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Student Life Events at St. George

International Women's Day: Reproductive Rights and Faith

Mar 8, 2023 06:30 PM to 08:30 PM
Multi-Faith Centre - Main Activity Hall, 569 Spadina Ave

Registration Deadline: Mar 8, 2023 08:00 PM

Description:  Each year for International Women's Day on March 8, the Multi-Faith Centre hosts an event to explore how gender rights, justice and spirituality are connected. Annual program events reflect themes decided on by a diverse committee of staff, students and faculty. This year our speakers will speak to the intersections of reproductive rights, gender, faith and community. 

All attendees will be provided with dinner and have the opportunity to engage in conversation with one another and our wonderful panelists. Registration for the event and a fun button making station will be open at 6pm! 

Panelists: 

Danette Jubinville 


MSc in Health Sciences and PhD Candidate at Simon Fraser University. Danette Jubinville belongs to the Cyr family from the Pasqua First Nation on her father's side, and her ancestry is Cree, Saulteaux, Jewish, and mixed-European. As a doula and researcher, Danette works towards self-determination in health care for Indigenous people. "Doulas are birth workers who support pregnant people throughout pregnancy, labour, post-partum and through different outcomes, like abortion, miscarriage or perinatal loss. It's a role that has existed for a long time amongst Indigenous communities. My work looks at the role's historical roots, and how it continues today, including its impact on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people. There's a lot of fields involved; it bridges Indigenous studies, health sciences and gender studies." 


Amrita Kumar-Ratta 



Amrita Kumar-Ratta (she/her) is a social researcher, storyteller, community curator, and educator. Her work is rooted in principles of intersectional feminism, anti-oppression, and transformative justice; her areas of interdisciplinary knowledge and practice include:  gender, sexuality, and health; justice, equity, and inclusion (JEDI) strategy; community engagement, mobilization, and curation; and transformative arts education.  She is currently pursuing a PhD in Human Geography at the University of Toronto. Her research explores, unpacks, and gives voice to the sexual & reproductive lives, experiences, and advocacy efforts of Punjabi women in Peel Region in Ontario and the Lower Mainland Region in British Columbia. Amrita is the Founder & Creator of Shades of Brown Girl, a global creative storytelling community for South Asian women and femmes. She has worked as a consultant, collaborator, manager, and advisor for organizations including (but not limited to): Voice of Purpose, Centre for Social Innovation, YWCA Canada, the Regional Diversity Roundtable of Peel, the Centre for Global Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital, and the Mosaic Institute. She continues to be an active member of numerous planning committees, advisory groups, and community/arts initiatives in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. 
She can be reached at amrita.kumar.ratta@mail.utoronto.ca. You can also find her on twitter at @i_amrita_. 


Rabbi Yael Splansky



Yael Splansky is the Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto's first synagogue. She joined the congregation in 1998, after her ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and became its thirteenth Senior Rabbi in 2014.  

Rabbi Splansky currently serves as President of the Toronto Board of Rabbis and as Vice President of the Reform Rabbis of Canada.  She is a Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, the editor of Holy Blossom Temple's prayerbook, and was a monthly contributor to The Canadian Jewish News for seven years.   

Yael Splansky has the unique privilege of being a fourth-generation Reform Rabbi. Together with Adam Sol, who teaches at U of T, she raises three sons.  

https://uoft.me/exploringgenderjustice



Location: Main Activity Hall, 569 Spadina Ave. 

Questions: Please email clarasuna.kim@utoronto.ca.