CPJ's staff and supporters at the Climate Strike in Ottawa.

Public Justice Advocacy: The Role of Faith Communities In Driving Change

As justice-minded Christians, we are called to confront and challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality and environmental degradation. But how can faith drive us toward effective advocacy and lasting change? Citizens for Public Justice invites you to delve into this critical conversation, where faith meets action in the landscape of Canadian public policy.

This event spotlighted the transformative work of experts addressing Canada’s most pressing issues around affordability, immigration and climate change. Hear firsthand about the steps needed to guarantee housing as a fundamental human right, to ensure that thousands of refugee claimants across the country receive an adequate welcome, and to mobilize for transformative and urgent climate action.

We explored how individuals and faith communities are instrumental in propelling these vital campaigns forward through non-partisan advocacy. The panel discussion also featured a Q&A period. This event was part of CPJ’s Annual General Meeting.

Speakers included (learn more about them in the Speakers section):

  • Michèle Biss, National Director at the National Right to Housing Network
  • Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive Director of Matthew House
  • Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada.

The event is finished.

Date

May 30 2024
Expired!

Time

EST
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Cost

free

Labels

CPJ

Location

Calvin Christian Reformed Church
1475 Merivale Rd, Ottawa, ON K2E 5N9, Canada
Website
https://calvincrc.ca/

Other Locations

Online event
Category

Organizer

Citizens for Public Justice
Citizens for Public Justice
Phone
613-232-0275
Email
cpj@cpj.ca
Website
https://cpj.ca

Speakers

  • Michèle Biss
    Michèle Biss
    National Director at the National Right to Housing Network

    Michèle Biss is the National Director of the National Right to Housing Network. As an expert in economic and social rights, she has presented at several United Nations treaty body reviews and at Canadian parliamentary committees. Prior to her work at the NRHN, Michèle was the Policy Director and Human Rights Lawyer at Canada Without Poverty. In 2016, she graduated from the Advanced Course on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights at Åbo Akademi University in Finland. She has extensive professional experience working for marginalized groups, particularly women, persons with disabilities, newcomers, and Indigenous persons through casework, research, and community legal education. In her local Ottawa community, she sits on the board of directors of Ottawa Community Legal Services. She is a human rights lawyer and was called to the Ontario bar in 2014.

  • Allan Reesor-McDowell
    Allan Reesor-McDowell
    Executive Director of Matthew House

    Allan grew up in Canada but work, studies and travel led him for many years to the US, Haiti, and England as well as to more than 60 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. Prior to Matthew House Ottawa, he worked as a manager for Mennonite Central Committee in various program, fundraising, and communications roles. Allan has served in leadership and governance roles in politics and nonprofits, and is currently a member of the board for The Social Housing Registry of Ottawa, Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, and Canadian Council for Refugees. He holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London and was a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award in 2021.

  • Caroline Brouillette
    Caroline Brouillette
    Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada

    Caroline Brouillette is the Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada. Caroline is the first francophone Director of the network, and works tirelessly to create strong social consensus for climate solutions that address the convergence of crises the world is faced with, both through national policy development and in international diplomacy fora.

    Caroline’s commentary has appeared in L’actualité, Canada’s leading French-language public affairs magazine, as well as CBC-Radio-Canada, the Washington Post, Reuters, Al Jazeera and many other current affairs television, radio and written press internationally and in Canada. She joined the climate movement in 2018, when she represented Canadian youth at the G7 summit in Charlevoix. Caroline holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of the National University of Singapore, where she majored in Economics.

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