Intersectional Environmentalism Panel

Description:

On Thursday, November 19th at 6pm EST, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and the Earth Institute hosted the inaugural Columbia Climate Conversations Panel at Lamont. This is an initiative created by Sustainable Development undergraduate student and founder of The Eco Justice Project, Lauren Ritchie, DEES Ph.D. student Kailani Acosta, and Lamont postdoc Benjamin Keisling through the LDEO Office of Academic Affairs and Diversity to connect people and the planet through research and conversations that bring together different communities at Columbia, LDEO, and beyond.  The Intersectional Environmentalism panel includes three well-known activists of color in an hour-long conversation about the topic of intersectional environmentalism, an approach to climate action that highlights diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.  

Intersectional Environmentalism Panel

Panelist Bios:

Kristy Drutman

Kristy Drutman is a Filipina environmentalist and digital strategist based on Ohlone Land (aka the Bay Area) who wants to educate the world one post at a time about environmental justice through her podcast and media series, Brown Girl Green. She interviews environmental leaders and advocates about diversity and inclusion as well as creative solutions to the climate crisis. Kristy believes that culturally-nuanced storytelling is critical in building collective power and resilience within our communities, and aims to create content that empowers people to find their own voice in the fight for an environmentally just future. You can learn more about her @browngirl_green on social media and at www.browngirlgreen.org. 

Aditi Mayer 

Aditi Mayer is a photojournalist, sustainable fashion blogger, and labor rights activist based out of Los Angeles. Her work explores the intersections of style, sustainability, and social justice-- looking at the fashion industry through a lens of decolonization and intersectionality. Her work spans in-depth journalism, having written for the likes of PBS, Atmos, Teen Vogue, Fashionista and more, to grassroots organizing in LA's garment district. In 2021, she will be spending one year as National Geographic Digital Storyteller to document the social and environmental impacts of India's fashion supply chain. She can be found online @aditimayer or through her blog, ADIMAY.com. 

Tori Tsui 

Tori Tsui (she/her/they) is a EurAsian intersectional climate activist who uses her social media platforms to advocate for climate change action, mental health stigmatization and care access, and racial justice. I first came across Tori on Instagram and was captivated by the breadth and honesty of her activism. With 24,000 Instagram followers, Tori’s activism is a great example of the power of new media as an advocacy platform. Tori is one of three hosts for the Bad Activist Podcast and a member of the Sail for Climate Action movement