Youth-led Environmental Justice Action Summit
10 AM - 3 PM, April 29, 2023, Santa Clara University
Locatelli Student Activity Center
The summit supported young people’s ambition, creativity, and energy to counter the consequences of climate change and drive forward environmental action. Organizers and advocates came together to advance climate justice through student-to-student discussions and networking. SCU students, local university and high school students, and environmental clubs and organizations were invited to join in presentations, dialogue, and action planning to strengthen relationships and promote collaboration around climate and environmental justice, and the common good.
In the spirit of the conference’s overall equity framework, environmental and social justice groups on and off SCU’s campus were invited to strengthen the Jesuit values of service to others, community and diversity, and engaged learning.
Goals
The summit:
- Built connections between fellow youth environmental justice groups and the greater Bay Area community
- Promoted a greater awareness about local opportunities to advocate for climate justice and the common good
- Provided an opportunity to share and co-produce research and actionable knowledge and social change amongst youth groups
- Inspired new and creative perspectives for organizing in their own communities
Organizing Committee
The primary organizers were students involved with Santa Clara University’s Environmental Justice and Common Good Initiative and the Agroecology, Climate Resilience, and Food Justice Lab, including Madeline Pugh, Antonio Amore Rojas, Kimber Wood, and Paola Felix, as well as Declan Bernal, member of SCU Environmental Action (ENACT).
Contact
Contact Madeline Pugh, mpugh@scu.edu, with any questions about this event
Program
10:00 am - 10:15 am - Arrival
10:15 - 10:20 am - Land Acknowledgement
10:20 am - 12:00 pm - Panel: Building connections for action among Bay Area youth environmental justice groups
Moderator
Antonio Amore Rojas, Research Assistant - Agroecology, Climate Resilience and Food Justice Lab, Environmental Studies and Management ‘23, SCU
Panelists
Climate and Health Justice: Youth Insights – Evelyn Bigini, University of California, San Francisco and Earth Uprising
Divestment Efforts at Santa Clara University – Emily Pachoud, Environmental Studies and Sociology ‘23, tUrn Climate Crisis Awareness and Action Project, SCU Environmental Action (ENACT).
Climate Justice Education with Younger Participants at an Urban Farm – Rosa Maria Gordillo, Environmental Education Manager, Veggielution
The Relationship between Food Security and National Security – Jordan Tachibana, Political Science ‘23, Intern for Congressman Ro Khanna
Finding my Place in the EJ Movement–Aanya Dhruv, EJ Grassroots, Nueva School
Addressing Disparities in Student Food Security and Basic Needs on Campus – Antonio Amore Rojas, Madeline Pugh, Environmental Studies, SCU ‘23; Paola Felix, Environmental Studies SCU ‘23 and Jules Holland, Environmental Studies and Political Science ‘24. Agroecology, Climate Resilience, and Food Justice Lab Student Research Team
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 - 1:15 pm - Getting to Know One Another: Organization, club, and university leaders introduce themselves and their connection to climate action.
1:15 pm - 2:55 pm - World Cafe: Three rounds of small-group discussions and whole-group plenary to identify patterns, grow collective knowledge, and identify new possibilities for action.
2:55 pm - 3 pm - Closing: Future plans for our organizations to remain connected in future projects and endeavors.