When you ask me to describe what it was like attending Youth Environmental Activists’ [YEA!’s] Youth Climate Justice Summit, the first word that comes to my mind is inspiring.
Climate change is a harrowing matter, and often we find ourselves devoid of any hope of climate action. I attended the summit thinking the two-day virtual conference would be passively spent educating us on the impact of climate change, but instead I was met with an empowering, action-packed, and positive event.
The kickoff event set the tone for the summit and surprised me by being overwhelmingly upbeat. I had the amazing opportunity to hear Ayisha Siddiqa speak about the impact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has on our planet, let alone our people. I was enlightened by the knowledge she shared, how Muslims treat the planet with kindness and have true compassion for our Mother Earth. Next, I heard Juwaria share a sensational verse about the direness of climate change.
Her eloquence, motivation, and positivity left me feeling inspired and empowered to drive change.
As I lay in bed late that night, I thought to myself, “How can I, a 15-year-old little girl with big dreams, drive climate change action before it’s too late?” It’s up to my generation to act, for we are the ones who will suffer the most in the long run, as carbon emissions surge, temperatures rise dramatically, and more beautiful species go extinct. I picked up my pen, and wrote this verse:
Our World; Our Heart’s Homeland
Pipelines corroding native history
Corporations polluting the air in all cities
Carbon footprints bigger than our country
Glaciers slowly melting
What do we see, legislature ignoring
To be we must care
For our Earth
Our Homeland
Screams
Disguised by heat
We need to act
Independently and Collectively
How will we rise without our planet in the galaxy?
Nuclear Weapons aren’t just threatening
They are terrifying
The race of us
Humans
Is in the hands
Of Tyranny
For every time a glacier melts
They are crying for help
Our Generation
We educate ourselves
Write our own destiny
We have unlimited and renewable energy in our hearts
&
Voices
So
We Fight
On all soil, globally
To save
Our Species.
I eagerly awoke to an action-packed Saturday of workshops. As I sipped my Cuban coffee, I couldn’t help but smile looking at the sessions I had picked. I was one lucky girl to have such a great ecological education from the comforts of my room. I started off the day with a workshop all about how to plan an action, led by Tracy Molm and Cullom James. The workshop was very interactive and the leaders made a substantial effort to get everyone to know each other better.
Once the workshop came to an end, it felt like I had known my fellow attendees for ages, as we candidly spoke about the alarming effect climate change will have, particularly on our generation.
As an out-of-state attendee, I thought I would be met with cliques, but instead I made lasting connections. The second workshop I attended focused on how to combat police brutality and was spearheaded by Trevon Teller. It was fascinating to hear about the various techniques and practices we as teens can drive to implement justice on this crucial issue.
Afterward, I heard Youth 4 Ethnic Studies speak about the association between environmental justice and ethnic studies. If we are not educated on the history of our people on the planet, how can we be empowered to make changes in our communities? After all, we stand on stolen land: the minimum we can do is teach our children the origins of our land.
At my next workshop, I heard two YEA! members, Maryama Warsame and Yvonne Mongare, speak about the urgency of lobbying for change and the necessary steps to create a movement. To finish off the summit, I attended a workshop on disability justice and its impact on the climate crisis. I learned that the controversial plastic straw is an item many individuals with disabilities need, and thereby banning plastic straws creates a more ableist society.
When the seminar came to an end, I couldn’t help but acknowledge my lack of awareness before I attended the summit. Like most people, I thought that banning plastic straws was a terrific idea, it didn’t even come to my mind that some people can’t repeatedly pick up a cup and sip without this device. Afterall, different perspectives and objectives are at the core of every movement, and in order to make the change we want to see, we must be inspired. And that is just what YEA!’s Youth Climate Justice Summit inspired me to do. I was inspired to be inspired and do what I do best: dream and write.
Penelope Oliver (She/Her/Hers) is a fifteen-year-old high school student from the Indigenous lands of the Nisenan People, more commonly known as Sacramento, California. Penelope is an avid writer and often finds herself penning verse. She is a dedicated advocate for equity, equality & inclusivity, and a self-described dreamer, fighter, and rebel. As a granddaughter of immigrants, Penelope finds her true passion in fighting for liberty and justice for all and channels this core belief through art, poetry, activism, social organization, education, and volunteerism. Penelope is currently an Ed100 Outreach Ambassador for the greater Sacramento area. You can follow her on Instagram at @penelopethepowerfulpoet and contact her at penelopeolivercareer@gmail.com.
Photo: [Alt text / caption: Penelope and her very ecologically-minded cat, Teddy.]