Registration opens:
February 19th, 2026 7:00pm

Imagining Sustainable Futures: Disability, Access, and Hope

in Partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University

For Adults

About the Talk

This talk explores disability and accessibility through the lens of sustainability, while also questioning what “sustainable” really means. Drawing on research, community examples, and shared reflection, Dr. Alexis Buettgen, from Wilfrid Laurier University, will consider how we can build futures that centre access, dignity, and care amid climate and social challenges. Participants will be invited to imagine economies and environments rooted in inclusion, care, and collective hope.

Presented in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University.

About the Presenter

Dr. Alexis Buettgen is a community-engaged researcher, educator, and advocate, with over 15 years of experience in community-based research, health and social services, academic institutions, and activist organizations. She has dedicated her career to advancing knowledge, practice and policy in the areas of social and climate justice; social, political and economic inclusion; community capacity and coalition building with an interest in disability studies and community psychology. Her current research focuses on the development of an inclusive green economy and bridging the gap between academic knowledge and climate action through fieldwork carried out at local, national, and international levels. Alexis is an Assistant Professor in the Community Psychology program and Associate Director of the Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability at Wilfrid Laurier University. She also holds Adjunct and Graduate Faculty Appointments at McMaster and York University and an active member of Citizens With Disabilities Ontario.

Photography Notice: Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at this event and may be broadcast, reproduced, and/or made available in print or online. For individual or small group photos, staff will make attendees aware of their presence and will ask permission before taking photos. 

For larger public events, please note that by attending, you are consenting to the use of your appearance, image, and voice in print or digital productions created by the Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you’d like to be excluded from any photo/video. 

Staff: Charlie