"Climate Justice", mural in Olympia, photo by Kitty Weisman5 Creative Ways to Engage with Climate Justice in our Community
When you think of climate change, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a vision that resembles a scene from a dystopian novel? If you answered yes, then you aren’t alone. The portraits painted of the not-so-distant future are troubling to say the least. But what if I told you that working towards climate justice could be joyful, restorative, and fun? Would you believe me?
Here in the South Sound, immense beauty blooms in every corner of our community. We live in a vibrant place, situated where the land meets the sea, surrounded by tall mountain peaks and flowing rivers. Creativity and community connection are the bedrock of the culture of Olympia. It’s truly an incredible place to be. We can turn towards this beauty as we seek out joyful ways to protect the natural wonder of this place. Our actions can be not only impactful, but also personally fulfilling.
Twin Rivers Ranch Preserve, Mary Birchem
This is the invitation of our time: this is the reality of being alive at the precipice of great and uncertain change. If we are going to make a shift towards a thriving future for all, it’s going to take all of us. I mean more than just everyone one of us, but also all parts of ourselves. We’ll need to think strategically and creatively, yes, but we’ll also need to engage passionately in a heart-felt and embodied way too.
This is what gives us meaning and stands to motivate us for the long-haul. We each are charged with the task of finding ways to care for our wellbeing in the face of adversity. Our success is measured both by the depth of our impact and by the strength and wellbeing in each of us as individuals.
So how can we tend our well-being AND simultaneously stay engaged in the movement for Climate Justice? I’m so glad you asked! In this article, I offer some activities you can try that are rooted right here in the greater Olympia area. They will help you to cultivate a deeper connection to nature, to community, and maybe even to your joy! Without further ado, please enjoy these 5 creative ways to engage in climate justice work in our community.
Number 1: Celebrate Youth-led projects
Supporting local youth in bringing their creativity to the forefront of climate preparedness conversations is an excellent way to contribute at a local level. When we back the actions of young people, we acknowledge and encourage them as the current and future leaders that they are. In doing so, we also recognize that they will live into the outcomes that result from the actions we take today. This creates a sense of accountability that reciprocally bolsters us to stay engaged. Plus, we foster a sense of legacy for the work, so every generation after can continue creating change into the future. So how can you support youth-led projects locally? Start by attending the upcoming Art for Climate Justice Showcase!
Art for Climate Justice Showcase
What: This event is the brainchild of Olympia High School Junior, Leila Chavez! The showcase features local artists creating art related to Climate Change and intends to open conversations about climate change and inspire local action. It will include 3D and 2D art, film, music, food, interactive activities, and discussions about climate change. The event is completely FREE, in-person, and open to all.
When: Saturday, June 18th, 2022 from 1-4p
Where: Lord Mansion, 211 21st Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501
For more information: Contact Leila Chavez at [email protected].
Number 2: Connect with Nature
Let’s be real, life hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Many (if not all) of us have likely felt an increased level of stress over the past few turbulent years. Stress can take its toll on the body, and our nervous systems can be left feeling overburdened by the state of the worlds unfolding.
High levels of stress can lead to overwhelm and burnout, neither of which support our ability to engage in the community work of responding to a changing climate. But never fear, Nature is here to our rescue! A few minutes a day spent outside has been shown to have significant beneficial impacts on the body. From lowered blood pressure and stress hormone levels, to improved creative thinking and happiness, time spent in nature might just be the answer to support ourselves though challenging times.
Road at Adams Cove CE, Mike Leigh
When we couple time spent in nature with intentional engagement in our senses, some truly incredible things can happen. Over time, we notice the seasonally shifting subtleties of a place, and in the process become more intimate with the land and its inhabitants. Be this. Through the practice of the sit spot, forest bathing, or even nature journaling, our attention leads us to connect and care more deeply for the natural areas around us. When we love a place, we are more likely to commit to taking consistent actions great and small to ensure it thrives into the future. Time spent appreciating nature can be done alone of course, but it can also be done in community, like with the locally-run Salish Sea Nature Lovers creative community.
What: An inclusive community of creative nature lovers that gathers to foster a supportive environment where people can creatively express, learn, and explore their appreciation for the Salish Sea. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and it is FREE to join and participate.
When/Where: Meet over Zoom on the last Wednesday of the month, from 7-8:30p
For More information: Visit the Salish Sea Nature Lovers website for more information
Number 3: Join a Community Action Group
Have you ever heard the saying: “many hands make for lighter work”? If you believe that power comes in number, the greater Olympia community offers countless opportunities for you to get involved in an action group.
