K-12 Social Justice and Sustainability Series | Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA

Social and environmental issues are deeply intertwined. Many of the biggest impacts of climate change, pollution, resource scarcity, and food insecurity are felt by those that are most marginalized. However, their efforts to bring awareness to the issues in their communities are often ignored by the mainstream press and their organizations receive little funding while many of the country's largest environmental organizations continue to be led by those from the privileged class with the greatest access to resources, wealth and opportunity.

Join us for a year of deeper learning.

Please note: every event will not focus on both the social and the environmental issue for the month. We hope this series helps make new connections between social and environmental issues in ways you (or event speakers) may not have thought about before.

April: Citizenship and Climate Justice

Series Events:

Telling Your Story: A Skillshare about Citizenship and Climate Justice
Thursday, April 8, 2021 6:30-8:30pm
Have you experienced the impacts of citizenship-based discrimination or oppression? Have you experienced the impacts of climate change? Have you experienced both? Have you taken action to address citizenship or climate justice?

Come learn how to tell your story creatively from a spoken word artist, a videographer and a climate educator in this interactive workshop. You'll also learn how to build out a climate story from the Alliance for Climate Education. This workshop is meant to prepare participants for the opportunity to share their story, live or recorded, during the "Story Slam: Citizenship and Climate Justice" happening virtually on April 29th from 6:30-8:00pm. This workshop is open to anyone age 14 and over (adults included), but the story slam will have storytellers limited to ages 14-20.

This event will be a conversation and will include time for participants to share work they create in the session with each other. Please come prepared to have your camera on, audio unmuted, and to be fully engaged! We can't wait to hear your story.

Event Facilitators: (check out the registration page for their full bios!)

Nigel S. Richardson
Writer, filmmaker and educator. Currently the Special Assistant to the Creative Director for the Afrikana Independent Film Festival

Cristo Paz
Writer, MC and founding member of the hip hop duo Browns Crew. currently the Lead Democracy Organizer with Alliance for Climate Education

Moses Wamalwa
Currently a Youth Organizer with Alliance for Climate Education

Clare Drobot
Currently Associate Artistic Director at City Theater

Story Slam: Citizenship and Climate Justice
Thursday, April 29, 2021 6:30-8:30pm ET
Have you experienced the impacts of citizenship-based discrimination or oppression? Have you experienced the impacts of climate change? Have you experienced both? Have you taken action to address citizenship or climate justice? If you answered YES to any of these questions, we can't wait to hear your story.

If you are between ages 14-20, come tell your story, or just come to listen and support other youth as they tell their story during this virtual event.

Guidelines for telling your story:

Stories are limited to 5 minutes in length maximum.
Stories can be pre-recorded and submitted a week before the event, or they can be performed live.
Live or recorded stories can be told in any language. We will provide translation services so your story can also be heard by English-speaking attendees.
We welcome you to tell your story in a way that protects your identity. You do not have to share your name or face in your video.
You can be as creative and fun as you want in telling your story. Perform with a buddy, wear a costume, include music...the sky's the limit!

All storytellers performing live are required to attend a virtual dress rehearsal on April 22nd at 6:30pm. You should have your story fully prepared by then and be ready to practice your performance, and to also do a technology check. All storytellers submitting pre-recorded stories by video must please submit their video to the event organizers no later than 8pm on April 22nd.

Interested in emcee-ing this event? Let us know in the event registration form, and make sure you register before April 16th!

This event may be shorter than 2 hours. It depends on how many stories end up on the agenda!

Co-Host Events:

Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action
April 5, 6-7pm
Youth around the world recognize that taking action on climate change is urgent and are leading the way in raising awareness and advocating for solutions. Join a growing group of Pittsburgh-area youth activists at Communitopia;s monthly PYCA meetings. All PYCA meetings are currently virtual. PYCA meets on the first Monday of every month from 6-7pm.

Climate Educator Happy Hour
April 21, 4-5pm
Calling all K-12 teachers of all grades, subject areas, or experience levels: Whether you are already teaching climate change-related lessons in your classroom or interested in getting started, it is important to have like-minded community for support. Join Communitopia, Remake Learning and Green Building Alliance for Climate Educator Virtual Happy Hours to find climate education opportunities for your classrooms and to meet other passionate educators.

Pittsburgh Youth for Climate Action
May 3, 6-7pm
Youth around the world recognize that taking action on climate change is urgent and are leading the way in raising awareness and advocating for solutions. Join a growing group of Pittsburgh-area youth activists at Communitopia;s monthly PYCA meetings. All PYCA meetings are currently virtual. PYCA meets on the first Monday of every month from 6-7pm.

Opportunities:

Apply to be an Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) High School Fellow
Ready to take your climate activism to the next level? Join ACE's Pennsylvania Action Fellowship. Grow your knowledge, experience and confidence in taking climate action with peers in your community and across the state. The Pennsylvania Action Fellowship is based in Pittsburgh. Applications for 2021 are being accepted on a rolling basis. Exact start date of the 2021 Fellowship program is still to be determined.

Volunteer with Casa San Jose
Volunteers play a vital role at Casa working alongside staff members, other volunteers and the Latino community to jointly achieve Casa's goals. Volunteers usually work with us between 5 and 40 hours a month. Spanish is helpful but not necessary. They help with any of these: Assist with children and teens in our youth programs, tutor or provide ESL in homes or classrooms, work with Casa's Emergency Response Team, do office tasks, help with communications, represent Casa at events, drive clients to appointments, translate, assist clients to fill out forms and use computers, plan and attend events, join the fundraising committee, provide legal assistance to clients (attorneys only).