Climate Justice, Y'all: Recent Episodes
Michael Hansen
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
This season, without planning it, maps a clear throughline from plantations to pollution, while spotlighting living in a new technological and political age. Tune in to hear the hosts discuss the overarching narrative of the season, their favorite episodes and topics, and what they hope for the future of the podcast and our planet.
A heartfelt thank you to all of the incredible guests who shared their stories, insights, and expertise throughout this season. We’re also deeply grateful to our listeners for tuning in, engaging with these conversations, and supporting the podcast every step of the way. We can’t wait to bring you Season 7 next year with even more inspiring conversations. Until then, thank you for listening!
The post S6E8: Season Finale: Changing Times and Southern Throughline appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, we’re joined by Jaha Nailah Avery, host and reporter of The Corridor, a Threshold series about “history, pollution, and resistance on the front lines of America’s petrochemical industry” (thresholdpodcast.org/the-corridor). Jaha recounts her experiences with The Corridor, from developing the pitch, to hearing the personal stories, to recording the seven episode series.
“Each season, Threshold takes listeners on a journey into the heart of a complex environmental story—about a species, a place, an idea, a controversy, or a question—that they think deserves attention. It’s a show as much about relationships as it is about the environment. And relationships are complicated. Threshold steps into that complexity, revealing the challenges and possibilities in our relationship with the planet” (thresholdpodcast.org/about).
Jaha Nailah Avery is a writer and author whose work has appeared in Essence, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, and Vanity Fair. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black stories and history, she is the author of Those Who Saw The Sun, a collection of interviews with Jim Crow survivors, and I Heard, an illustrated poem spanning more than 400 years of Black history.
The post S6E7: Southern Journalism with Threshold’s Jaha Nailah Avery appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Climate disasters are accelerating, but so are solutions. In this episode, we talk with Cat Hebson (Footprint Project) and Moira Haynes (Empowered by Light) about how climate-resilient tech is helping communities respond to extreme weather and failing infrastructure across the U.S. and the global south. Join us as we hear from these amazing women about action already happening on the ground.
Catherine Hebson is the Program Manager, Appalachia of Footprint Project. She, and the Footprint Project, sees every disaster as an opportunity to build back cleaner and greener. Cat is originally from Maine, and has been based in Asheville, NC for the last five years, and is passionate about supporting her region build back more resiliently from Helene. She has a varied background in mechanical engineering, working with Climate Scientists in a remote solar-powered camp on the Greenland Ice Sheet, and community organizing.
Footprint Project aims to “help build back greener after climate disasters by mobilizing cleaner energy for communities in crisis. [Their] vision is to decarbonize disaster response and empower community resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather events. [They] work across the disaster management cycle to expand frontline access to climate technologies and reduce fossil fuel use in the field.”
Moira Hanes is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Empowered by Light. Moira has over 10 years experience supporting philanthropic initiatives to increase energy access, displace diesel and build resiliency in vulnerable communities and regions. Moira has over 20 years of combined experience serving on the boards of nonprofit organizations. Prior to Empowered by Light, Moira worked more than a decade in corporate communications and government and community relations roles for a Fortune 500 company.
Empowered by Light is on a mission to transform life through renewable energy systems. They are harnessing solar energy to power opportunity, protect ecosystems, and build resilience where it’s needed most. By partnering with local communities, their projects displace fossil fuels, strengthen essential services, and support people who safeguard some of the world’s most fragile environments.
The post S6E6: Climate Resilience Tech with With Cat Hebson and Moira Hanes appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
AI data centers are popping up all over the South, extracting resources from communities and increasing power bills. In this episode, we sit down with the leaders of the new Minus AI campaign, Lindsay Harper and Reverend Michael Malcom of our own People’s Justice Council and Power for Southern People Not Southern Company, to unpack what this surge in AI infrastructure means for Southern communities.
From corporate accountability to energy justice, we’re breaking down who benefits, who pays, and how communities are organizing to push back.
The post S6E5: Reducing AI Impact: Minus AI with Reverend Michael Malcom and Lindsay Harper appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, we talk with Chandra Taylor-Sawyer, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center about Environmental Justice communities in the South, their ties to former plantation lands, and how strategic legal action can empower communities facing environmental harm.
Southern Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal team working across five Southern states to protect people and the environment. In addition to her position as Senior Attorney in which she specializing in water quality and environmental justice issues, Chandra Taylor-Sawyer also serves as leader of the Environmental Justice Initiative at SELC. A native of Kinston in eastern North Carolina, Taylor-Sawyer earned her undergraduate and law degree from the University of North Carolina, and she was a fellow with the Vermont Law School Environmental Justice Exchange Program between the U.S. and China. She has led work in North Carolina to force cleanups at contaminated industrial sites, stop water pollution threatening North Carolina communities, and shaped transit and landfill policies.
The post S6E4: From Plantations to People-Powered Resistance: Environmental Justice with Chandra Taylor-Sawyer appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Southerners experience some of the highest rates of energy burden in the country, meaning we spend the highest percentage of income on energy costs. Proper policy can reduce the costs of energy, implement efficiency measures, and discourage political corruption from monopoly energy companies. We’re here with one of the folks working on energy policy in Alabama, where he’ll outline the unique realities of the state’s energy regulatory landscape, potential for diversified energy, and what it means to work on creating change at the legislative level.
John Dodd serves as Policy Manager for Energy Alabama. He previously served as a member of the operations team for the House Democratic Caucus under the leadership of Democratic Caucus Chairman, Rep. Hakeem Jefferies and Southwest Field Director for Stacey Abrams, and positions within the administrations of Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham and Mayor Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa. John graduated from the University of Alabama in 2022 with degrees in Political Science and Public Relations and attained his master’s in public administration in May 2024.
The post S6E3: Southern Energy Politics with John Dodd appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Louisiana is a classic example of fascinating culture and ecosystems at risk due to petrochemical pollution, climate change impacts, and land loss. Unfortunately, many people in the South, US, and world as a whole are having to grapple with the question of whether to move away or adapt to the dangerous environment in the communities they’ve called home for generations.
In this episode, we bring in community organizer Jack Green with the RISE St. James organization, who fights for the health, dignity, and survival of Louisiana communities. Discussing everything (from Louisiana’s spongy soil, to infrastructure, to climate refugees), this is an episode that will hopefully bring some hope and remind people to have faith when fighting fascism.
