In this Episode of Yapping with YUCCA, Feleecia, Johnny, Raife, and Zoey debrief YUCCA’s recent trip to New York for NYC Climate Week – sharing their takeaways, reflections, breaking down how we showed up in the streets, and what comes next. 

If you’re between the ages of 14-25 and interested in getting involved with Youth United for Climate Crisis Action, you can get started by filling out our Member Interest Form at yuccanm.org/join.  

If you’re interested in keeping up with our ongoing campaigns, plugging into the fight, or seeing more content from our trip to New York City for Climate Week, follow us on Instagram at @yucca.nm and TikTok at @yucca_nm. 

To learn more about our work with the New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition, visit www.nofalsesolutions.com or follow the coalition’s Instagram page at @nofalsesolutions.

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected].

This episode was recorded, produced, and edited by YUCCA Staff and Steering Committee Members. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Bobby Sanchez. “Shut It Down (Dextah).” Harawiq Records.

In this episode, Savanna and Sofia sit down with Winter Denipah, a longtime member of Tewa Women United’s Youth Council, for a powerful conversation on her work with Tewa Women United and what it’s like to step into activism as a teenager, and her hopes for the future.

We discuss what brought Winter into the organizing world while she was still in elementary school, what’s been inspiring her ever since, and her message for other young people who are ready to get involved. Tune in to learn more about her story!

To learn more about the work at Tewa Women United: https://tewawomenunited.org

• TWU Environmental Justice Program: https://tewawomenunited.org/programs/environmental-health-and-justice-program
• Reproductive justice: https://tewawomenunited.org/programs/indigenous-womens-health-and-reproductive-justice-program
• Gender & generational healing justice: https://tewawomenunited.org/programs/womens-leadership-and-economic-freedom-program
• Healthy Masculinities toolkit: https://tewawomenunited.org/2025/08/healthy-masculinities-toolkit-updated-edition

In this episode, Sofia and Savanna sit down with Siihasin, a land defender, communist, and community organizer from the Navajo Nation and Black Mesa, New Mexico. They discuss Siihasin’s theories on community organizing, what Sheep Camp and Wood Camp are, how you can get involved, and resources that you should tap into if you want to learn more about the movement. 

Where to find the Black Mesa Solidarity Network and support them:

• Linktree (including link to GoFundMe and CashApp)

• Black Mesa Resistance on Facebook 

• @blackmesasolidaritynetwork and @blackmesaresistancecamp on Instagram

Resources: 

1. Book recommendations: 

1. Babel by R.F. Kuang

2. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

3. An Afro-Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays

2. Kimberle W. Crenshaw (find all of her publications and articles here)

1. Journal Article “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color” by Kimberle W. Crenshaw

3. Journal article “Settler colonialism and the elimination of the native” by Patrick Wolfe

4. The Red Nation

5. Feminist Theories: 

1. Indigenous Feminist Theory (this is just the GoogleScholar search page -- do your own searching and reading!)

2. Black and African Feminist Theory (this is just the GoogleScholar search page -- do your own searching and reading!)

3. Third World Feminist Theory (this is just the GoogleScholar search page -- do your own searching and reading!)

6. The Stonewall Riots (again - this is just a starting point. Do your own research!)

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected].

This episode was recorded by Kineo Memmer, Sofia Jenkins-Nieto, and Savanna Woods. It was produced and edited by Kineo Memmer and Sofia Jenkins-Nieto. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Sofia is joined by Zoey Craft from YUCCA, Alicia Gallegos from Pueblo Action Alliance, and Alejandria Lyons with New Mexico No False Solutions. We discuss the NM No False Solutions coalition and our fight against false climate solutions. We discuss Blackstone, an investment company that is attempting to acquire PNM, one of the major electric utilities serving New Mexicans. As the coalition and the broader climate justice community prepare for New York Climate Week 2025, this conversation is essential for listeners in New Mexico who pay for electricity, as well as movement leaders across the world. How does our fight against Blackstone intersect with other fights against the fossil fuel industry and Wall Street billionaires? What does justice really look like for our communities? We share our vision for a just transition leading into climate week. 

Blackstone Fact Sheet

Our press release: New Mexico Communities Sound Alarm on Blackstone-PNM Deal 

New Mexico No False Solutions Website

To stay updated with our fight on Blackstone and NYC Climate Week, follow us on Instagram. 

