El personal de Nuevas Voces habla en una clase sobre raza, activismo y justicia climática

Learning about the human impact on the environment and the waves of social injustices that follow in its wake can be as eye-opening as it can be disheartening. It’s especially overwhelming when we realize how small we are compared to global issues like climate change. Cynicism is one of the deadliest poisons that inhibits change and immobilizes even the most idealistic of minds.

Stella Kim was invited to speak at Professor Philip Klasky’s class, Race, Activism and Climate Justice at San Francisco State University to address this very phenomenon and share ways in which she personally kept herself motivated to continue fueling the environmental movement. She highlighted the three important steps in making change: 1. Find others who share a similar passion; 2. Play your part; 3. Be optimistic, because sometimes it takes a little bit of faith to know that you’re making change even if you may not see it just yet.

Stella also shared a series of successes she witnessed from activism, such as the Fossil Free UC and Keystone XL campaigns, her experience as an environmental educator, and the small ways she had updated her everyday life to play her small but not insignificant role within the larger whole. Students were especially motivated by the stories of New Voices Are Rising’s very own youth leaders who have advocated for the health and wellbeing of their community. Stella encouraged the students to learn about the issues going on in their community and see ways in which they could play a part, whether it’s through journalism, filmmaking, research, or organizing.

Watch this space for more Surgen nuevas voces blog posts as we launch our Fellowship Program this fall!