The post S6E2: Surviving Land Loss and Climate Change with Jack Green appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome to Season 6 of Climate Justice Y’all, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and EJ movement in the south. In this season, we’ll cover hot topics such as “surviving land loss and finding joy”, “climate adaptation tech”, “corporate sustainability”, and more! In our first episode, we’ll be excitedly introducing our fresh additional co-hosts for the podcast, Madison Naves with GASP and Yuri Owens with SCEN. Get to know them as they tell their stories before we dive deep into climate solutions in the South.
Madison Naves serves as Storyteller at GASP. Learn more about GASP here!
Maréshah Malcom serves as Program Manager at People’s Justice Council. Learn more about the People’s Justice Council here!
Yuri Owens serves as Programs Coordinator alongside colleague Abigail Franks who serves as Membership and Policy Manager at SCEN. Learn more about the Southeast Climate and Energy Network here!
The post S6E1: Allow Us to (Re) Introduce Ourselves- Welcome to Season 6 with Madison and Yuri appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
There is no specific way to organize people to shape policy, though there are many lessons we can gather from indigenous organizing and leadership. Today we’re joined by a powerhouse in the environmental justice and indigenous rights movement- Jacob Johns. His activism involves policy, art, storytelling, and community advocacy – using creative methods to advocate for resistance and resilience.
Jacob is a grassroots organizer committed to building Indigenous power on a global scale, traveling around the world to elevate Indigenous voices and movements. His leadership has been central at major international climate summits, including COP28—where he led the Indigenous Wisdom Keepers delegation—and COP29. Blending activism with artistry, Jacob uses creative expression as a powerful tool to illuminate both the struggles and resilience of Indigenous communities.
“Indigenous- most people would say we are activists but it’s’ our moral obligation to protect the earth. Born to protect the earth. If we don’t do it, it won’t be done.” – Jacob Johns
The post S5E9: Indigenous Organizing & Leadership (Part II) with Jacob Johns appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Indigenous advocates have been at the frontlines of environmental protection and climate action for hundreds of years in the face of colonization and continue to face violence today. Despite indigenous people comprising just over 6% of the global population, they steward and protect a vast majority of the planet’s biodiversity and critical water sources. Whether it’s the way we extract resources, the way we teach history, or the way we treat each others- we need to think about how to center indigenous knowledge in a post-colonized society.
In this episode we outline what it means to support indigenous knowledge, organizing, and leadership in the climate fight through a candid discussion with Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, a cyber-security and intelligence analyst turned water protector and co-founder of 7 Directions of Service.
“When you ask people to care about the environment, you’re asking them to extend care for people other than yourself and family. It’s your cousin, it’s your neighbor. It’s future generations.” – Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck
The post S5E8: Indigenous Organizing & Leadership (Part I) with Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
The US is not necessarily in good standing on the international stage, and many young people feel that domestic and global climate policy do not represent their interests. There’s a need for leaders to take courageous action to address these challenges. A frequently asked question by politicians and leaders is “how can youth get involved in the climate and environmental justice movement”.
In this episode we bring Youth Climate Policy Council founders Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos and Ren Martin to discuss centering youth in policy advocacy, not just in the US South, but globally.
“When we say the “youth is our future”, we are not only in the future but we are in the present. We deserve decision making power now.”
To learn more and get involved in youth led organizing visit @youthnpower on Instagram.
The post S5E7: Solidarity Across Borders (Part II) with Ren Martin & Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
The Global South (AKA the global majority or folks typically south of the equator) and the US South have more in common than people think. Today, we’ll examine how extraction, suffering, and the powerful elite have shaped our warming planet, and dig into what grassroot advocates are pushing for to secure a fair and livable future—from demands for “loss and damages” to global climate equity campaigns like ShiftUS. We’ll also reflect on what it means to keep fighting for climate justice under a new administration hostile to climate action.
Hear Alex Easdale, Executive Director of the Southeast Climate and Energy Network, Reverend Michael Malcolm, Executive Director of the People’s Justice Council, Susannah Tuttle, Director of Eco-Justice Connection with the North Carolina Council of Churches, and Natalie Lucas with the US Climate Action Network as they discuss some of these pressing challenges and what folks are doing to combat them.
The post S5E6: Southern Solidarity Across Borders (Part I) with Alex Easdale, Michael Malcolm, Susannah Tuttle, & Natalie Lucas appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In a world impacted by climate change and uncontrolled growth and extraction, actions and careers that deal with moving money, building businesses, and expanding nonprofits, at first glance, feels counterintuitive to acting on climate change. However, there are many people, especially those representing marginalized groups, whose entrepreneurship is dedicated to building up communities and stewarding quote, “an ecosystem of opportunity”.
In this episode, we hear from Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, President and CEO of the Environmental Grantmakers Association as she talks about what it means to be an environmental entrepreneur in today’s climate.
“Lets build things that outlast us, and communities are the best invention we’ve got” – Tamara Toles O’Laughlin
The post S5E5: Environment and Entrepreneurship with Tamara Toles O’Laughlin appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
When we talk about climate change, a lot of people picture melting ice caps, heat waves, or rising sea levels. But one major piece of the puzzle often gets overlooked—our health. The same pollution that’s driving climate change is also impacting our bodies in ways we might not even realize. From lung disease to learning disabilities, from asthma attacks to mental health.
In this episode we’re talking with Dr. Anne Mellinger Birdsong, Health Advisor with Mothers & Others for Clean Air, about how pollution is affecting public health, why the South is particularly vulnerable, and what we can do to protect ourselves and push for change.
“The same greenhouse gases that impact the climate include dirty air and pollution. Air pollution affects people of all ages, and causes health effects such as learning disabilities, lung/asthma problems… and even mental health problems.” – Dr. Anne Mellinger Birdsong
The post S5E4: Health and Environmental Justice with Anne Mellinger Birdsong appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In a climate changed world, we must address that challenges that AI data centers bring and support local organizations like Tennessee’s Protect Our Aquifer that are fighting for our communities. In this episode, we hear from Protect Our Aquifer’s Executive Director, Sarah Houston, about some of the challenges they’re facing related to AI data centers.
NPR states that the average AI data center consumes 300,000 gallons of water a day, and there aren’t clear regulations to stop mega companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, or Elon Musk’s xAI from draining our water resources.
“Working in coalitions and in community means that we get to see everybody’s strengths, and this [AI fight] is the perfect opportunity to show the skills off” – Sarah Houston
The post S5E3: Artificial Intelligence and Climate (Part II) with Sarah Houston appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, we’re bringing in Memphis Community Against Pollution director KeShaun Pearson to reflect on the renewable source of people power against injustice.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, requires massive data centers, and the data centers require massive amounts of energy and water to function. AI data centers are popping up all over the US, including Virginia, Texas, and Tennessee, and there’s little existing regulation that holds them accountable to the communities they occupy.
