Meal Exchange [ Hunger Problem. Student Solution. ] - Esurio: Annual Leadership Conference

Esurio: Annual Leadership Conference

Esurio (Latin)
- to hunger, to yearn.

esurio 2008, Meal Exchange’s 5th annual leadership conference, took place from July 18th-20th at Ryerson University in Toronto.

33 youth from communities across Canada attended to develop their leadership skills, gain a broad understanding of local hunger and connect with their peers.

For the first time, our Meal Exchange coordinators and the campus food bank coordinators were joined by other students interested in addressing local hunger and by a staff member of a community agency wishing to learn more about how to engage youth in their programming.

Delegates at Earlscourt Garden Project during their visit to the Stop Community Food Centre

As we enter our eleventh year, Meal Exchange could not be more pleased with the quality of students leading our chapters.

Thank you to all the volunteers, partners, speakers, and donors who helped make esurio 2008 such a memorable experience.

Below are just some of the highlights, also available in a PDF here: esurio 2008 Summary

Wayne Roberts

Coordinator of the Toronto Food Policy Council, long-time activist and author of eight books, Wayne opened the conference with a passionate session about the power of universities to effect change that he peppered with anecdotes and examples from a life-time of work.

Um'Khonde Habemenshi

Originally from Rwanda, as a veterinarian, economist & writer Um'Khonde shared his compelling soliloquay 'The Murder of Jane Doe' about how we, as society, abandon the weakest amongst us to live and die on the streets.

The Stop Community Food Centre

Delegates visited one of the most unique food centres in Canada. The Stop strives to meet basic food needs, and, at the same time, foster opportunities for community members to build support networks, connect to community resources and find their voices on issues that matter most to them.

Sanctuary

On a rainy evening, we walked through the streets of Toronto to experience them as a person with nowhere else to go. The Streetwalk is organized by the Sanctuary, a charitable organization that is an oasis for street people.

Interactive workshops that included...

- Shannon Willis (Studentcare.net) on the role of food banks in overall health

- Jonah Schein (Stop Community Food Centre) on diminsihing the divide between volunteers & clients

- Michelle Hiscott (ING Canada) on leadership styles & diversity

- Katharine Schmidt & Cristina Evans (Canadian Ass. of Food Banks) on food bank health & safety

- Tonia Hammer (Molson) on promotion & media relations

- Shawn Yu (Student Food Network) on food bank operations

Conversations Cafe

Facilitated by Louise Kearney from the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, this session saw students, partners, supports, alumni, Board members and volunteers discuss hunger & poverty in Canada and the role they each play in addressing these issues.