It is a wrap!
The first Climate Week at RRU, our MACAL residency was a powerful way to end the program. We gathered for discussions and workshops around activism, climate action, indigenization, and collaboration. I was fascinated by the level of engagement at the beginning of the week, even with purely online sessions. The community and my schoolmates were asking and presenting excellent points on how to move forward. Then, during the poster presentation, I felt lucky to be in the room with colleagues to support each other with our presentations. Community is essential for me because it gives me the foundation to thrive; that day confirmed that I like to be surrounded by others when I present and use my voice to introduce climate action. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Climate Accelerator with Solvable exceeded my expectations for various reasons: we brought together scholars, students, youth, and Indigenous folks. We worked with values, shadows, examples, and arts to deepen our understanding of ourselves and to foster collaboration. I liked the introduction to the H1-2-3 framework and to reflect on current dominant cultures and the transition to new ones. We also built artifacts (paper dolls and a bus drawing) that I can revisit in the coming weeks and months when I need inspiration or doubt what I should do in this world. On Friday, the final event with Dr. Bruno De Oliveira Jayme using arts and a mural to answer the questions of “What does a world without colonialism look like?” and “How do I want to show up as a climate leader?” beautifully brought individuals together to paint, chat, and get to know each other. Again, the community aspect of this day was meaningful. I spent time with RRU colleagues I do not see often, and I also met guests who do fantastic work in many fields!
In summary, my AHA moments of the week are:
–I can be uncomfortable, listen, and be an ally. I appreciate that Indigenous colleagues were in the room to remind me of my position of power and privilege. It opens reflection and discussion on how I can better show up as an ally without making it all about me, using appropriations, or being disrespectful of other cultures. The MACAL program has been eye-opening since day 1 for me about injustice, the need to question our worldview, and the iteration of ideas based on conversations with blacks, indigenous people of color, folks with disability, and from other countries. There is much to work on, and I am open to using hard conversations in order to grow and change the system currently in place that “protects” white voices.
–Continue to include the land in conversations. Connection with nature has always been important for me, and I realize how leading from/with/for nature can be influential in climate work. My work to create a better world with my small business, for example, is to reduce pollution, change behavior, and help the planet (also the people living on it and depending on it). To remember to protect the land seems essential. Someone on day 1 mentioned that healing the land helps them heal themselves; how powerful is that? I also like the notion of co-creation with others and with the land. It will be a guideline in my career.
–Many climate solutions are good solutions. We had discussions about false solutions, and I appreciate the information. Some technological talks about how to solve climate change do not resonate with me because they seem risky and use the same white and colonial thinking to “solve something.” However, the solutions my schoolmates presented with their posters are all great options. It can be mitigation and adaptation, and anywhere in the middle, if we support each other in our climate work instead of pointing fingers, we might get better results and be more inclusive. It relates to giving the land back; after all our discussions, I am convinced that Indigenous folks are the best to lead the climate conversation and take care of the land. I hope the world can recognize that soon. Unfortunately, based on reports from Indigenous climate action groups at COP28, it did not happen again this time around.
As I revisit my theory of change submitted in April 2023, I still align with most actions and theories I wrote down then, and I have more tools and contacts to get there. I see great connections between the frameworks Solvable introduced and the Resilience by Design lab emerging theory of change that I often refer to.
Finally, these are quotes I want to end my master’s with because they express wisdom, how I see myself, and how the system can switch if we allow it to. Sharing the space during the MACAL residency with folks I admire was special, and I am grateful for everything I have learned so far. I plan to pass it forward by working with others and volunteering in various groups to continue learning and doing grassroots work.
“Be a joyful warrior” – Maria
“Leading with love” – Tony
“Observe the nature around flourishing and some colonial structures falling apart” – Russ