#OurStoriesInVividColor

Transforming the World

A future of urban breathing spaces that revitalizes everyone. Safe from polluted waters, toxic air, and bad infrastructure that harms marginalized communities. I would love to see a world that is inspired by nature and instead creates in rhythm with it. My experience with environmental injustice has evolved in a form of being able to disrupt these types of racist and polarizing policies that were created by design to oppress and capitalize off communities of color. Through social innovation, human-centered design, and creative problem solving I believe that the power of community can impact how we envision #DreamGreen and transform the world we would love to live in.

#DreamGreen

Our collective future hangs in the balance. We can either design societies that respect nature, or we can continue with the destructive business as usual. I, for one, prefer a world with clean air, clean water, and nutritious, local food. I want everyone to have access to nature’s bounty. And I mean everyone. I #DreamGreen because I want my people, Latinos in the U.S., to not have to risk their lives by working with harsh chemicals to grow the nation’s food. I want them to be able to support their families rather than be oppressed by multi-million-dollar corporations. I want an environmentally just future because I am tired of People of Color not having human dignity. To #DreamGreen is to believe in a place that cares for all people, all animals, and the planet. All equally.

Eliminate Toxic Spaces

My dream for climate justice is to eliminate toxic, and oppressive systems that threaten our communities.

My #DreamGreen

My dream environmentally just future includes equitable distribution of limited natural resources & aid for climate change-caused natural disasters for everyone. Black & people of color communities are the first to suffer from these problems. While we are the first communities to be considered to have dangerous & cheaper solutions run through our community causing human health implications. Such as having a non-EPA-approved pesticide often used to disinfect pools clean your tap water. This is currently taking place in the 88.4% Black community of Denmark, South Carolina. I have been actively working with Denmark Citizens for Safe Water (DCSW) to produce short-term & long-term solutions for this environmental justice issue. Currently, I am using my magazine Disturbance, A publication dedicated to exploring the power of art to break down & disturb institutional systems within society, to disturb the assumed peace that Denmark has access to clean water. When in fact they have been deprived of this natural resource for 10 years! I am curating a Disturbance x DCSW art auction & artists talk for Juneteenth Weekend 2021. Because to #DreamGreen means to be inclusive within your approach to environmental justice.

As Earth Pirouettes...

by Kai Adia

Can Earth have more than a day?

I want Earth year, every year,
because what other place in space gives us years?
We get years to sow, water, and grow
into the beings we are meant to be—here.
Somehow we forget this.

I think the systems put around us
have something to do with it. These fabricated pillars
are isms erected by echoing voices. They coo us to sleep
as false giants pump, frack, and spew waste with no regard.

I dream of a future filled with high regard
for Human life and the World’s liberties.
This dream of compassion will kickstart
when we hold sincere regard
for our space in line
our point in time
as one of the generations
overlapping this world.

This world gives water, clear sky, sound seasons, and fruitful soil
with no need of a thank you.

It’s time to say thank you and halt
the disruption of Her liberties.
The pillars will start to crumble.

I know the astroboys are scouring the sky,
glossing over the redlines and columns meant to separate.
They’re looking to see where other roots can lie,
but that’s not a full vision. Will it ever really be?

There’s no place in our local system more fitting of us than this terrarium.
This world holds us as it pirouettes in glittering darkness.

Mother Earth, I want your stress and stressors to be a distant dark memory.
I dream that you and the generations upon your back are beautiful and boundless.

In the years we celebrate you
for giving us everything,
we will have cultivated gratitude.
A deep wellspring of it
along with thick skin upon our hands
ready to turn
pillars into rubble.

An environmentally just future is one where everyone has access to what they need. Clean water, decent housing, access to healthy food have to be priorities for environmentalism. The only way to have an environmentally just future is to work in tandem with the planet.

Iris

An environmentally just future looks like a climate stable world that is prospering, where all the just and sustainable solutions we want to see possible are our reality. The most frontline, marginalized, oppressed people and ecosystems are thriving. Humanity cares for each other and our environment. Intersectionality is prioritized.

I envision a better, sustainable, inclusive, and healthy state of being for current and future generations in a world where environmental justice is achieved. I believe this involves the fullest reparations of access to the environment and natural resources in an equitable and restorative way that all people can benefit from, while abolishing environmental harms. I dream of a world where we have cultivated a global shift in values, where the perspectives of disenfranchised communities are respected in all decision-making that affects the environments especially where they live, work, and play. I see a reality where we recognize the unique place-based relationships that communities have with their environments. #DreamGreen is important to me because an environmentally just future, where the right to a healthy environment is finally recognized and supported, must have women, youth, BIPOC, disabled people, and gender non-conforming people leading the charge to achieve true prosperity and balance.

Nilla Allin

I am making a difference by inspiring others through my music, work ethic, and hustle. Through my music, I hope to promote confidence, pride and independence to other young women.

I’m hoping my music and experiences will encourage them to work hard for what they want while being genuine and secure in who they are.

Marifer

I am a 23-year-old community health reporter for specializing in health, social and environmental justice. My writing expresses truth in the silence and is vibrant with cultural richness despite the systemic and pervasive gender and race inequalities that subjugate me. I am the first member in my family to attend American schools and to go to college. I have a bachelor’s of science in public health from San Jose State University, where I won the Department of Health Science and Recreation Fortitude Award. I was a research assistant for Stanford School of Medicine and San José State University during my senior year of college.

I aspire to combine my background in research and journalism to bridge the communication between officials and the public, to create healthier spaces for all. I immigrated from Guadalajara, Mexico, at the age of four. Being DACA and growing up in Richmond, California, has played an essential role in in my diligence and writing style.

My ancestors are alive when I speak and are present while I drive my pen on my paper. It is a blessing to be a women in this lifetime and I hope to return as a butterfly.

Diana Castro is a young, queer, artist, actor, and performer of color living in Los Angeles, California. Diana uses art to explore their identity as a double-immigrant, and connect with their family’s heritage and culture.