Whatcom Peace & Justice Center

Weeks of protests and support for Black Lives Matter activated more youth than ever before. We know there is no climate justice without racial justice, and no racial justice without climate justice. Can this historical outpouring of grief and rage lead to a sustained, organized youth climate justice movement? The Climate Justice Now: Art Inspiring Action Project offers tools and a network for newly trained youth Climate Reality Leaders to elevate and center BIPOC youth voices, to engage community members in their local front-line struggles, and inspire their local community and new activists to develop social movement building skills and a deeper understanding of climate justice and their place in the movement. Read on to learn more or find FULL project details here .


WHAT? 
Support the youth’s passion for change with social movement building skills and climate justice education, to help accelerate the systemic changes needed to address the climate crisis, and to support frontline communities and BIPOC youth voices.

HOW?
15 “Climate Justice Now: Art Inspiring Action” art exhibits will be curated by newly trained youth Climate Reality Leaders working with local BIPOC youth in their communities to create an exhibit of 15 art pieces on 16X20 Canvases. Each exhibit will be accompanied by a local resource guide for community members to receive at the exhibit (on online if exhibit is online due to COVID 19) with a list of actions and ways to support local campaigns and frontline groups, and their efforts pushing for social change. An online training course to learn about climate justice and social movement skills will be provided in the local resource guide and will be available to anyone, on-demand and self-paced.

WHO?
Youth Climate Reality Leaders, Local BIPOC youth artists, local frontline groups listed in local resource guides and other local community members across the US and globe who want to develop their social movement building skills and gain a deeper understanding of climate justice and their place in the movement will benefit from this project. 


WHERE?
The online training course is online and available to anyone, anywhere. The art exhibits will be in the following cities: 

Ithaca, NY | Jupiter, FL | Mt. Vernon, WA | Seattle, WA | San Diego, CA | Croton on Hudson, NY | Folsom, CA | Portland, OR | Des Plaines, IL | Houston, TX | Mukilteo, WA | Federal Way, WA | Santa Clara, CA | San Diego, CA | Bellingham, WA

WHEN?
•  Aug-Sep = Fundraising, Planning, Curriculum Design Research, Connecting with Frontline Groups
• Oct-Dec = Art curation, Create Local Resource Guides, Develop Online Course, Develop Website
• January = Debut Art Exhibits, Launch Online Training Course

WHY?
During the COVID-19 health crisis, the climate crisis and the increase in racial justice activism, this project serves youth and local frontline groups that are rising for change. While there are many resources and learning materials being passed around on social media to help educate people on subjects of anti-racism, white supremacy and systems of oppression, there is a gap between education and activism. The Climate Justice Now online training course helps bridge that gap and connect the dots between health, climate and race. While this online training aids in moving youth, it expands across a broad range of ages to promote sustained, intergenerational action. 

HOW MUCH?
$22,000 total:
Art exhibit costs = $4500
Climate Justice Training Course = $10,000
Web Development = $4500
Fiscal Sponsor/Consulting = $2000 + 2.9% for GoFundMe transaction fee.

Full project details and downloadable pdf can be found here .

Image Credits: Crowd and Speaker photos at BLM Rally, Bellingham, WA, June 6, 2020 (Jill MacIntyre Witt), There is No Justice in a Racist System (Roger Peet), Toni Morrison quote (Anastasya Eliseeva).