We live in a chaotic world, facing catastrophic climate change impacts, a rising risk of nuclear war, growing economic inequality, a tragic refugee crisis, systemic racism, increasing militarization, and now the coronavirus pandemic. How can we stay motivated and inspired to advocate for change, while chaos whirls around us? How do we keep up the energy and courage to continue our work for peace and social transformation for the long haul? How can we maintain good self-care to prevent burnout from this challenging work? And, amidst a sea of email clogging our inboxes, how can we manage to stay organized in order to run successful, strategic campaigns for change?

We'll hear advice from seasoned activists & organizers who will answer these questions and much more as they share their lessons learned from years of intersectional activism, tackling issues related to climate change, racism, and militarism.

Featuring:

Ravyn Wngz (Black Lives Matter Toronto): Ravyn has a vision to create work/art/conversations that open the minds and the hearts of all people, and encourages self reflection and fundamental change. As an Empowerment Movement Storyteller, Wngz aims to challenge mainstream arts and dance spaces by sharing her stories as a Tanzanian, Bermudian, Queer, 2 Spirit, Transcendent, Mohawk individual. She aims to create opportunities, positive representations and platforms for marginalized LGBTTIQQ2S communities with a focus on Black Indigenous and people of color. Ravyn is a co-founder of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company, a queer multiracial dance company that aims to change the landscape of dance and provide accessible affirming dance education to the LGBTTIQQ2S community. Ravyn is also a member of Black Live Matter Toronto Steering committee, a group committed to eradicating all forms of anti-Black racism, supporting Black healing and liberating Black communities.

Leah Bae is a digital strategist, community builder, and mental health advocate whose passion for civic engagement spans the nonprofit, political, and startup spaces. Leah is the Co-founder of The Burnout Project, an organization dedicated to supporting people who have experienced burnout. They partner with mission-driven individuals and organizations to understand and prevent burnout. Leah is also the Head of Community at Bloom, an online community and experience marketplace for older adults. Their mission is to help foster new connections and friendships for baby boomers as they transition to, and flourish in, the next stage of their lives. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of YWCA Toronto and CityHive Vancouver. She is a CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.

Liz Remmerswaal (World BEYOND War New Zealand Chapter Coordinator): Liz is a World BEYOND War board member and the national chapter coordinator for WBW Aotearoa/New Zealand. She is a former vice-president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom NZ and was part of the successful coalition of peace activists who instigated the cancellation of the national arms fair in 2019. Liz is a co-founder of the Pacific Peace Network and has close ties with the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network. She has spoken at and shown films at peace conferences and gatherings in NZ, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Prague and Vienna as well as spoken at a rally outside the White House and been interviewed on Afghan TV. She has a background in journalism, politics and environmental activism and has four grownup children. Liz is inspired by the Quaker Grannies for Peace with their creative approach to peacemaking, and with others has enjoyed biking to the Pine Gap spy base in Alice Springs, planting an olive tree in the Hague Peace Palace and singing songs and making tea parties beside warships. In 2017 she was awarded the Sonia Davies Peace Award. Liz lives with her husband on the East Coast of the North Island.

David Hartsough (Co-Founder, World BEYOND War): David is a Co-Founder of World BEYOND War, a global movement to end all war. He is a Quaker and a lifelong peace activist and author of his memoir, Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist, PM Press. Hartsough has organized many peace efforts and worked with nonviolent movements in such far-flung locations as the Soviet Union, Nicaragua, Philippines, and Kosovo. In 1987 Hartsough co-founded the Nuremberg Actions blocking munitions trains carrying munitions to Central America. In 2002 he co-founded the Nonviolent Peaceforce which has peace teams with over 275 nonviolent peacemakers/peacekeepers working in conflict areas around the world. Hartsough has been arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience in his work for peace and justice more than 150 times, most recently at the Livermore nuclear weapons laboratory. His first arrest was for taking part in the first civil rights “Sit-ins” in Maryland and Virginia in 1960 with other students from Howard University where they successfully integrated the lunch counters in Arlington, VA. Hartsough recently returned from Russia as part of a citizens diplomacy delegation hoping to help bring the US and Russia back from the brink of nuclear war. Hartsough also recently returned from a peacemaking trip to Iran. Hartsough is active in the Poor Peoples Campaign. Hartsough is the Director of PEACEWORKERS. Hartsough is a husband, father and grandfather and lives in San Francisco, CA.

After hearing from our speakers, we'll make time for Q&A and discussion with the webinar participants.

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