Seeds For Change
Seeds For Change; Intersectional Sustainability Summit is a full-day event on March 8, 2025, dedicated to exploring the intersectionality of environmental issues with social justice. Hosted by HNP, this summit will bring together youth leaders, experts, and non-profits to discuss how environmental crises shape and are shaped by broader societal challenges. Attendees will engage with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. If you're passionate about environmental and social change, register now to be part of the conversation!
Event Details
Logistics
Date: March 8, 2025
Location: Mimico Library
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Food: Lunch & refreshments will be provided
Highlights
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Engage with experts: Hear from keynote speakers and panelists on pressing environmental and social justice issues.
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Network with impact-driven organizations; meet non-profits working at the forefront of environmental advocacy.
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Explore diverse topics—From health and education to technology and policy, gain insights into how sustainability intersects with other fields.
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Exclusive perks—Attendees will receive resources, volunteer opportunities, and access to future HNP initiatives. Attendees also receive 8 volunteer hours for attendance,
Mission
The Summit aims to bridge the gap between environmental and social justice issues, emphasizing how environmental crises affect various aspects of society and environmental intersectionality. By bringing together youth leaders, activists, and experts, we aim to foster discussion, inspire action, and create meaningful connections. We hope to discuss the various ivtersectionalities of other issues (for example, education, healthcare, food systems, technology and innovation, etc.) with environmentalism.
Our Speakers:
Jennifer Corrierio
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TakingITGlobal
Jennifer Corriero is a social innovator who has been mobilizing resources through technology to improve K-12 education and youth engagement since she co-founded TakingITGlobal 25 years ago. In her role as Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, she has helped to develop the skills for young people to lead community-based projects through the development of learning resources and micro-grants programs. She authored the book Journey of a Social Innovator: A Guided Journal she curated and co-edited Flourish: A Workbook for Social Innovators, with 50 contributing authors. Jennifer holds a Masters in Environmental Studies and serves the Faculty of Health at York University as a Community Fellow with the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL), Dahdaleh Institute.
Dr. Caroline Barakat
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TakingITGlobal
Jennifer Corriero is a social innovator who has been mobilizing resources through technology to improve K-12 education and youth engagement since she co-founded TakingITGlobal 25 years ago. In her role as Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, she has helped to develop the skills for young people to lead community-based projects through the development of learning resources and micro-grants programs. She authored the book Journey of a Social Innovator: A Guided Journal she curated and co-edited Flourish: A Workbook for Social Innovators, with 50 contributing authors. Jennifer holds a Masters in Environmental Studies and serves the Faculty of Health at York University as a Community Fellow with the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL), Dahdaleh Institute.
Prit Galgut
STEAM INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Prit Galgut is the Co-Director of the STEAM Innovation Challenge (STEAM IC), a Canadian non-profit dedicated to providing youth the opportunity to tackle real-world problems in STEAM, gain hands-on experience, and connect with professionals in different occupations. She founded STEAM IC with the aim of fostering creativity and collaboration among young innovators. Growing up in an era where many environmental issues are brought to our attention, she works to promote sustainability by emphasizing this in STEAM IC's competitive criteria, which encourages participants to develop solutions that are both innovative and environmentally conscious.
Simon Leonidis
YOUNG POLITICIANS OF CANADA
As the Senior Ontario Chair of the Young Politicians of Canada, Simon is dedicated towards increasing youth participation in provincial and municipal politics. Passionate about youth engagement, human rights, and international relations, Simon currently resides in Ottawa while pursuing his degree in International Studies and Modern Languages. Within the YPC, Simon has spearheaded several initiatives, including a 'Provincial Election Speaker Series' which allowed youth to directly engage with political candidates, alongside the establishment of municipal divisions across Ontario. A fun fact about him is that he's an avid traveller, and is aiming to reach 25 countries by the time he turns 25.
Mahrosh Zafar
MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE YOUTH COUNCIL
Mahrosh Zafar is the Executive Director of the Movement for Change Youth Council, a non-profit organization empowering and inspiring young changemakers to dismantle societal injustices. She is currently a second-year student at Rotman Commerce, University of Toronto, and is extremely passionate about social impact and making positive change through her work. At this summit, I am so excited to speak about the power of youth advocacy in driving environmental change and look forward to discussing how young leaders can champion sustainability through activism and community engagement. A fun fact about me is that I love to do henna art!!
Catherine Li
PLATFORM FOR YOUTH CREATIVITY
Catherine is a co-chair of Platform for Youth Creativity who is passionate about the arts and bringing opportunities to youth artists. She is interested in how the arts may play a role in climate activism, and how artists can be environmentally conscious in their work. A fun fact about Catherine is that she loves Charli xcx.
Hanna Thompson
SCOOP FOR THE YOUTH
Hannah Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop for the Youth, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people through creative and community-driven initiatives. She is passionate about creating spaces where youth voices can thrive and meaningful change can be achieved. Hannah’s interest in this summit lies in her commitment to addressing intersectionality and building connections that inspire action. A fun fact about Hannah is that she loves to read in her free time.
Emily Ng
STARTS WITH ONE CANADA
Emily Ng is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (UofT) pursuing a double major in Chemistry and Neuroscience with a focus in Green Chemistry. Her research explores the intersection of knowledge translation, equitable healthcare access, and effective policy implementation. She has served as a judge for the UofT Student Research Initiative case competition on sustainable urban development. Additionally, she has guest lectured on chemical applications in St Mary Catholic Academy, Northview Heights Secondary School, and Francis Libermann Catholic High School. Beyond academics, she is invested in the education equity sector as a Volunteer Coordinator at Starts With One, where she leads a team of volunteer tutors in providing accessible tutoring support to low-income families in the GTA. In her spare time, Emily enjoys reading novels and sharing fun facts—like how bees dance to communicate with each other.