#TellAllTuesdays: Beyond the Hype

As Climate Week buzzed through NYC with panels, meetings, and networking events, it was easy to get swept up in the energy of it all. But while we’re sharing climate solutions over coffee, the harsh reality is playing out elsewhere—Hurricane Idalia just tore through North Carolina and Georgia, leaving devastation in its wake. Communities are reeling, facing power outages, flooding, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure. It’s a sobering reminder that while we convene to discuss the future, people are now dealing with climate chaos.

The Duality of Hope and Heartbreak

There’s a dissonance in talking about long-term decarbonization goals when people in places like Georgia and North Carolina pick up the pieces of their lives after?another catastrophic weather event. It’s not just about setting climate targets anymore—it’s about acting urgently to protect the people at risk today.?Whether it’s hurricanes, chemical spills, or floods, these disasters disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income families, and small businesses, who are often left to fend for themselves in the aftermath.

Rising Above Performative Advocacy

Every time I hear another all-male panel discuss the latest climate innovation, I can’t help but think: Where is the real action? Communities need more than conversations; they need us to roll up our sleeves and get to work. It's not enough to say you stand for climate justice; you must show up for people on the frontlines.

In North Carolina, Black and brown communities in low-lying areas face repeated flooding with little government support. At the same time, many in rural Georgia have been left with no power, minimal resources, and an uncertain path forward. These are not just statistics—real lives and livelihoods are?on the line.

Taking Action: What You Can Do Today

So, what’s next? How can we make Climate Week more than just a networking opportunity and turn it into a catalyst for real change? Here are three tangible steps we can take to make an impact:

Support On-The-Ground Efforts

Donate to Local Organizations: Groups like the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (https://ncejn.org/), Georgia Conversation Voters (https://www.gcvoters.org/), Georgia WAND (Women’s Action for New Directions), Democracy Green (https://www.democracy-green.org/) and Mutual Aid Network (https://itsgoingdown.org/mutual-aid-hurricane-helene/) ?are providing immediate relief and long-term support to impacted communities. Financial contributions—big or small—go a long way.

Volunteer Your Time: Offer your professional skills to local organizations that are stretched thin during these crises. Whether it's grant writing, project management, or outreach, your expertise can help amplify their efforts.

Pressure Elected Officials for Immediate Action

Vote: It’s an election year! Ensure candidates are aligned with climate and resiliency policy and doing more than they're saying on the campaign trail.

Advocate for Better Disaster Relief Policies: Contact your local and federal representatives and push for policies prioritizing equitable disaster relief and resilient infrastructure, specifically in historically neglected communities.

Demand Transparency in Resource Allocation: Ask tough questions about allocating funds for climate resilience and recovery. Why are wealthy communities rebuilding faster while BIPOC neighborhoods are left struggling for resources?

Uplift and Amplify Grassroots Leaders

Invest in BIPOC-Led Climate Solutions: Support businesses and leaders working on climate solutions in their communities. Attend their events, fund their projects, and use your platform to highlight their work.

Create Space for Action, Not Just Awareness: If you can convene panels or events, shift the focus from awareness to actionable solutions directly involving leaders from the affected communities.

As NYC Climate Week is behind us, I challenge everyone—myself included—to think about how we’re using our platforms and resources. Are we just talking, or are we genuinely creating change? The stakes are too high, and the crises are too immediate for us to spend another year in echo chambers.

Let’s commit to taking concrete steps, using the connections and knowledge we gain this week, to do something that will matter to the communities facing climate disaster right now. We owe it to the people fighting on the frontlines to do more than show up in conference rooms—we need to show up in the real world, too.

Beyond the Hype: Turning Talk into Tangible Change

Let’s keep this conversation going. What are you doing to turn Climate Week into real, meaningful change? Share your thoughts and action items below! ??

#ClimateJustice #WomenInLeadership #BIPOCVoices #EnvironmentalJustice #TellAllTuesday #ActNow #Resilience #EquityInAction