Social Justice Projects

Below are some of the social justice projects that I have been apart of ranging from energy democracy, climate change to culturally relevant teaching in education. Social justice and activism has helped me develop an intersectional lens in my work. Please see brief descriptions and outcomes next to each featured project.

 
 

Iceland: NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Program Youth Delegation

-May/June 2018

One of my most notable assignments as an NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Organizer/ Fellow was helping to co-facilitate a youth sea level rise delegation to Reykjavik, Iceland where youth from the coast states of Louisiana, Hawaii and Mississippi were able to study, observe and address the impacts of sea level rise through storytelling, awareness raising and educating decision makers. Both Iceland and these coastal states share complex and lush landscapes. This journey allowed youth leadership to expand their leadership in being on the beginning and originating end of the sea level rise continuum.  

My role allowed me to design and facilitate creative programming, co-develop the delegation’s sightseeing and tours,lead discussion, host a live Spoken Word event and most importantly engage in action planning to further youth activism.  

Outcomes

  • Deepened understanding of the connection between the Arctic and coastal states.

  • Comparative analysis of national, state and local environmental policies between the US & Iceland

  • Action Plan for Youth Engagement in educating policymakers in coastal states

  • Media/ Communication Products of create youth storytelling on climate impacts.

 
 

 

PG&E Safety & Accountability Scorecard

-April 2021

While organizing with the Reclaim Our Power Campaign of the Local Clean Energy Alliance, I compiled the PG&E Safety and Accountability Scorecard which details the ways in which PG&E has been allowed to continue its negligent and criminal behavior through the CPUC. It details PG&E’s minimal accountability process, its bankruptcy bailout as well as features the stories of frontline communities.

The focus of the Reclaim Our Power campaign is taking on California’s failed private utility model by pushing for a restructuring of the state’s energy system that would meet the needs of our most impacted communities—towards the vision of a new decentralized, democratized energy system in California.

Outcomes

  • Provided the energy democracy community with a clear and precise look at the lead up to PG&E’s bankruptcy bailout

  • Amplified a diverse voices affected by wildfires started by PG&E

  • Contextualized what is at stake if PG&E is allowed to continue as business as usual.

 
 

To Pimp A ButterFly (A culturally relevant teaching Pedagogy) 

-August 2015

This two part lesson plan was originally presented at the University of Mississippi during my time with the Meridian Freedom Project. It uses music to analyse and explore the historically marginalized roles of Black women, colorism, ethnic notions and perceptions of Black manhood through an analysis of Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 “To Pimp A Butterfly” album.

 Particular songs that are featured in the lesson plan are Nina Simone’s 1966 Four Women and Kendrick Lamar’s Complexion, Mortal Man and 2pac’s Changes. These particular songs were chosen due to their depth and influence on the Black identity.This allows students to bring their lived experiences and perspectives into the classroom while provoking critical thought in probing African American history. Part 2 of this lesson plan can be viewed here  

Outcomes

  • Connected academic and historical concepts to the everyday lives of their students.

  • Created an awareness of social justice issues encountered in their daily lives and communities through a popular culture based approach.

  • Promoted a sense of community within the classroom.