Building upon past Columbia Climate Conversations focused on climate and social justice, this in-person event invites individuals to learn more about representation and inclusivity from keynote Leah Thomas, founder of Intersectional Environmentalist. The keynote will be livestreamed; if you would like to view it virtually please register here. The first 50 people to arrive will receive a copy of her book, The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.
The keynote will be followed by a panel featuring environmental justice organizers, grassroots activists, and NYC nonprofits to dive deeper into housing injustice, bottom-up climate action, and systemic inequity. The summit will conclude with a creative workshop and mixer. This will be an informal setting to engage with one other, reflect on knowledge shared, and explore relationships with climate, activism, and the natural world through arts and crafts.
The event will be hosted by Columbia undergraduate and Columbia Climate Conversations creator Lauren Ritchie, supported by Kailani Acosta, Benjamin Keisling, and Kwolanne Felix. The event will be open to anyone who RSVPs. Visitors must follow Columbia's health and safety policy, including COVID-19 vaccination.
Keynote: Leah Thomas is an eco-communicator, aka an environmentalist with a love for writing and creativity, based in Ventura, CA. She’s passionate about advocating for and exploring the relationship between social justice and environmentalism. She is the founder of the eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah and The Intersectional Environmentalist Platform, which is a resource and media hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice + inclusivity within environmental education + movements. Her articles have appeared in Vogue, Elle, The Good Trade, and Youth to the People and she has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, Domino, GOOP and numerous podcasts. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Chapman University and worked for the National Park Service and Patagonia HQ before pursuing environmentalism full time. Learn more about Leah and her mission.
Panelists:
Jasmine Graham, Energy Justice Policy Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Daphne Frias, 24-year-old youth activist
Whitney McGuire. Esq., mother, a New York state licensed attorney, legal and sustainability consultant & strategist, co-founder of Sustainable Brooklyn
Ayisha Siddiqa, Pakistani environmentalist and human rights advocate, co-founder of Polluters Out and Fossil Free University
