Crochet: Networks of Care

Nadia Bunyan is a fashion designer, researcher, and community organizer. She believes we must begin with education and care to see change in the fashion industry and beyond. These core values led her to cofound Growing A.R.C. a nonprofit using the prism of material culture and its fashion systems, to explore activities grounded in the farm-to-closet process. 

Beginning with agriculture for textiles and natural dyes, Growing A.R.C. creates activities such as playdates for people to activate, reciprocate and cultivate their relationships with all beings. The organization reinforces connections to the local environment by focusing on material culture and bioregional design. It also expands the understanding of biodiversity to include the diversity and perspectives of marginalized folks. 

Nadia believes to raise awareness about a relational approach to sustainability knowledge and lived experiences must be shared. This is one facet of changing conversations on sustainability to a cultural practice. 

Kristen Young is the Coordinator, Black Community Engagement at the Office of Community Engagement, Concordia University. She is also an archivist whose work in Black community archives sparked her shift towards investing in the ways mental health impacts Black history and Black community spaces. A third-culture kid with a deep interest in applying the principle of sankofa to the every day, Kristen uses her training as an archivist and her interest in governance, collaboration, community care, and community education in the many hats she wears both professionally and personally.