Action groups offer an opportunity for people that share a passion to come together and collaborate towards a common goal. The community aspect of this format can be both social and effective when it comes to building momentum for a local climate-related initiative. It can be inspiring, motivating, and fun to work with your friends and neighbors to accomplish something meaningful for your community. If you’re looking for a Climate Justice focused action group with a more creative bent, look no further then the Climate Art in Action Group!
What: This action group is part of the Thurston Climate Action Team. They hold ongoing Climate Art Events for the public and have even coordinated locals to paint beautiful climate justice themed murals around town, like the wall on the westside on Olympic Way.
When/Where: Meet over Zoom on the Third Monday of each month
For more information: Contact Carrie Zieglar at [email protected].
Number 4: Cultivate Active Hope
If you’ve never heard of Joanna Macy, then you are in for a treat. Joanna is a 93-year old elder in the Climate Justice movement. Her work encourages people to feel their connections, grief, and love for this world as a proactive strategy to ward off apathy and hopelessness.
She calls this “cultivating Active Hope”. As Joanna says, “Active Hope is a practice, like Tai chi or gardening, it is something we DO rather than have. It is a process we can apply to any situation, and it involves three key steps. First, we take a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for in terms of the direction we’d like things to move in or the values we’d like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move our selves or our situation in that direction.” Active Hope can transform us, our communities, and our world, so let’s cultivate it! Fortunate for us, we have professionals right here in Olympia offering facilitated community workshops that focus on just that.
Olympia Active Hope Workshop
What: The Work that Reconnects is the life work of Joanna Macy. It is a ground-breaking framework for personal and social change. It engages inner work in the context of community. Participants are lead through a series of activities that root into gratitude, move through the honoring of grief, to see with new eyes, and ultimately go forth into action. The upcoming workshop is offered at a sliding scale $25-85, with no one turned away for an inability to pay.
When/Where: Saturday, July 2nd from 9:30a-5:30p
For more information: Contact Lynne Fitz-Hugh at [email protected]
Number 5: Volunteer in your Community
In Olympia, we are surrounded by incredible organizations engaging in meaningful climate justice work. When we offer our time and energy to organizations having a positive impact in our community, we stand to generate a sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in our lives. This sense of fulfillment also supports us in committing to taking small steps over time that will have HUGE impacts.
Mary leading Volunteers at Kaiser Preserve
Take this for example: a couple hours spent planting trees can have a massive effect on our South Sound natural areas. In 30 years’ time, your couple of hours of work will become a thriving forest habitat that will store literal tons of carbon positively impacting the environment for years to come. Check out the work of some of our community partners like the Puget Sound Estuarium and Pacific Education Institute for more opportunities to get involved. If restoring habitat is more your thing, we would love to have you volunteer with Capitol Land Trust at a Stewardship Party.
What: Stewardship work parties offer an opportunity for Community Members to work side-by-side with Capitol Land Trust staff to steward one of our incredible properties. In the process, they chat, connect with one and other, and leave with a shared sense of accomplishment.
When/ Where: Ongoing, on our incredible properties! The next opportunity will be on Saturday, June 18th, from 10:00am – 2:00p, at Schmidt Conservation Easement on Steamboat Peninsula.
For more information: Click this link to get involved.
Choose your own adventure… and have fun doing it!
Bridge at Tilley Wetlands East Preserve, Mike Leigh
There are so many ways to creatively engage in Climate Justice work in our communities. At the end of the day, it’s longevity in engagement that truly matters. Longevity in the face of insurmountable challenge takes true strength. Cultivating resilience can be as simple as acknowledging and prioritizing the relationship you have to the place where you live; this includes the environment, the people that live here alongside you, and the body you inhabit. The trick is to take what already brings you joy and find ways to apply that to engaging in Climate Justice work. It’s that simple.
The work truly can be fun and fulfilling if you shift your perspective in such a way that obligation goes out the window, and instead a door opens to connection, appreciation, and celebration. Despite all the trials and challenges a changing climate presents, joy and beauty can always be found when we look for it. Cultivating Joy is important! We must actively strike a balance between doing the hard work and tending our enjoyment for Life, if we want to transform the world for the better.
So, get out there and celebrate the beauty of the place we call home, call joy into your actions, take small steps in community, and cultivate practices that support your resilience and wellbeing. Our future may just depend on it.