It has been two years since I began working with the North Carolina Council of Churches, and I can genuinely say that all of the passion and support I have received has strengthened my commitment to the social justice movement. As my time working at the Council comes to a close this year, I would like to reflect on the achievements we have made together.
From lobbying on Capitol Hill to marching in the streets of NYC, the two and a half years I’ve dedicated to working at the Council’s Eco-Justice Connection (EJC) initiative have been extraordinary. I still vividly remember the first event I attended, during the blistering summer heat, it was a gathering organized by a coalition of community leaders who would shape a new Carbon Plan for North Carolina’s sustainable future. While rallying outside the Wake County Courthouse, hearing the personal experiences of frontline leaders, something within me fundamentally shifted. I felt encouraged to live my truth and advocate for the collective vision presented before me: community building must be at the forefront of a just climate transition. Newly inspired, I surprised myself by giving testimony for the first time.
One year later, in June 2023, I was invited to Washington, D.C., to protest the Mountain Valley Pipeline. With a year of experience under my belt, I lobbied on the Hill alongside frontline fighters and lifelong friends. The next day, I stood outside the White House, putting my body on the front lines as we demanded no new pipelines. I realized this message couldn’t stop with just speaking with officials. Later that October, I volunteered as a marshal, marching alongside thousands of young people determined to end the era of fossil fuels. Just as I was invited to DC by those who valued youth voices, I sought to return the favor tenfold. EJC sponsored over 50 students to attend that historic event, and their faces made the front page of the New York Times.
This year has led to even more opportunities for growth and collaboration:
- I joined a prestigious cohort of youth climate faith leaders at Duke University in January.
- Utilizing my connections with other youth organizers, we spearheaded the establishment of the Youth Climate Policy Council, raising $40,000 for collective youth advocacy and travel funds.
- I spoke as an instructor, facilitator, and participant at a week-long Climate Reparations Camp with over twenty BIPOC young adults, who created long-term community organizing tactics.
- With the key leadership of EJC staff, we launched a communications and climate finance campaign. Due to our combined efforts, I was able to organize a NYC Climate Week event with our national partners.
- EJC led listening sessions with coastal community members to enhance environmental literacy and action. I built connections with those most impacted by the climate crisis in one-on-one interviews that the federal government will utilize to improve its outreach.
As 2025 approaches, one question remains: what’s next? I will be leaving my role as the Eco-Justice Connection Program Coordinator to focus on my passion for youth engagement, public speaking, and graphic design. Although I will be moving away from North Carolina, I hope to continue nurturing the connections I have built both within the state and beyond. This is a critical time in history as we teeter on the edge of ecological collapse. The climate justice movement must advance in the battle against ecological degradation and extractive ideology. By acting locally and strengthening our global connections, we can reclaim the power that has long been held by corporations rather than by the impacted communities our leaders are meant to serve. The Eco-Justice Connection (EJC) embodies this justice-centered mindset by emphasizing the importance of partnerships. Only by working together can we achieve our goals.
Pope Francis once said we must “build bridges, not walls.” At EJC, we’ve focused on becoming that bridge. It is time we invest in our future. From overwhelming heat waves encasing our communities to the intense hurricanes and floods affecting our coastlines, EJC addresses the real impacts of the climate crisis and creates a call to action for our politicians to face the challenges posed by this global issue.
However, this vision cannot be accomplished alone. If you wish to support EJC’s mission, I strongly encourage you to donate. Every contribution makes a difference. Without the help of individual donors, I would not have been able to focus so much of my time and energy on youth organizing, international solidarity, and phasing out fossil fuels.
These past few years have been incredibly significant in my journey as an environmental justice activist and organizer. As I transition to a new phase in my life, I have faith that EJC will continue to build bridges and create positive impacts for the Earth and its people for years to come.
