Recap and Call to Action from the Climate and Environmental Justice Conference

Thank you to the 420+ individuals who joined us in April for the Climate and Environmental Justice Conference at Santa Clara University. Please visit the archival version of the conference website for the final report of the conference, session recordings, photos, and the final report of the Youth Summit.

While it’s impossible to sum up the three intense days of the conference, and the many ideas and engagements that brought it alive, several key insights included:

1?? The compelling testimonies and proposals for personal and collective change from the conference’s opening panels and dialogue throughout the three days reaffirmed our strategy of centering Indigeneity, race, class, and youth voices in efforts to partner with the frontline of environmental justice communities.? This includes deepening solidarities and becoming more effective allies for this long-term work.

2?? The panels and breakout sessions highlighted examples of long-term university-community partnerships that have advanced science and social change, as presenters shared strategies for co-producing actionable knowledge. These partnerships are rooted in trust and relationships that recognize individual and institutional differences. They can be scaled with additional support for networking and reciprocal capacity building.?

3?? Presenters shared best practices and practical strategies to advance the much-needed transformation in higher education, and explained how cross institutional networks can simultaneously deepen and accelerate these vital change processes.?

4?? There are powerful possibilities that arise from integrating faith-based and secular approaches grounded in mutual respect and commitments to justice and care for “our common home” at the local, regional, national, and global scales.

Here's how you can stay engaged and take action after the conference:

1?? Keep up with our work with community partners and learn about future training workshops by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter.

2?? Join our mailing list by sending a request to [email protected] and invite others to do the same.?

3?? Become a part of the Northern California Environmental Justice Network by sending a request to [email protected].?

4?? Connect with us to explore potential collaborations in research areas such as food, water, climate, youth, and law and advocacy. We welcome your suggestions and ideas.

5?? Launch your own university-community partnerships for climate and environmental justice.

Thank you once again for your commitment to creating a more just, equitable, healthy, and sustainable world.?

The Conference Organizing Committee?

Christopher Bacon?

Jesica S. Fernández?

María Eugenia Flores Gómez?

Chad Raphael?

Iris Stewart-Frey?

Tseming Yang