Join us for a two-part webinar series on Belonging and Climate Change, hosted by the Communities Building Belonging and Climate Transitions teams at the Tamarack Institute.
Part 1: Building Belonging Through Climate Action & Community Resilience
Date: June 4, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Speakers: Sheila Murray & Lidia Ferreira
Part 2: Advancing Climate Equity through Municipal Leadership
Date: June 25, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Speakers: Stephen Ngonain & Jorge Garza
This webinar series is being presented as part of the Tamarack Institute's ongoing campaign for a Canada-Wide Strategy for Belonging. We will continue to delve into the multifaceted nature of belonging with an additional webinar series on poverty and belonging, coming soon. Learn more about the Strategy and sign the pledge here.
Part 1: Building belonging through Climate action & community resilience
June 4, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
In this webinar, we will explore the role of social connection in local climate action and how this contributes to a sense of belonging and community resilience. We will discuss how the intersection of drivers of inequities, such as climate change and unequal distribution of money, power and resources, and climate change vulnerability impact individual and community resilience and well-being, and why we must invest in place-based and community-led actions that center connection and belonging.
For this conversation, we welcome two fantastic guests from Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) who will talk about how their work in community emergency preparedness and climate action helps to build neighbour-to-neighbour connections and a sense of belonging for newcomers and low-income seniors in high-rise neighbourhoods of Greater Toronto Area.
Speakers
Sheila Murray, Filmmaker and Communications Specialist
Sheila Murray is a writer, documentary filmmaker, sound editor and communications specialist. Her 2009 – 2013 research, communications and outreach for the Omega Foundation’s community-based project, SmartSaver, contributed to reaching thousands of Toronto community workers and families and creating successful partnerships and networks.
Sheila has led the Toronto-based organization, Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW), since 2014.
She has a BAA in Journalism and an MA in Immigration and Settlement Studies.
Lidia Ferreria, former Executive Director of FutureWatch Environment and Development Education Partners
Lidia is the former Executive Director of FutureWatch Environment and Development Education Partners, a leading organization in community-based environmental and capacity-building initiatives of the City of Toronto. Lidia trained in Argentina for seven years to become an architect and urban planner and came to Toronto from Paraguay in 1999. Since 2000, she has used her ability to engage with Toronto’s multicultural communities to form bridges with mainstream institutions. She has led projects related to urban naturalization, environmental protection, revitalization and community capacity building.
View the Webinar Recording
Part 2: advancing climate equity through municipal leadership
June 25, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Join us for the second webinar in our two-part Climate Transitions and Belonging Series as we explore how municipal leadership can drive equitable climate action. Watch the recording of Part 1 which took place on June 4.
While cities are on the front lines of climate change, the impacts are not felt equally. This webinar is designed to help local governments and community leaders champion climate action that puts equity at the centre and embed a holistic approach to climate action that addresses power imbalances and polarization.
We'll introduce a powerful Climate Equity Tool—a practical resource to help you identify and address the disproportionate effects of climate change on equity-denied communities. By joining this conversation, you'll learn how to build a more resilient community and foster a stronger sense of belonging for everyone. This webinar is a must-attend for anyone working in local government, community organizations, or climate action who is committed to a just and equitable climate transition.
Speakers
Stephen Ngonain. Senior Manager of Communities, Climate Transitions. Tamarack Institute
Jorge Garza. Director, Networks for Change. Tamarack Institute
Jorge stewards a network of networks committed to ending poverty in all its forms. He collaborates with leaders from across sectors to implement community-led initiatives that address economic poverty, strengthen our relationships with the planet and each other, and advance promising career pathways for youth.
A newcomer with strong roots in México, Jorge previously led Tamarack's Canada-wide movement that mobilized thousands of local champions to counter polarization by centering belonging as a policy priority. His career in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors, including roles at the Metcalf and McConnell Foundations, is guided by core values of generosity, warmth, and authenticity. A realistic optimist, Jorge believes in everyone’s potential to build just and regenerative futures. He also advocates for cities of all sizes to be catalysts for social transformation. Jorge currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati and co-stewards the foundation's strategic development committee.
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