BRICS Conversations and Highlights

BRICS Conversations are curated gatherings, ranging from panel discussions and workshops to community forums and research roundtables that bring together students, faculty, and community leaders to exchange ideas, elevate local expertise, and drive collaborative solutions.

Stay tuned for upcoming conversations, reflections from recent events, and ongoing stories of impact from the BRICS network.

CCEL EcoAction Summit

April 10, 2025

Towards Food Sovereignty: Advancing Climate Justice Through Circular Food Innovation in the Bronx – A BRICS Collaboration

Dr. Shellae Versey, Associate Professor of Psychology (Fordham)

Mr. Henry Obispo, Founder/CEO (ReBORN Farms)

Dr. Emily Lopez, Senior Director, Graham Windham Family Enrichment Center; Senior Research Fellow (Fordham BRICS)

Moderator: Dr. Akane Zusho, Professor of School Psychology, Graduate School of Education; Director (Fordham BRICS)

This panel explored the intersection of food sovereignty and climate justice, highlighting innovative, community-driven solutions emerging from the Bronx. Through the Bronx Research Institute for Community Solutions (BRICS) framework of Appreciative Inquiry, the discussion will center on identifying and amplifying local strengths, fostering collaborative research, and co-developing strategies grounded in community wisdom and designed for long-term sustainability. The session concluded with reflections on scaling successful models and fostering policies that support food sovereignty and climate justice in the Bronx and beyond.

Learn more about the “Towards Food Sovereignty: Scaling Circular Food Innovation  Systems in the Bronx” project.