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 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

The post S3E6: Climate Solutions: Healing People and the Planet with Knellee Bisram and Piero Falci 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 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.

The post S3E5: Climate Solutions at the State, Local, and Community Levels with Dr. Jairo Garcia appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.