Working Toward Ecosocial Justice Through Youth Education

About

Name	Vanessa Leibel
Title	Program Coordinator
Company	Be The Change Earth Alliance
Grad year	2025
Program	Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems

Vanessa Leibel is rooted in her passion for eco-social justice and community education. After graduating in 2025, she moved into a Program Coordinator role at Be The Change Earth Alliance, where she now helps shape climate justice learning experiences for youth across British Columbia.

Vanessa brings her interdisciplinary GRS background into every aspect of her work. Whether she’s facilitating hands-on workshops, collaborating with teachers, or researching emerging environmental issues, her aim is simple: to help young people connect with the land, understand the systems shaping their world, and take collective action in their communities.

When you were a student, what did you think you wanted your career to be or look like?

I didn’t have a specific career in mind, but I knew I wanted to do something involving food security and environmental stewardship. I wanted to learn more about how to solve global sustainability problems in our communities.”

Why did you choose your program in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and what did you enjoy most about it? 

I chose Global Resource Systems (GRS) because it allowed me to study exactly what I’m passionate about. The flexibility of the program, where you choose a region and resource of focus, and then take any applicable courses, let me explore so many different areas of interest, from Indigenous forestry to environmental impact assessment to wine science!

How did you navigate the transition from university to the workforce? Do you have any advice for students preparing to graduate? 

I took the summer off between graduating and entering the workforce, and I recommend this to anyone preparing to graduate. It let me reconnect with my hobbies, travel, and recharge so that I didn’t feel burnt out before entering the workforce. That way, I actually felt excited to be applying for jobs and start working! 

What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?   

In my current job at Be The Change, I do program development, outreach, and workshop facilitation for eco-social learning topics for BC youth grades 5-12. I love researching environmental and social justice topics, updating learning materials, and then working with youth and seeing them be passionate about their environment and take meaningful action for a just, sustainable future. This role perfectly aligns with GRS, as I am tackling global issues of climate and social justice with local community solutions. 

When it comes to your future, what are you most excited about?

Work-wise, I’m most excited about seeing the projects I’ve been working on come to life, such as integrating teachers’ feedback into our eco-social learning materials, then seeing those materials being used in classrooms across Metro-Vancouver and BC. I’m also excited to continue facilitating hands-on youth climate justice workshops, and helping students connect with the land to then take collective action in their communities. Beyond work, I’m most excited about exploring this next chapter of my life in Vancouver and seeing where else my LFS skills, learning and experience will take me! 

What advice do you have for undergraduate students who don’t know what career path they’re interested in?

Feeling unsure and uncertain is totally normal, and it can be very overwhelming! First, I want anyone feeling like that to know that you’re not alone. How I sorted out my interests was by doing hands-on volunteer opportunities (that worked with my busy schedule); that way I figured out quickly what I liked, and what I liked more than other things. Volunteering for organizations is also a great way to stay in touch with them later on, if you’re interested in a job there!

What advice would you give to your past self or a current LFS student? 

Make social time and connecting with others a priority, not just academics! Looking back, the moments I remember and feel truly grateful for during university was going for walks in Pacific Spirit, lunches in Agora, UBC farmer’s markets, and hanging outside of EOS. Being with others, I could talk about any school stuff I was stressed about, and finding out that others were feeling the same things, which filled my cup and gave me more energy to then focus on schoolwork later.