The Power of Environmental Justice
Led by Gabriella Grinwald-Alves, this workshop examines environmental justice on Staten Island’s North Shore, where communities face disproportionate pollution, flooding, and lack of investment in green infrastructure. We’ll discuss how environmental decisions can help and harm communities, and what a healthier, more just future looks like for everyone.
Gabriella Grinwald-Alves (she/they) is a queer Brazilian and Jewish filmmaker, media educator and freelance videographer on unceded Lenape lands (Lenapehoking/NY/NJ). Gabriella is a graduate of Columbia University’s Teachers College where she earned her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media with a focus on critical abolitionist and Indigenous pedagogical work that centers the presence and futurity of Black and Indigenous students. Gabriella is currently the Director of Education at Start:Empowerment, an environmental justice education organization that bridges education with youth action. You can learn more about Gabriella at her website ggrinwaldalves.com
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Food Systems and Food Justice 101
Led by Sarah Kabalkin, this workshop dives into food systems and food justice, breaking down the differences between commercial food production and sustainable alternatives. From the way food is grown to how it shows up in supermarkets, we’ll explore how these systems impact our health, communities, and the fight for a sustainable food future on Staten Island.
Sarah Kabalkin teaches cooking on the North Shore of Staten Island, where she also works with community farms and a community fridge to create a whole system of growing food, cooking it, and giving it back to the community. Sarah studied culinary diplomacy, which touches on basic culinary skills, international cuisine, and political science.
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Exploring Your Identity as a Changemaker — Part One
Led by Jasmine Awad, this workshop will guide young people through deep reflection on their social identity and positionality, helping them understand how their experiences, backgrounds, and privileges influence their activism. Through conversations and activities, you'll gain greater self-awareness and the tools to organize with intention and impact on Staten Island.
Jasmine Awad, LMSW (she/her) is a forensic social worker and mitigation specialist for the Osborne Association's Court Advocacy Services program, where she works alongside defense attorneys providing mitigation reports and court advocacy to support clients with criminal cases in obtaining alternatives to incarceration. She earned her MSW from Columbia School of Social Work in 2023; and graduated as the valedictorian from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2019, where she studied criminal justice and human services. Throughout her educational journey, Jasmine served as a leader in various youth justice, abolition, and advocacy groups and she is passionate about supporting and advocating for individuals impacted by the prison and criminal legal systems. Jasmine has lived on Staten Island for most of her life and is always eager to give back to her community!
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Exploring Your Identity as a Changemaker — Part Two
Led by Jasmine Awad, this workshop will guide young people through deep reflection on their social identity and positionality, helping them understand how their experiences, backgrounds, and privileges influence their activism. Through conversations and activities, you'll gain greater self-awareness and the tools to organize with intention and impact on Staten Island.
Jasmine Awad, LMSW (she/her) is a forensic social worker and mitigation specialist for the Osborne Association's Court Advocacy Services program, where she works alongside defense attorneys providing mitigation reports and court advocacy to support clients with criminal cases in obtaining alternatives to incarceration. She earned her MSW from Columbia School of Social Work in 2023; and graduated as the valedictorian from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2019, where she studied criminal justice and human services. Throughout her educational journey, Jasmine served as a leader in various youth justice, abolition, and advocacy groups and she is passionate about supporting and advocating for individuals impacted by the prison and criminal legal systems. Jasmine has lived on Staten Island for most of her life and is always eager to give back to her community!
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Crafting Community Change through Policy — Part Two
Led by Saifeldeen Zihiri, you will understand how policy shapes your community and how you can shape it in return. The workshop uses the North Shore Action Plan as a case study to help young organizers break down policy documents, analyze their impact, and push for change. Through discussions on climate resilience, equity, and community power, you’ll learn how to challenge potentially harmful development and advocate for policies that truly serve Staten Island.
Saifeldeen (Saif) Zihiri, grew up on Staten Island, spending a decent amount of time waiting for the bus to come. He graduated from Hunter College in 2019, studying Religion, Political Science and Human Rights, having won various fellowships that allowed him to study and research everywhere from Georgia to South Korea. He graduated Yale Law School in 2024, and spends most of his time thinking about the law, policy, and again, the bus.
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Crafting Community Change through Policy — Part One
Led by Saifeldeen Zihiri, you will understand how policy shapes your community and how you can shape it in return. The workshop uses the North Shore Action Plan as a case study to help young organizers break down policy documents, analyze their impact, and push for change. Through discussions on climate resilience, equity, and community power, you’ll learn how to challenge potentially harmful development and advocate for policies that truly serve Staten Island.
Saifeldeen (Saif) Zihiri, grew up on Staten Island, spending a decent amount of time waiting for the bus to come. He graduated from Hunter College in 2019, studying Religion, Political Science and Human Rights, having won various fellowships that allowed him to study and research everywhere from Georgia to South Korea. He graduated Yale Law School in 2024, and spends most of his time thinking about the law, policy, and again, the bus.
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
The Untold Story of Black History in Stapleton
Led by Debbie-Ann Paige, this powerful workshop will cover the Black history of Stapleton, ranging from slavery to today’s struggles with gentrification and overpolicing. Through news archives and deep conversations, you’ll be able to connect the past to the present, uncovering the roots of injustice and resilience in Stapleton. This is a chance to learn and reflect, because understanding history is the first step to changing it.
Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian specializing in African American history and a professional genealogist. She co-founded the Richard B. Dickenson Staten Island Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and is an adjunct lecturer at the College of Staten Island. Paige leads public history forums exploring race and race relations and serves on committees for organizations like AAHGS, the NY & NJ Middle Passage Port Markers Project, and the Staten Island Museum. Her projects include "Taking Care: The Black Angels of Sea View Hospital," "In Pursuit of Freedom," and the Staten Island African American Heritage Tour App. Paige has appeared on PBS television programs and is pursuing a doctorate in Community-Based Leadership.
To secure your spot, please register at bit.ly/ff-circles.
Gather & Grow: Re-imagining Staten Island’s Food Future
Gather & Grow: Re-imagining Staten Island’s Food Future is a special community dinner hosted by Forgotten Foods. This event is an opportunity to come together with neighbors, community organizations, and local leaders to discuss how we can build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food system here on Staten Island’s North Shore.
Please RSVP by visiting bit.ly/letseat14.