Robyn Maynard - Abolition as Care Lecture

On June 11, 2025, Black Lives Matter – Sudbury, in collaboration with the Laurentian University School of Social Work, proudly presented renowned author, activist, and scholar Robyn Maynard for a timely and compelling lecture on abolition as a practice of care, mutual aid, and liberation. Held as part of the Dr. Jennifer Keck Memorial Lecture Series on Social Justice, the event brought together more than 135 community members for an evening of reflection, learning, and connection.

Robyn Maynard is an author and scholar based in Toronto and serves as Assistant Professor of Black Feminisms in Canada at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Her work on borders, policing, abolition, and Black feminism is widely taught across universities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Doors opened at 6:30 PM, and the lecture began at 7:00 PM. Admission was free with limited seating. Simultaneous French translation and ASL interpretation were provided.

Attendees were invited to arrive early or stay after the lecture to connect with local organizations, access community resources, and purchase books. Tabling groups included Amani Wellness, Afro Women and Youth Foundation, Beiwty Rishrish Cosmetics, Réseau Access Network, Indigenous Students Circle, Faculty of Arts – Laurentian University, Librairie Panache, Demeter Press, Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute, Myths and Mirrors, Nandawekigewin Gamig, Thriving African Families Foundation, Latitude 46 Publishing, and Laurentian Pride.

Photo credits: Tyra Swan

  • Two women stand behind a table with items related to African culture, including drums and accessories, at a booth for Thriving African Families, with a banner and display case nearby.
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  • Two women sitting at a registration table with papers, pamphlets, and QR codes, set up for an event on social justice, with banners displaying information about speaker Robyn Maynard.
  • Two women sitting at a table with brochures and a water bottle, against a brick wall background. One woman is wearing a black t-shirt with a badge, and the other is in a colorful patterned dress.
  • Two people sitting at a table, smiling, with pamphlets and a water bottle in front of them, in a room with brick walls.
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  • A woman with long dreadlocks stands at a wooden podium speaking into a microphone, with a screen displaying a pink and purple abstract background in the background.
  • Two women having a conversation on stage, sitting in chairs with small tables between them. One woman has braided hair with teal extensions, wearing a patterned dress and white sneakers, smiling. The other woman has dreadlocks, wearing a colorful patterned shirt, gesturing with her hands. The stage has purple lighting, with a water bottle on the floor and plants nearby.