“The only way to take down giants is through community. And the only way to engage with the community is that you have to show up.” – KeShaun Pearson
The post S5E2: Artificial Intelligence and Climate (Part I) with KeShaun Pearson appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome back to Climate Justice, Y’all! In this episode we’re kicking off season 5 with a conversation with William Barber III from the Rural Beacon Initiative and Katie Thomas from the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center as they talk about climate justice and federal funding.
Federal efforts are illegally disrupting promised financing to everyone from the Department of Education and FEMA, to local community organizations. In this episode, we will bring in two experts to discuss the impact of federal funding and “direct pay” credits for climate adaptation projects, outline the current landscape we’re dealing with from a top-level, and suggest avenues we can take to continue our work and accomplish our goals.
William Barber III is the founder and CEO of the Rural Beacon Initiative, a North Carolina-based social enterprise that offers private and public consultancy, strategic convening, and deployment of models for practical, scalable community based solutions in order to help businesses address the triple bottom line.
Katie Thomas is the Director of Energy and Environment Programs at the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPC Center) works to ensure that frontline communities have the strategic insight and tools to shape public policy and they utilize policy and process knowledge in order to educate partners, foster cross-movement solidarity, and demystify government.
The post S5E1: Funding Climate Adaptation with William Barber III and Katie Thomas appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome to the season finale!
In this episode, we’re highlighting the incredible work of Democracy Green, an Afro-Indigenous-led conservation organization based in Western North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated Appalachia months ago, and while many are still rebuilding, Democracy Green’s dynamic duo, Mama Sanja Whittington and her daughter La’Meshia Whittington remind us that neighbors and networks are the first responders in times of crisis. Their approach is rooted in relationship-building, cultural understanding, and a commitment to healing both the people and the land by way of climate consciousness.
We will explore their innovative model of mutual aid, powerful stories from the frontlines, and their vision for a world where corporations are held accountable, and communities are equipped to thrive amid climate change and disasters.
La’Meshia Whittington- Cofounder and Board of Green Democracy
Sanja Whittington- Executive Director of Green Democracy
For more, check out season 1 episode 8 “When Disaster Strikes Part I with Michael Esealuka” and season 1 episode 9 “When Disaster Strikes Part II with N. Teresa Ramos.”
The post S4E4: When Disaster Strikes: Hurricane Helene with La’Meshia and Sanja Whittington appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Abigail and Marésha sit down and talk with Nina Morgan, former climate and environmental justice organizer for GASP. Nina is a graduate of UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) where she studied Anthropology and Sociology. Nina mapped over 3,000 trees on campus using GIS and served as a decathelete in the 2017 DOE Solar Decathlon competition.
Nina is also a co-founder of the Magic City Youth Initiative, where she works to uplift and support a youth-led movement for social justice in the Greater-Birmingham area. As a Black, Southern, working-class person, Nina is committed to creating a world in which people and planet are cherished, protected and liberated. Sit back and enjoy the conversation!
The post S4E3.5: Revisiting Nina Morgan on Climate & Environmental Justice in Alabama appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome four the fourth season of Climate Justice, Ya’ll!
We’re revisiting the conversation with Nina Morgan from season 1 episode 7 “Nina Morgan on Climate & Environmental Justice in Alabama.” After listening to this episode, go listen to the first part of the conversation. Whether you’re a new listener, or have been with us for a while, it’s a great conversation to revisit.
Environmental justice (EJ) is the principle that everyone deserves clean air, water, and land no matter their background, location, or income. Environmental injustice refers to a set of actions, intentional or otherwise, that places the burden of pollution on marginalized communities. Birmingham, Alabama, like many communities across the south and the nation, is negatively impacted by environmental pollution.
In this episode, co-hosts Mareshah Malcom and Abigail Franks catch-up with local organizer Nina Morgan, where they revisit past lessons from their previous conversation and integrate new wisdom about the intersectionality of environmental justice, social justice, and a livable climate future for southerners and international citizens.
The post S4E3: Southern Environmental Justice with Nina Morgan appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
On this episode of Climate Justice, Y’all, we are joined by Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker Association of Florida. Jeannie’s title is Pesticide Safety and Environmental Health Project Coordinator. She’s been with the Farmworker Association for more than 20 years. She focuses on issues related to farmworkers’ exposure to pesticides. She is also coordinator of the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt Project, which memorializes the former farm workers on Lake Apopka who were exposed to toxic pesticides on the vegetable fields of Florida’s most contaminated large lake.
In this wide-ranging, at-times emotional interview with host Abigail Franks, Jeannie shares experiences working with farmers and farmworkers in the South.
The post S4E2.5: Revisiting Talking Labor with Jeannie Economos appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome to the fourth season of Climate Justice, Ya’ll!
We’re revisiting the conversation with Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker Association of Florida, from season 1 episode 4 “Talking Labor with Jeannie Economos.” After listening to this episode, go listen to the first part of the conversation. Whether you’re a new listener or have been with us for a while, it’s a great conversation to revisit.
In this episode, co-hosts Mareshah Malcom and Abigail Franks speak with Domonique O’Connor and Jeannie Economos to discuss how, amidst climate change and disaster, we can help protect farm workers’ rights and support those on the ground doing so. Tune in to hear wise words and a critical conversation about the importance of protecting farm workers’ rights (from 2024 to 2021) and fighting for a healthy and just society.
The post S4E2: Protecting Farm Workers’ in the Heat of Climate Change with Jeannie Economos and Dominique O’Connor appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Justin J. Pearson is the fourth son of five boys born to teenage parents in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin J. graduated from Mitchell High School as Valedictorian and Bowdoin College in 2017 majoring in both Government & Legal Studies and Education Studies. Justin J. is also a leader of Memphis Community Against Pollution and co-founder of Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP) which is a Black-led environmental justice organization that successfully defeated a multi-billion dollar company’s crude oil pipeline project. He is the Co-Lead and the Strategic Advisor for the Mid South Mobilization Committee of the Poor People’s Campaign: National Call for Moral Revival.
Justin currently lives in Memphis and also works at the headquarters of Year Up in Boston, Massachusetts. He is focused on social, racial, and economic justice as Special Assistant to the CEO of Year Up – a national program helping 18 – 24-year-olds gain training and entry-level jobs. Justin J. Pearson has an unwavering commitment to justice and dedicates his life to this endless pursuit.