New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition: @nofalsesolutions

Pueblo Action Alliance: @puebloactionalliance

YUCCA: @yucca.nm

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected]

This episode was recorded by Sofia Jenkins-Nieto, Zoey Craft, Alicia Gallegos, and Alejandria Lyons. It was produced and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Kineo, Zain, and Sofia discuss the importance of reading and sharing knowledge in our communities. They discuss fiction books that have informed each of their personal climate and social justice activism. If you are interested in reading any of these books, here are more details: 

Main recommendations (alphabetical order): 

1. Beloved

2. Black and White

3. The Bluest Eye

4. Ceremony

5. The God of Small Things

6. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

7. Libertad

8. Love Medicine

9. One Piece - Arabasta Arc, Volumes 17-24

10. One Piece - Skypiea Arc, Volumes 26-32

11. Parable of the Sower

12. The Setting Sun

13. The Street

14. There There 

15. Wandering Stars

Bonus recommendations: 

1. Always Running

2. Enrique’s Journey

3. Khaled Hosseini:

1. The Kite Runner

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns

3. And the Mountains Echoed 

4. The Night Watchman

5. Legend Series

6. Zeitoun

Recommendations (Non-Fiction) from Instagram user @​​aesopchild: 

1. Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future

2. Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice

3. Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

4. No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected].

This episode was recorded by Kineo Memmer, Sofia Jenkins-Nieto, and Zain Dixon. It was produced and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

On today’s episode, Sofia, Zoey, Ennedith, and Feleecia discuss YUCCA’s titular campaign - The People’s Climate Plan. They touch on what this campaign is, how you can get involved, and why it’s so important. Complete the People’s Climate Plan survey here!

Here are links to the resources we discussed: 

• Hoodwinked in the Hothouse

• ABQ Mutual Aid 

• Check out @yucca.nm and @nmclimatejustice on Instagram for Ruidoso wildfire resources 

• If you’re a UNM student (or an interested community member), check out UNM LEAF

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected]

This episode was recorded by Zoey Craft, Ennedith Lopez, Feleecia Guillen, and Sofia Jenkins-Nieto. It was produced and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Kineo sits down with two of YUCCA’s staff members, Ennedith and Zoey. Ennedith is the YUCCA Policy Campaign Manager and has been involved in the organization since 2023. Zoey is the Communications Manager and has been involved in the organization since 2025. Tune in to learn more about YUCCA and the people behind the organization.

Disclaimer: Applications for the YUCCA Policy Campaign Manager position have now closed. If you are interested in getting involved with YUCCA, please visit yuccanm.org/join.

Find out more about ABQ Mutual Aid and how to engage here: http://www.ffol.org/

Learn more about the Southwest Solidarity Network on their Instagram @southwestsolidaritynetwork and on Facebook under Southwest Solidarity Network.

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org, contact us at [email protected], or get involved directly by filling out the YUCCA Member Intake Form.

This episode was recorded and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Kineo sits down with two of YUCCA’s founders, Bianca and Seneca. Bianca is a Co-Director of EarthCare and has been involved in the organization since 2006. Seneca is a current Steering Committee member of YUCCA, but also helped to found the organization in 2019. Tune in to learn about how YUCCA got started, and learn about these founders’ philosophies on youth activism!

Here is the YUCCA Member Intake Form. 

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected]

This episode was recorded and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the In Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Kineo, Sofia, and Zephyr discuss The Hunger Games and how that franchise fuels them to continue the revolution! Spoiler warning: they discuss the prequels to The Hunger Games trilogy - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping. If you don’t want to be spoiled for these newer books, please tune in next week! Content warning: They discuss dystopian themes and current-day atrocities, so please tread lightly!

You can read these books at a public library, purchase these books at your own local bookstore, or purchase them here from Barnes & Noble (just please don’t shop on Amazon!): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/the-hunger-games/_/N-1p7i

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected]

This episode was recorded by Kineo Memmer, Sofia Jenkins-Nieto, and Zephyr Jaramillo and edited by Kineo Memmer. Introductory and outro song sampled from: Eileen & the in-Betweens. “Free Palestine (On Fire).” Records DK, 2024.

In this episode, Kineo and Sofia discuss the importance of reading and sharing knowledge in our communities. They discuss ten books that have informed each of their personal climate and social justice activism. If you are interested in reading any of these books, here are more details: 

1. Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy 

2. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

3. Nuclear Nuevo México: Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos

4. Black Snake: Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Environmental Justice

5. Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire

6. 1001 Voices on Climate Change: Everyday Stories of Flood, Fire, Drought, and Displacement from Around the World

7. All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis

8. Environmental Justice in a Moment of Danger

9. The Militarization of Indian Country

10. Environmental Justice in New Mexico

Join us next week for a bonus episode where Kineo, Sopia, and Zeph discuss The Hunger Games series and how that franchise fuels them to continue the revolution!

Also, please sign the Petition to Deny LANL’s Request to Release Radioactive Tritium into the Air: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-to-deny-lanls-request-to-release-radioactive-tritium-into-the-air

Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is a project of Earth Care International. Learn more about YUCCA at www.yuccanm.org. Contact us at [email protected]

This episode was recorded by Kineo Memmer and Sofia Jenkins-Nieto and edited by Kineo Memmer.