Alexia Leclercq is a face of the youth climate movement — something that, as we discussed, is a tricky thing to be.

She is a grassroots environmental justice organizer and scholar in Austin, Texas. Alexia is also co-founder of the Colorado River Conservancy and of Start:Empowerment, an education non-profit that provides students and teachers with an immersive climate justice curriculum. She’s led campaigns at the international and local levels to phase out fossil fuels, fight for clean water, and so much more — and she’s still in her mid-20s!

In this conversation, we talk about the impact of social media and influencer culture on the climate movement, how the generations – from Alpha to Boomer to Zoomer – can collaborate, and what getting it right looks like in her home state of Texas.

There’s nothing like hearing someone half your age describing their strategy and devotion to climate solutions — what a kick in the pants to step up your own work! Tune in, get inspired, and take up her call to action.

ALEXIA’S CALL TO ACTION

* Find an ongoing campaign happening in your community/town/city and do one thing to show up for that existing campaign — whether it’s social or environmental justice, affordable housing, whatever it is, do something for a local campaign.

Mentioned in the episode:

* More than 90% of Democrats, Republicans and Independents consider right to clean and clean water to be “essential rights important to being an American today.”

* Young Scholars for Justice

* Alexia’s organization, Start:Empowerment is a youth BIPOC-led non-profit at the nexus of climate education, solutions, and environmental justice.

* Alexia’s op-ed on Teen Vogue: Social Media Influencers Get Media Attention on Climate Change — Grassroots Activists Don’t

* Colorado River Conservancy

* People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources (PODER)

CREDITS

This episode was made possible with the support of Future Being, a grantmaking and special projects studio which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity.

This show is produced and edited by Matthew Nelson/Stramash Media and me (Ayana), with help from Jenisha Shrestha. And many thanks to our guest Alexia Leclerq.

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