I want to expose the roots of the climate crisis by sharing my evolving understanding of how our time-starved, self-focused, competitive culture and systemic white supremacy harm communities and destroy our planet while helping people to reconnect around a new vision to inspire cross-generational action. I’m new to Joanna Macy’s work and looking forward to learning more.
As a white GenX mother, I’d like to share how I woke up to the urgency of the climate crisis and help others—especially GenX parents and Baby Boomer grandparents who have benefited from white privilege—understand how our culture harms people, animals, and the planet so that we can unite in a movement for a just, sustainable future. Watching Millennial leaders harness the digital realm to build an inclusive global movement for equity-focused systemic transformation, I’m inspired by their ability to see beyond our competitive, consumer-driven age.
In contrast, seeing my children’s GenZ and GenAlpha peers sinking into mindless digital and disposable clutter is disheartening. As we shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, I fear many young people may slide further into this artificial realm.
My parents who remembered the Great Depression and WWII abhorred commercialism and attempted to instill different values in my brothers and me amidst suburban MTV peers. They often shared stories of how life changed as communication evolved from radio to TV. I’ve felt my relationships, parenting, and thinking suffer as this evolution has accelerated from desktop computers to smartphones. That said, I’ve also experienced hope in national and global digital dialogues.
I currently work as Sr. Manager for Communications, Youth Leadership, and Climate Action at Save Our Shores in Central California. My past experiences include political advocacy, corporate and school communications, and teaching high school in the Bronx as a NYC Teaching Fellow in the years following 9-11.
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