carleton University will host a conference on afrofuturism and climate change on Jan. 27 and 28 at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC).
Titled “Afrofuturism: Reimagining Climate Change from a Black Lens,” the event is BSPA’s first annual conference.
BSPA’s co-founder Fariba Al-Hassan said the conference aims to centre Black voices in climate change discussions.
“[Those discussions] don’t really focus on countries like Haiti, Ghana, Jamaica or most predominantly Black countries that are impacted by climate change and oftentimes don’t have the resources to be climate-change resistant,” she said.
She added afrofuturism is “a way for Black people to reclaim and contribute to the future through looking back at our past and seeing how we can improve.”
The two-day event will begin with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m., giving attendees the opportunity to network with government officials and other professionals, according to Al-Hassan.
Expected guests include MP Greg Fergus (Hull-Aylmer), the NGC’s CEO Angel Cassie and David L. Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
“We want to make sure professionals know where Black youth stand on important issues such as climate change and rising cost of living, so that they can then implement the needed changes,” Al-Hassan said.
The actual conference will take place on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to BSPA’s vice-president (events) Jahnelle Woldegiorgis. It will include a panel discussion with the US embassy, a VIP tour of the NGC and a climate change competition, among other programs.
Attendees will also benefit from two workshops on how to mobilize change, Woldegiorgis said. One will focus on creating policies and lobbying to government officials, and the other on fostering leadership skills.
Woldegiorgis said the event is open to all students.
“Even if you don’t think climate change or afrofuturism is your passion, just come out and learn new skills,” she said. “Allow this to be an opportunity that not only teaches you about afrofuturism, but also what you want your future to look like and how you want to go from there.”
Tickets are available for sale through Eventbrite until Thursday, Jan. 26.
Featured image by ProudlyCommon/BSPA.
