schedule of events

April 18, 2022 @ 12 noon

 "Eco-grief & Ecofeminism" with Heidi Hutner

Heidi Hutner, Associate Professor in English and Sustainability, Women’s and Gender Studies Affiliate, Director of the Sustainability Studies Program (SoMAS), and Associate Dean in SoMAS, teaches and writes about environmental literature and film, environmental justice, ecofeminism, ecocriticism, and media. Her courses are interdisciplinary and, in addition to traditional academic study, often include hands-on experiential work such as hiking, environmental activism, gardening, and creative writing. Hutner's journey into environmentalism and sustainability began through the study of the links between toxic pollution and disease in the writing of Rachel Carson and Sandra Steingraber. This led to her teaching courses and writing about toxics and cancer in literature and film. More recently, Dr. Hutner's work expanded to include a larger range of environmental issues as they are represented in literature, film and other media-- such as global warming and climate change, radioactive nuclear pollution, food/agricultural and animal rights, and general sustainability/energy issues. Dr. Hutner is also the faculty advisor for the Environmental Humanities Major and Minor in the Sustainability Studies program. 

April 20, 2022 @ 10 am

"Reclaiming the Commons and Biodiversity" with Vandana Shiva

Dr. Vandana Shiva is trained as a Physicist and did her Ph.D. on the subject “Hidden Variables and Non-locality in Quantum Theory” from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. In 1991, she founded Navdanya, a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources, especially needed native seed, the promotion of organic farming and fair trade. Forbes magazine in November 2010 has identified Dr. Vandana Shiva is one of the top Seven most Powerful Women on the Globe.

April 25, 2022 @ 12 noon

"Period Justice: How You Can Advocate for Menstruation Equity" with CodeRed UIUC
in person, Women's Resources Center

About CodeRed UIUC: CodeRed is a registered student organization at UIUC that focuses on period activism and everything else about menstrual cycles. CodeRed is striving to achieve period equity for all women. We feel that all women should have access to every period product available no matter their circumstance.

April 27, 2022 @ 3 pm

 "The Intersectional Environmentalist" with Leah Thomas

Leah Thomas, who is also the founder of eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah, uses her multiple years of eco-focused educational and work experience to inform her ever-expanding list of projects, as well as her audience of ​​more than 400k followers across channels. A graduate of Chapman University with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy and a cluster in Comparative World Religions, Leah has interned twice with the National Park Service and has worked at leading green companies, including eco-friendly soap company Ecos and most recently, Patagonia.

The 2023 Ecofeminism Summit (April 19 - 28, 2023) explored the intersection of social oppression and environmental justice through a series of events featuring Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, Dr. Rosalyn Lapier, and Students for Environmental Concerns!

Schedule of Events

Indigenous Knowledge & Environmental Justice

• Presenter: Rosalyn Lapier
• Date/Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 | Noon-1:00 pm
• Location: Women's Resources Center

Dr. Rosalyn LaPier is an award winning Indigenous writer, environmental historian, and ethnobotanist. She works within Indigenous communities to revitalize traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), to address the growing climate crisis & environmental justice, and to strengthen public policy for Indigenous languages. Rosalyn is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and Métis.

Honoring Feminist Environmental Advocates

• Presenter: Students for Environmental ConcernS
• Date/Time: Thursday, April 20, 2023 | 1:00-2:00 pm
• Location: Women's Resources Center

Join UIUC's oldest and largest environmental organization, SECS, as we celebrate the unique contributions of feminists in the environmental movement.

Ecofeminism Summit Keynote

• Presenter: Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, Indigenous Rights & Climate Activist
• Date/Time: Friday, April 28, 2023 | Noon-1:00 pm
• Location: Virtual viewing at the Women's Resources Center

Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a Dënesųłiné mother from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN)  and the Executive Director and co-founder of Indigenous Climate Action (ICA),  an Indigenous-led climate justice organization in so-called Canada. Deranger is a member of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, and sits on various boards including Bioneers, It Takes Roots Leadership Council, Climate Justice Resiliency Fund Council of Advisors, the UK Tar Sands Network and WWF Canada; and was a founding member of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus. Deranger’s work focuses on Indigenous rights and building intersectional dialogue between Indigenous rights, climate justice and other social justice movements. She is recognized for her role as the spokespersons for her community (ACFN) in the international Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign and developing the Tar Sands Healing Walk.

Deranger has a far reaching reputation for challenging fossil fuel development and championing the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Deranger has over a decade of experience working with environmental organizations as well as front-line Indigenous knowledge holders, water protectors and land defenders across Turtle Island. Prior to leading ICA, Deranger worked for her Nation as the strategic Communications and Climate Change Coordinator.  She is an active member of the UN Indigenous Peoples Caucus and sought after globally as an opinion leader on climate change and Indigenous rights.

Get Involved!

• April 18: iSEE Earth Day Trash Pickup
• April 21: Green Quad Day
• April 22: Boneyard Creek Community Day