Majora Carter at Hart House

Hart House, in partnership with the Metcalf Foundation, Cities Centre, UTERN, Centre for Environment and the Environmental Health Justice in the City Research Interest Group presents:

Greening the Neighbourhood… & How Much It Won’t Cost You
Majora Carter at Hart House

On her first Canadian visit, MacArthur “Genius” fellowship recipient Majora Carter will explore these
issues during her speaking engagement on Friday, March 13 from 12:00PM to 2:00PM, 2009 at Hart
House, University of Toronto.

A dynamic and passionate speaker, Carter will explore how sustainability, economic community building, and social and environmental justice converge to improve and renew neighborhoods in innovative ways. Carter will also speak to her compelling personal story of activism emerging from her experiences growing up in the South Bronx.

Sandy Houston, President of the Metcalf Foundation, observes that what makes Majora an important voice is her success at bringing an integrated approach to her work with communities, including bringing historically marginalized voices to the table in crafting solutions.

“There is a growing realization in the city that we can’t tackle complex problems with disjointed solutions – we need to connect the dots and come at issues with a comprehensive understanding of cause and effect. Majora has embodied this perspective in her work in the South Bronx and we’re thrilled that she’s bringing this wisdom to Toronto so that we can see our opportunities in a different light.”

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone notes “We are inspired by Ms. Carter’s example of community-based projects that merge environmental ideals with tangible action.”

Among her achievements, Carter was founder and Executive Director of the not for profit: Sustainable South Bronx - where she pioneered green-collar job training and placement systems in environmentally and economically challenged locations. Today Carter heads the Majora Carter Group, a green-economic development consulting firm, and is co-host of Sundance Channel's The Green, and host of the NPR radio series The Promised Land.

Majora Carter’s talk will also involve commentary and discussion from panelist’s including:

• Joe Pantalone, Deputy Mayor of Toronto
• Dr. Blake Poland, Centre for Health Promotion Studies & Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
• Ben Powless : Co-founder of the canadian youth climate coalition and involved with the indigenous environmental network
• Moderator: Dr. Eric J. Miller, Director of the University of Toronto’s Cities Centre

Carter’s engagement at Hart House will be complemented by her appearance on:

• The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos
• Here and Now (CBC Radio One) with Matt Galloway, Thursday March 12 at 4:00PM, 2009

Since 1998, Carter has been recognized with over 40 awards including Essence Magazine’s 25 Most Influential African Americans in 2007 and the 2008 NY Post Liberty Medal for Lifetime Achievement. She has also been hailed by Newsweek, BBC World Service and the New York Times as an “influential person to watch.”

For background information on environmental justice we encourage you to read:

An Examination of Pollution and Poverty in the Great Lakes Basin
by Pollution Watch
http://www.pollutionwatch.org/pub/PW_Pollution_Poverty_Report.pdf

Environmental Justice in Canada ? It Matters Where You Live
by Michael Buzzelli
http://www.cprn.org/doc.cfm?doc=1969&l=en

The Three Cities within Toronto: Income polarization among Toronto's neighbourhoods, 1970-2000
by J. David Hulchanski
http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/pdfs/researchbulletins/CUCSRB41_Hulchanski_Three_Cities_Toronto.pdf