The post S4E1.5: Revisiting The Kids Are All Right (Part I) with Justin J. Pearson appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Welcome four the fourth season of Climate Justice, Ya’ll!
We’re revisiting the conversation with Justin J. Pearson, now known as Representative Pearson, from season 2 episode 14 “The Kids Are Alright (Part I).” After listening to this episode, go listen to the first part of the conversation. Whether you’re a new listener, or have been with us for a while, it’s a great conversation to revisit.
In this episode co-hosts Mareshah Malcom and Abigail Franks speak with Tennessee House Representative Justin J. Pearson. Things have changed since the last time they spoke, including a historic event in the state house regarding the “Tennessee Three”, new environmental justice fights, and new political landscapes. Tune in to hear Representative Pearson share some wisdom and a critical conversation about the importance of youth-led movements (from 2024 and 2021) and fighting for a healthy and just society.
The post S4E1: Honoring A Legacy In The Making with Rep. Justin J. Pearson appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Wrap up the third season with hosts Abigail and Maréshah as they discuss one of the foundational solutions to the climate crisis: community organizing. Listen to experienced community organizers Lindsay Harper and Celida Soto talk about how to effectively work with communities towards grassroots solutions.
“Community organizing is knowing when to listen to lived experiences, when to step back, and when to step forward.”
Celido Soto works with many organizations such as Margins: Women Helping Black Women, Yellow Hammer Fund, S.W.E.E.T Alabama, Faith & Works. Celida’s organizing work covers many different areas, but all are rooted in her community.
Lindsay Harper is the National Coordinator for Arm in Arm. Arm in Arm works to end the climate crisis by centering racial and economic justice.
The post S3E12: Climate Solutions: Community Organizing 101 with Lindsay Harper and Celida Soto appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this special episode, hosts Maréshah and Abigail listen to Queen Quet, the Chieftess and Head-of-State of the Gullah Geechee Nation, explain how they are utilizing indigenous scientific knowledge to protect and adapt their Sea Islands from modern colonization and climate change.
The Gullah/Geechee Nation exists from Jacksonville, NC, to Jacksonville, FL. It encompasses the Sea Islands and thirty to thirty-five miles inland to the St. John’s River. On these islands, people from numerous African ethnic groups linked with indigenous Americans and created the unique Gullah language and traditions from which later came “Geechee.” The Gullah/Geechee people have been considered “a nation within a nation” from the time of chattel enslavement in the United States until they officially became an internationally recognized nation on July 2, 2000. At the time of their declaration as a nation, they confirmed the election of their first “head pun de boddee”-head of state and official spokesperson and queen mother. They elected Queen Quet, Chieftess, and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
The post S3E11: Climate Solutions: Harnessing Indigenous Wisdom for Climate Adaptation on the Sea Islands with Queen Quet appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode,Abigail and Maréshah have a two-part discussion with folks from Water Wise Gulf South: Dr. Angela Chalk and Jeff Supak. Chalk and Supak work together to adapt and mitigate water issues in Louisiana. They know that solutions to flooding and rising sea levels are most impactful when communities and government work together.
“If we really want to live with water, we need to shift our relationship on how we view water in New Orleans and the region… (with flooding and worsening storms) we need to ask folks to view their communities as water-front properties, and to prepare for that.” – Angela Chalk
Jeff Supak is the co-founder and Executive Director of Water Wise Gulf Coast, and Angela Chalk is the executive director of Healthy Community Services. Water Wise Gulf South empowers individuals and communities to manage stormwater to reduce flooding, among other benefits. Water Wise uses green infrastructure to improve water quality and filter and detain stormwater runoff.
The post S3E10: Climate Solutions: Scaling Community Flooding & Water Solutions with Dr. Angela Chalk and Jeff Supak from Water Wise Gulf South appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Join hosts Maréshah and Abigail in this enriching conversation with Ankur Shah from Climate Engine about technological and economic strategies for climate adaptation, where we cover everything from circular economies to using maps to influence banks to climate financing.
“The idea [at Climate Engine] is to 1. Let banks know how their assets are impacted by climate risks …and 2. How their money is impacting the environment and climate change and 3. Tell banks what they can do ro mitigate and adapt.” – Ankur Shah
Ankur Shah is a geospatial data scientist at Climate Engine. He received his Bachelor’s in Physics and Earth Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Ankur has a few years of experience in environmental education and video production and is passionate about environmental and social sustainability.
The post S3E9: Climate Solutions: Climate Financing, Circular Economies, and Geospatial Mapping with Ankur Shah appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this special episode, co-host Maréshah brings in a special guest co-host, her father, Reverend Michael Malcom, to talk about the effectiveness of community organizing with POWHR’s Russell Chisholm.
“I do believe that as long and as exhausting as this struggle has been, the community resistance has gotten stronger, and we will be strong for the next fight.” – Russell Chisholm
Russell Chisholm serves as Managing Director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights coalition in the campaign to stop Mountain Valley Pipeline and dangerous fossil fuel expansion through Virginia and West Virginia.
The post S3E8: Climate Solutions: Protect Our Water, Heritage, and Rights through Community Organizing with Russell Chisholm appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, Abigail and Maréshah “get the dirt” from Cicada Calling Farm’s own Sierra Torres and Becks Hillard about the realities and joys of operating a sustainable farm in southeast Louisiana amidst climate change impacts. As the two young farmers discuss, dedicating labor and agricultural innovation in the Gulf South is an intentional decision to create alternative economies and food systems to nourish our communities.
“Instead of thinking about what we are losing, we need to think about what we can gain. How can we sink our roots deep into this land and continue traditions that our ancestors did?”
Cicada Calling is a 2-acre diversified vegetable and cut flower farm in Southeast, Louisiana run by Becks Hilliard & Sierra Torres. Find out more information about them through their website: https://cicadacallingfarm.com/
The post S3E7: Climate Solutions: Sustainable Agriculture with Cicada Calling Farm appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
This week, join hosts Maréshah and Abigail in their transformative conversation with Knellee Bisram and Piero Falci from AHAM Education as they teach us about the practicality of mindfulness and our responsibility to care for ourselves and care for the world.
“Mindfulness is a way of being in relationship with myself, others, and the world. We know from our own practice that once we allow ourselves to let go of the past and the future, we are not only training ourselves to be present, we are allowing ourselves to regulate. This is why when we talk about mindfulness, it isn’t just about healing ourselves, it’s about approaching activism in a different way.” – Knellee Bisram
Knellee Bisram is the NGO representative to the United Nations, as well as the founder and conscious executive officer (CEO) to AHAM Education. Knellee is also a certified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) instructor.
