ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALISM

SF/Bay Area Climate Reality Chapter Climate Justice Leadership, Youth Ambassadorship and Empowerment

By Ellen Kim, Sophomore, San Mateo High School

On October 17th, the Now Panel Series kicked off with its first panel, titled Environmental Justice and Intersectional Environmentalism. The panelists, Teron McGrew and Aniya Butler, discussed the importance of highlighting Black and Indigenous voices when discussing the transition to a more sustainable and just future.

Audience members noted that "it was very eye-opening to hear from different age-groups and how they're affected/view the current climate crisis and how it related to other significant organizations that are currently fighting different forms of injustice". Many people also mentioned some things that they might do in the future as a result of what they had learned: “I think it is incredibly important to listen to minority voices and have empathy so that we can make a change for everyone, not just the people we see in our immediate communities. I plan to do more research into systemic racism to find out some direct actions I can take, as well as becoming more involved in the election so I can help make sure we have a promising future."

Another said that it stood out to them "When Teron said that the instruction about African Americans and marginalized people always being the first ones to speak and how that made her feel relieved -- passing the mike onto them **first**".

You can find the panel recording here.

The recording of the panel can be found on the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability’s YouTube channel. Go to http://bit.ly/now-panel-series-website to learn more and register for the rest of the panels!

Ellen Kim is a Sophomore at San Mateo High School and organizer of the Now Panel Series for the San Mateo Office of Sustainability Youth Ambassador Program.