The RISE Traveler: Unpacking Conversations of Sustainable Travel

In this episode of The RISE Traveler, Amy sits down with Justine Abigail Yu, Senior Advisor at RISE Travel Institute. Justine advises RISE on its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy and has devoted her career to creating a more just and equitable world for all. She shares her positive outlook on the future of travel, thoughts on how to incorporate a DEI mindset in order to truly achieve sustainability, and to how to better support local communities while traveling.

Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Romar Dingo - Digital Media and Information Technology Specialist at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: "On My Way" Kevin MacLeod (License)

About: Justine Abigail Yu
Justine Abigail Yu is a communications and marketing strategist who has worked with organizations operating in North America, Central America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her expertise lies in growing enterprises from the ground up through strategic digital marketing, compelling storytelling, and genuine community engagement all through an anti-oppression lens. 

Justine currently serves as Wanderful's Communications Director. She is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Living Hyphen, an emerging magazine that explores the experiences of hyphenated Canadians – that is, individuals who call Canada home but who have roots in often faraway places.

She and the publication have been featured on international, national, and local media outlets including NextShark, CTV National News, CBC Metro Morning, CBC Ontario Morning, and CityTV’s Breakfast Television, among other news outlets.

Justine Abigail is a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion – and ultimately, anti-oppression. Her mission is to stir the conscience and spur social change.

Website:  https://www.risetravelinstitute.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risetravelinstitute/featured

Instagram:  instagram.com/risetravelinstitute

Dr. Vincie Ho recounts some of her most sustainable travel experiences and opens up about her missteps from her travels in the past, as well as moments when she had to check her privilege. She shares a few questions we all can ask ourselves in order to be more mindful travelers. This interview shines a light on the power of sustainable tourism and challenges us to think about the positive or negative impacts we can have on travel destinations.

Learn more at https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/

Host: Amy Hager - Social Media Manager at The RISE Travel Institute
Video and Audio Editing: Romar Dingo - Digital Media and Information Technology Specialist at The RISE Travel Institute
Graphic Design: Shirley Wong - Freelance Art Director
Music: "On My Way" Kevin MacLeod (License) 

About: Dr. Vincie Ho, President and Founder

A humane educator and social justice advocate, Vincie founded RISE Travel Institute in June 2020 with the commitment to engage young people in important conversations around human rights, animal protection and environmental sustainability in the context of travel. She is also the creator of Paths Crossing, a card game designed to foster cross-cultural connections and inspire mindful travel decisions. She has been involved with Impact Travel Alliance since 2018 and currently holds the position of Chapter Engagement Lead on their global team.

Before Vincie started working in the nonprofit world, she was a university French lecturer and linguist for over a decade. As an academic, she had the opportunity to travel around the world for conferences and fieldwork. In 2010, she left academia to work in the area of refugee empowerment in Senegal, a transformative experience that motivated her to pursue a second career in international peace and human rights, as well as sustainable travel. 

Vincie has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Arts degree from University College London. She has also obtained various graduate certificates and diplomas from the Institute for Humane Education and New York University in the United States, the United Nations University in Japan, and l’Université de Franche-Comté in France. She is based in the Greater New York City Area.

Website:  https://www.risetravelinstitute.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risetravelinstitute/featured

Instagram:  instagram.com/risetravelinstitute