Piero Falci sits on the board of directors of AHAM Education, he has written several books on peace and mindfulness, and he is a certified mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor (MBSR).
Check out the trailer for AHAM Education’s upcoming film: https://youtu.be/HwoZRak0vmw?si=q2lCFkMdzxD_IzhM
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this week’s episode, co-hosts Abigail and Maréshah have an honest conversation with Dr. Jairo Garcia about the need and obstacles of climate adaptation at the state and local levels.
“The biggest challenge, here in the South, is that politicians and decision-makers are not taking climate change seriously…We need brave people who aren’t afraid to talk about it. If they don’t do it, how can we ask communities to do the same?” – Dr. Jairo Garcia
Dr. Garcia is a professor at the Georgia Tech School of City & Regional Planning and the former Director of Climate Policy for the City of Atlanta, additionally, he served as the lead author of Atlanta’s Climate Action Plan. He was awarded the National Individual Climate Leadership Award by the EPA in 2017 and the Climate Reality Green Ring Award in 2021.
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Join us for a captivating discussion on “Climate Solutions: Indigenous Disaster Resilience” with Clarice Friloux of the United Houma Nation. “The Native American communities are on the frontlines from storms, and we are usually the last to receive assistance. Why don’t we leave? This is in our DNA. This is our lives, in the Bayous. We know how to deal with the storms, we wait for the water to recede then rebuild-we don’t sit back and wait for someone to save us.”
ClimateJusticeYall #TheSouthGotSomethingToSay
Find the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more! https://climatejusticeyall.com/
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, Abigail and Maréshah bring in folks from Mississippi Rising Coalition to discuss mutual aid as a holistic tool to strengthen community resiliency against systemic inequalities and the disasters that exacerbate them.
“Mutual aid is not a charity. It’s a lot of things: we find ourselves meeting the needs of the people, whatever those needs are, and aid them in whatever course of action that they need.” -Lea Campbell
Climate Justice, Y’all. It’s real, it’s here, and it’s about time we listen to leaders in the south.
Tune in now at climatejusticeyall.com or on your favorite podcast listening platform.
ClimateJusticeYall #MutualAid101 #ListenToTheSouthLeaders
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Join the CJY hosts, Abigail and Mareshah, as they dive into the powerful concept of “wounded healers” and the essential practice of addressing our own triggers while doing transformative work. How do we nurture ourselves to better care for others? Combating burnout, especially in activism, is a topic close to our hearts. Discover the link between community support and self-care! Meet three inspiring women from the North Carolina Climate Justice Collective as they share their wisdom and experiences.
Bevelyn Afor Ukah is an equity strategist and self-taught artist, developing her art practice as a form of inner resilience, hoping that her work inspires others to build their own self and community-love practices. Bevelyn is the founding consultant of AFI Oak Consulting, consultant of the the NC Climate Justice Training Cooperative and co-founding consultant of the Auralite Collective. She is also a part of the Black Women’s Art Collective of Public Art Practice. She is the Director of the Committee on Racial Equity, an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), focusing on building a community of practice around racial equity in our food system. Bevelyn received her Bachelors in International Studies, Sociology and Anthropology from Guilford College and completed her Masters in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management (with a concentration on facilitation and social justice).
Connie Leeper is a North Carolina based movement elder & cultural worker based in Durham. For the past 50 years she has worked at the intersections of various radical justice movements as an activist, organizer and anti-oppression trainer. She is a founding co-executive director of the NC Climate Justice Collective. She also serves as the Senior Climate Justice Director at NC WARN and on the board of Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN) as well as the advisory board of Durham People’s Solidarity Hub.
Originally from Asheville, NC, Jodi Lasseter is an educator, facilitator, and cultural organizer. Drawing on her background in restorative justice and experiential education, Jodi has been engaged at all levels of the climate justice movement. In 2013, she co-founded the NC Climate Justice Collective (NCCJC) and now serves as the Co-Executive Director. Through her own consulting practice, Turn the Tide, Jodi leads popular education workshops and ecofeminist action circles. She is a co-founder of the Healing Our Movement Ecosystem Jam (HOME) and is a facilitator of the Work that Reconnects. She is on the steering committees of the Climate and Jobs Roundtable and Thrive NC coalition. Jodi has a BA in Women’s Studies and Anthropology from UNC-Chapel Hill and earned her MA in International Development, Community and Environment from Clark university. She currently lives in Durham NC, where she delights in community song circles, playing frame drums, and exploring the best local swimming holes.
“Personal healing and planetary healing are two sides of the same coin.” – Jodi Lasseter
The post S3E2: Climate Solutions: Heal Yourself To Heal The Planet With Bevelyn Ukah, Jodi Lasseter, and Connie Leeper appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
In this episode, we do something different and have Executive Directors Alex Easdale, Reverend Michael Malcom, and Michael Hansen from SCEN, GASP, and People’s Justice Council interview our hosts Maréshah Malcom and Abigail Franks. We discuss the highlights of the second season, lessons learned in the movement, and look forward to the third season. While most of us know the realities of the issues we face in our region, the third season will spotlight solutions and the folks doing the work. Climate Justice Y’all- it’s real, it’s here, and it’s about time we listen to what the hosts have to say. Alright! Let’s get started with season 3.
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Jasmine Butler (they/them) was born and raised in Memphis by way of deep Mississippi roots. They’re a Black queer writer, educator, and afrofuturist-abolitionist deeply committed to collective liberation through mutual care and education. Jasmine arrived to the climate movement after years of witnessing government neglect of communities impacted by disasters and toxicity, and they’re excited about organizing and learning alongside other young people for a liberated future. They hope to grow as a deeply principled and experienced movement trainer, educator, historian, and archivist. Outside of work, Jasmine can be found in the kitchen experimenting, at the park with their pup Birdie, reading (but mostly collecting) books, and playing music 25/8.
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Libre X. Sankara is a Afro-Boricua poet(a), cultural worker, organizer, drummer, and popular educator. They currently live on Miccosukee, Seminole & Tequesta land (Miami, FL) and organize with Troika Kollective. They also started a program called Democracy For Youth (DeFY). Their work has led them to understand that poetry and organizing is theory in action, which leads to the systematic change we need. They work with youth to normalize radical imagination, help build alternatives outside capitalism and get commUNITY to realize that art is a tool of liberation and poetry is the voice of truth.
