Identity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement

Steph Niaupari is the Founder of Plantita Power, a DC-based collective led by and for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC). Plantita Power fosters community connections where QTBIPOC can nurture their own personal sustenance, relationship to food, and reclaim food sovereignty.

Jennifer is a Program Officer for Mosaic, a national grantmaking initiative focused on building a bigger, more influential environmental movement.

In this blog, Green 2.0 Fellow Ki'Ana Speights explores how their identity as a Black, Queer person intersects with the ecological world, and how they work to reclaim their space in nature. They dissect how White-heteronormative binaries were designed to exclude BIPOC people and make them feel othered. Through the lens of queer ecology, they imagine a future where society can accept and reflect the fluidity of nature.

In this blog, Green 2.0 Fellow Kevin Hernandez discusses the colonization of Mexico and how it streamlined Mexican food becoming meat-centric along with his experience as a vegetarian Mexican-American. He proposes that people try to understand their culture and encourages them to try a plant-based diet.

Through the lens of the award-winning film Oppenheimer, Good Energy Collective's Michael Mouton argues for a reevaluation and departure from the 'great man' narrative. He calls for a collective approach to far-reaching crises and problems — like the climate crisis.

Marilyn serves as the Public Engagement Director for the House Committee on Natural Resources Democrats. She leads the Committee staff work on all stakeholder engagement on issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee.

Josephine Amusa serves as a policy advisor for Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). In this capacity, she leads all issues related to energy, climate, natural resources and public lands, science and space, animals, and Tribes.

Serving as the Diversity and Justice Senior Vice President at The Climate Reality Project, Jamiah held DEIJ leadership roles within the political space and worked for progressive organizations and civil rights, before her almost 3-year tenure at The Climate Reality Project.

Dr. Chan, garden educator and food justice advocate, talks about the development of a community-based food security project called Sisterhood Gardens, in San Francisco, CA. What started out as a partnership with the city of San Francisco to offer garden plots led to a space for transformational change in our local community and a model for future mixed-use community garden spaces.

Working with the National Park Service, Friends of Anacostia Park (FoAP) turns the challenge of revitalization into an opportunity for community uplift. We connect residents with meaningful, green employment and activate Anacostia Park as a vibrant convening point for all visitors. In this blog, FoAP highlights the history of the park and Thrive DC, an after-school program providing local teens the opportunity to connect with nature and build community.