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Jennifer Saltzman
Assistant Dean for Educational Affairs
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Sylvia Scharf
Climate Education Specialist
MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Mentor Outreach
To gather how I could best make an impact with GreenTeach, I spent a period of time talking to experts in the field, so I could be informed on how to efficiently use my resources and deliver positive change to the communities I work in. There were a lot of conversations I held, and a lot of insight I gathered from this time, but I want to especially highlight four leaders that shaped my plans for the course I want GreenTeach to take.
Dr. Saltzman opened my eyes into the importance of making people in the community feel welcome. Even though the project done might be in their own community, the idea of change can always be unsettling, especially to people that are already going through so much. Because of this, showing the community a good time with food and music, integrating with their existing culture, and making sure that the impact is felt from the inside rather than the outside are all key to a successful community project.
Another key part of driving self-sufficiency within communities is connecting them with the resources of being able to do so, as wisely pointed out by Ms. Flanigan. Without access to the proper instruments or materials, these communities can only do so much, especially with nutritious food being the highest priority, much less battling climate change. Pursuing fundraising opportunities, grants, or organizational donations is hence crucial.
Ms. Scharf taught me the importance in recognizing that solutions can be simple. For example, a lack of nutrition and rising temperatues can be mitigated by helping start a community garden. Although this might not completely solve the problem, it is a good start for the community to battle climate change in their own way. Educating the members of the community with previous case studies and maps is often enough to spark ideas for change.
Last, but not definitely least, Ms. Zaima made it clear to me that the only way to make a real connection to a community in hopes of hosting a project is to build trustworthy relationships. It is often said that getting started is the hardest step of a journey, and this is undeniable true in GreenTeach's case. With the COVID-19 pandemic and a general lack of access to underserved communities, the hardest part is being able to get the opportunity to work in a community in the first place.
Skye Flanigan
Assistant Director of Programs
Harvard Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment
Laurel Zaima
Program Manager of Non-Degree Education & Outreach Programs
Columbia Climate School
Why GreenTeach's Impact is Important
Climate change is definitely an issue that affects everyone. We should all be concerned and actively contributing towards mitigating, and eventually, reversing its devastating consequences. However, there is a disproportionate amount of impact on certain communities. In other words, the problems that come with climate change are universal in existence but not universal in its intensity.
A lot of organizations are oriented towards building resilience to climate change. Some of them even work in socially vulnerable communities. But not a lot really focus on empowering them to be self-sufficient and resilient in the face of devastating impacts like more natural disasters, heat strokes, etc. This is why GreenTeach is important.
The ability for a community to be empowered and save itself from the grips of climate change is paramount. No longer can we expect communities to rely on external forces for their security. We have to give them the tools to make their own impact, and the education to fend for themselves.
In the end, these are people who struggle to put food on their plate. They shouldn't have to worry about the effect of higher temperatures or a rising sea level.
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