Follow Libre on Instagram: @AfroAboriginal47
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Justin J. Pearson is the fourth son of five boys born to teenage parents in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin J. graduated from Mitchell High School as Valedictorian and Bowdoin College in 2017 majoring in both Government & Legal Studies and Education Studies. Justin J. is also a leader of Memphis Community Against Pollution and co-founder of Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP) which is a Black-led environmental justice organization that successfully defeated a multi-billion dollar company’s crude oil pipeline project. He is the Co-Lead and the Strategic Advisor for the Mid South Mobilization Committee of the Poor People’s Campaign: National Call for Moral Revival.
Justin currently lives in Memphis and also works at the headquarters of Year Up in Boston, Massachusetts. He is focused on social, racial, and economic justice as Special Assistant to the CEO of Year Up – a national program helping 18 – 24-year-olds gain training and entry-level jobs. Justin J. Pearson has an unwavering commitment to justice and dedicates his life to this endless pursuit.
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Maya B. Henderson is a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation of Oklahoma, and is also of Choctaw, German, and Welsh descent. Maya is a Ph.D. student in the Dept. of Geography at the University of Georgia. Her work is at the intersection of climate justice, settler-colonial cities, and Indigenous resistance and futures. She aims to understand how climate change and climate action are enrolled in reinforcing and/or contesting settler-colonial cities. She maintains that her work must also uplift Indigenous peoples and nations continuous efforts against settler-colonialism. Therefore, moving forward she aims for her work to be attentive to tribal sovereignty in the context of urban climate action because cities are Indigenous lands.
Follow Maya on social media
Twitter: @mayahenderson33
Instagram: maya__henderson
Photo Credit: Seneca-Cayuga Nation via morescnation.com
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This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all
Dr. Tammy Greer – Tammy Greer, Ph. D, (United Houma Nation) is a faculty member in the School of Psychology and Firector of the Southern Miss Center for American Indian research and Studies. She is a faculty advisor to the Golden Eagle Intertribal Society – a Native focused student group who works with the Center to host a yearly powwow, school days and garden events. She is a member of the WECAN group, Okla Hina Ikhish Holo, who are building gardens and food forests along historical Southeastern trade routes to address food insecurity.
Dr. Greer’s research interests involve the integration of Medicine Wheel teachings into contemporary approaches to health and healing. Her Okla Achukma project with Mississippi INBRE focuses on identifying barriers and facilitators of healthy diets and physical activity levels and developing culture-informed interventions that promote healthy ways.
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This week we're talking to Chauncey O'Dell and Adam Hughes about Appalachia, climate justice, and reimagining the present and future of the region.
Chauncey and Adam are organizers with the Alliance for Appalachia, a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote a healthy, just Appalachia by supporting our member organizations in communities impacted by destructive resource extraction.
This is Climate Justice, Y'all! Our podcast is dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South.
As Healthy Gulf’s Louisiana organizer, Michael works with frontline communities in the state’s traditional industrial corridor, which stretches along the Mississippi from East Baton Rouge down to Plaquemines Parish where the river opens up at the Gulf of Mexico. Her work is focused on fighting petrochemical buildout, advancing the Gulf South for a Green New Deal platform & vision for climate justice, and uplifting community struggles for clean air, water and land. She comes to Healthy Gulf with a half decade of experience as a community and labor organizer in South Louisiana. When not working she enjoys drawing, fishing, and spending time in her garden.
Prior to serving as Georgia Interfaith Power & Light's Executive Director, Codi worked as GIPL’s Director of Programs and Policy for three years. As Executive Director, Codi continues to lead all policy, program, and outreach efforts, spending much of his spring at the Capitol during the legislative session. He also directs one of GIPL’s flagship programs, Solar Wise, bringing sustainable and energy alternatives to communities of faith. He manages the development and implementation of all GIPL educational programs. Codi has been involved with environmental justice campaigns and the philosophy of sustainability since college. After working as the Social Justice Coordinator for Samford University, Codi continued his environmental work with Oakleaf Mennonite Farm and Emory University’s Office of Sustainability. Codi remains interested in the intersectional relationships between environmental justice and faith as it relates to broader systems of injustice. In addition to this, Codi also brings to GIPL his experience working abroad in the field of international peacebuilding and conflict transformation, working with communities in Israel, Palestine, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, and examining the degree to which environmental degradation relates to international conflicts. Codi holds a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with concentrations in Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation (JPCT), Theology and Ethics, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights. Also holding a BA in Religion from Samford University, Codi is interested in working at the intersection of religion, human rights, public policy, and the environment. He is excited to be working directly with congregations, inspiring and equipping them both through theological education and by providing pathways for practical faith-based environmental action. When he’s not leading GIPL programs, Codi plays the drums on Sundays with the worship team at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.
Rev. Dallas Conyers works as a Body Restoration Specialist: teaching yoga, foods for healing, and spiritual reestablishment to help people become ABLE to live out their creation purpose.She is a certified Sustainable Agriculturalist, Beekeeper, and Greenhouse Husbandman. She uses her micro-farm to practice and educate others on: eco-system restoration, soil regeneration, no-till square foot farming, and pollinator cultivation; for our world and for our survival. Dallas delightedly sits under the leadership of Rev. Dr. M. Keith McDaniel as an associate at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
Chris Woolery joined the Mountain Association’s Energy Team in 2011. As the Residential Energy Coordinator, Chris manages the residential energy program, How$martKY™, which partners with rural electric cooperatives to design, finance, and install home energy efficiency upgrades paid for directly out of energy savings. Previously, Chris was an ENERGY STAR® builder and energy services contractor for nearly two decades. In his career, Chris has helped deliver residential energy efficiency upgrades to over 800 households. As a member of KFTC’s New Energy and Transition Committee, Chris advocates for just and sustainable energy systems that lower costs, increase equity, create meaningful jobs, and foster healthier environments. Chris loves to hit any trail in Kentucky but he especially loves hiking in the Red River Gorge, and the view from Raven Rock.
Brent is a 1994 graduate of Mississippi State University in Agriculture and Biological Engineering. After graduation, Brent worked as an Environmental Consultant for two central Mississippi environmental engineering firms. In 1999, Brent went to the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation to become the organization’s Environmental Programs Coordinator and served in that capacity for over seven years. From October 2006 to December 2019, Brent has served as the State Activities Coordinator for the 25x’25 Alliance. Brent worked with stakeholders to mobilize support for and communicate to the public agriculture and forestry’s role in renewable energy, resource conservation and climate adaptation. In 2019, Brent was elected as Public Service Commissioner for Central Mississippi and began serving in that role in January 2020.
Marsha Jackson is the co-chair of Southern Sector Rising, a nonprofit environmental justice organization based in Dallas, TX. Founded to get rid of Shingle Mountain, an illegal dump in a southern Dallas community, SSR's mission is to offer marginalized residents health equity by ending decades of racist zoning, forcing industrial polluters out of Black and Brown neighborhoods, and by more evenly distributing the pollution burdens of our city. Thanks to Marsha and SSR's years of unrelenting advocacy, Single Mountain was eventually moved. But they're just beginning the fight for environmental justice.
Alabama native Catherine Coleman-Flowers is an environmental and climate justice activist bringing attention to the largely invisible problem of inadequate waste and water sanitation infrastructure in rural communities in the United States. As the founding director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (formerly the Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise), Flowers builds partnerships — from close neighbors, to local elected officials and regional nonprofits, to federal lawmakers and global organizations — in order to identify and implement solutions to the intersecting challenges of water and sanitation infrastructure, public health and economic development. In addition to leading the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice, Flowers is also the rural development manager for the Equal Justice Initiative, a member of the board of directors of the Climate Reality Project and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a senior fellow for the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary. Previously, Flowers has worked as a high school teacher in Detroit, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. She has published articles in Anglican Theological Review, Columbia Human Rights Law Review, and American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, among others, and her first book, Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, came out in November 2020. Flowers was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship–commonly referred to as the “Genius Grant” — in 2020.
We're back for Season 2! In the first episode of the new season, Abigail and Maresha chat with the leaders of the organizations that developed the Climate Justice, Y'all podcast. The conversation is a both a look back at the first season and a look ahead to this next one. Welcome back, y'all!
Rev. Michael Malcom is Executive Director of the People's Justice Council and Alabama Interfaith Power and Light. He is a licensed and ordained United Church of Christ Minister.
Alexander Easdale is the Executive Director of the Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN), where he leads and manages a network of 78 organizations across 11 Southeastern states.
Michael Hansen is Executive Director of GASP, an organization based in Birmingham, Ala., working to advance healthy air and environmental justice in the Greater-Birmingham area through education, advocacy and collaboration.
This special Earth Day episode is also our season 1 finale — and it's a good one. Abigail and Mareshah are speaking with Chief Pete Parr and Danna Smith about forests, nature-based solutions, and more. Enjoy! L to R: Rev. Leo Woodberry, Chief Pete Parr, and Danna Smith. Photo courtesy Dogwood Alliance.Chief Pete Parr is Chief of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina (PDITSC). He is also a Board Member of the Native American Advisory Committee (CMA) & South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission (SCIAC). Danna Smith is the founder of Dogwood Alliance. For over 20 years, she has been at the forefront of forest protection in the US, leading hard-hitting campaigns and negotiating ground-breaking forest protection commitments from some of the largest companies in the world. She is a leading voice connecting the dots between climate change, forest destruction and social justice and pushing for forest protection in the US at a scale necessary to meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st Century. She holds a law degree from Emory University.
Today is International Women's Day, a "global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women." We recorded this episode with EEECHO Co-Founder Kathy Egland last year, but what better way to celebrate International Women's Day than to highlight one of the most iconic Southern women in the fight for environmental and climate justice? We hope you enjoy this conversation with the lady affectionately known to some* as "Mama Kat."
Katherine T. “Kathy” Egland is the Program Director and Co-founder of EEECHO. She is a native of Gulfport and has been active in the local and global community in addressing climate change and environmental injustice. Kathy chairs the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee for the National Board of Directors of NAACP. Her committee is in charge of governance responsibility of raising awareness of environmental and climate issues from a civil rights, social justice and equity perspective. As a resident of Gulfport, Mississippi, she survived Hurricane Katrina and was instrumental in the restoration efforts in its aftermath. She endured the BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill in 2010, which contaminated the Mississippi Gulf Coast waters located a few blocks of her home. Kathy’s home is located less than four miles from Plant Jack Watson, a former coal fired plant which scored a failing D- on the NAACP’s ‘Coal Blooded’ Report. She organized community trainings and joined forces with The Sierra Club and other organizations, in efforts which led to the plant’s cessation of its coal burning operation in April 2015. This coalition has also led efforts promoting net-metering; commented on Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Proposed State Implementation Plan Amendments in Response to EPA’s Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction SIP Call, which led to revisions; and submitted testimony before the Public Service Commission opposing a rate increase to fund a portion of the cost of a failed carbon capture sequestration in Kemper County, Mississippi. *Rev. Malcom, co-founder of Climate Justice, Y'all co-creater People's Justice Council, insists he's the only one allowed to refer to Ms. Egland as Mama Kat. We thought it'd be fun to let y'all see behind the curtain a little bit.
Buckle up, because this week's episode features some heavy hitters in the world of renewable energy advocacy. Seriously, these two are brilliant. Sit back and enjoy! Dr. Holmes Hummel founded Clean Energy Works to accelerate investments in cost-effective distributed energy solutions to open the clean energy economy to all. As a champion for inclusive financing, Dr. Hummel led Clean Energy Works to win four international searches for breakthrough climate strategies, including the FiRe Award for high-impact innovation at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance "Future of Energy Summit" and the Keeling Curve Prize for Finance in 2019. Previously, Dr. Hummel served as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of Energy’s Office of Policy & International Affairs from 2009-2013, and among other responsibilities, led the agency's finance working group. Dr. Hummel holds a doctorate degree from Stanford University for interdisciplinary research on energy technology scenarios that achieve 100% clean energy for all. Tamara Jones is the Managing Director of Clean Energy Works. She brings more than fifteen years of managerial experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, including serving as Director of programs and policy in two mayoral administrations in Atlanta and as City Council Chief of Staff in Houston. She also served as Director of Programs and Services for the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance where she administered regional energy efficiency building retrofit programs and for which she was designated a White House Champion of Change in 2011. Ms. Jones holds a Masters degree in Political Science from Yale University.
Dr. Holmes Hummel
Tamara Jones
This week's episode features a pair of amazing Appalachians in conversation with our hosts:
Bri Knisley is the Tennessee Campaign Manager for Appalachian Voices, where she organizes campaigns for energy democracy and justice in the Tennessee Valley Authority Footprint. Over the last several years, the fight for coal ash worker safety and expanding union jobs at TVA has been central to realizing a grassroots vision for clean, equitable and publicly controlled power in the TVA region.
A Virginia native who now splits his time between Johnson City, Tenn., and Wise County, Va., Willie Dodson has organized with environmental and social justice campaigns in the region for more than a decade. He is Appalachian Voices' Central Appalachian Field Coordinator.
Bri Knisley
Willie Dodson
This week, we're talking with two faith leaders from the South, Rev. Leo Woodberry from South Carolina and Dr. Daniel Joranko from Tennessee. Rev. Leo Woodberry was born and raised in New York City. There he became involved with community organizing at an early age, as a student organizer. Reverend Woodberry is the pastor of Kingdom Living Temple, Executive Director of New Alpha Community Development Corporation in Florence, SC, and a member of the SC Environmental Justice Network. He became involved in environmental work in the 1990s with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, around the issue of mercury emissions and advisories. He joined the newly formed African American Environmental Justice Action Network (AAEJAN) in 1994. AAEJAN was instrumental in uniting people of color across America, and in influencing the Ford Foundation and other philanthropic entities to support people of color communities disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. Reverend Woodberry has also worked with a host of other organizations such as the; Southern Organizing Committee (SOC), The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Xavier University of Louisiana, The Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, The Environmental Protection Agency NEJAC (Region Four), SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, The National Wildlife Federation, SC Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Coastal Carolina League, South East Climate Network, Green Faith, Clemson Education and Research Center, Francis Marion University, WEACT, Advancing Equity and Opportunities, Agricultural Missions, Inc. and a host of other organizations. He has and continues to work in the areas of; water, air, as well as renewable and sustainable energy issues with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Reverend Woodberry attended Francis Marion University and The University of South Carolina. He retired from AT&T after 20 years of service and received three Vice Presidential Corporate awards. The SC State Senate also presented him with an award in recognition of his community service. Dr. Daniel Joranko is a longtime community organizer focusing on Climate and Energy Justice. He coordinates the Climate Project for Tennessee Alliance for Progress. He convened the Southeast New Green Economy Conference this past year. He serves as the coordinator of both the Creation Care Ministry of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church and Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light. He was a founder of the national Earthkeepers Program hosted through United Methodist Global Ministries. He served as the coordinator of the prison program at Vanderbilt Divinity School from 2007 -2020 – through which he taught courses composed of VDS students and residents at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. He has a Ph.D. in Resource Development form Michigan State University. He also has a Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological School.
Rev. Leo Woodberry
Dr. Daniel Joranko
In this episode, we chat with two visionary leaders in Alabama and Georgia: Dr. Mikhiela Sherrod and Susan Diane Mitchell. Dr. Mikhiela Sherrod is the Executive Director of Agricultural Missions, Inc., an 85 year old ecumenical organization that supports rural people in the US, Africa, Caribbean, Latin America in using advocacy and agriculture to address the structural causes of poverty and injustice. She has over 17 years of experience working as a community organizer with Black farmers and rural communities of color in the U.S. and developing countries. Dr. Sherrod leads a long-term development and capacity restoration agricultural program in Liberia and Sierra Leone that uses regenerative agricultural practices that reinforce adaptation and mitigation of climate change. She is also experienced leading research and evaluation projects that use a racial equity lens to assess and address disparities in health, access to food, and economic opportunities. Dr. Sherrod is vice president of the US Climate Action Network board of directors. She earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tuskegee University and a PhD in Genetics from the University of Iowa. Susan Diane Mitchell was born in Washington, DC, the first child of student parents attending Howard University in the 1960s. Growing up for her formative years in the nation’’s capital, surrounded by a culturally rich and excellent education, Susan continued her path in Oakland, California, matriculating in both the finest public and private schools in the area. Ecology, community service, and creative thinking were key principles of her education. The love and sacrifice of her mother and family for her education prepared her well, and upon receiving an Honors Program scholarship, Susan graduated Bishop O’Dowd Catholic High School and left the Bay Area to study at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985. She founded the Dynamite Hill-Smithfield Community Land Trust in 2016, and currently serves as their Co-Executive Director. In 2017 she became a Co-Founder of SWEET Alabama, where she still serves as a member of the Advisory Board. As a three year member of the AmeriCorp, she served with Urban Ministries, the YWCA Central Alabama, and The Literacy Council.
Dr. Mikhiela Sherrod
Susan Diane Mitchell
Barbara Weckesser and Barbara Nelson are local residents of Pascagoula, Miss. Barbara Weckesser is originally from coal country in Kentucky and retired with her husband in Pascagoula in 2010. Barbara Nelson grew up here in Moss Point and Pascagoula. Both of their fathers worked for local industries. They are the founding members of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, an industrial fenceline neighborhood organization formed in 2013 to demand a buyout for their community because of the health impacts related to industrial pollution. Their homes are located within a mile of seven large polluting facilities, including Chevron Refinery, MS Phosphates Superfund, VT Halter Shipbuilding, BP Enterprise gas processing plant, and more.
Barbara Weckesser
Barbara Nelson
In this episode, Abigail and Mareshah sit down to talk about the importance of land, food sovereignty, ancestral roots, and more with Carlton Turner.
Abigail and Marésha sit down and talk with Nina Morgan, climate and environmental justice organizer for GASP. Nina's an incredible organizer — but we may be a little biased since she's also a part of the team that's making this podcast happen! Nina is graduate of UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) where she studied Anthropology and Sociology. Nina mapped over 3,000 trees on campus using GIS and served as a decathelete in the 2017 DOE Solar Decathlon competition. Nina is also a co-founder of the Magic City Youth Initiative, where she works to uplift and support a youth-led movement for social justice in the Greater-Birmingham area. As a Black, Southern, working-class person, Nina is committed to creating a world in which people and planet are cherished, protected and liberated. Sit back and enjoy the conversation!
In this episode, Abigail goes one-on-one with Major Joe Womack, an inspiring leader promoting positive and sustainable change in Mobile, Alabama’s historic Africatown community.
On this episode of Climate Justice, Y’all, we are joined by Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker Association of Florida. Jeannie’s title is Pesticide Safety and Environmental Health Project Coordinator. She’s been with the Farmworker Association for more than 20 years. She focuses on issues related to farmworkers’ exposure to pesticides. She is also coordinator of the Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt Project, which memorializes the former farm workers on Lake Apopka who were exposed to toxic pesticides on the vegetable fields of Florida’s most contaminated large lake.
In this wide-ranging, at-times emotional interview with host Abigail Franks, Jeannie shares experiences working with farmers and farmworkers in the South.