Collective Liberation and Climate Justice: Perspectives from Black and Brown Organizers
Four Black and Brown climate justice activists in the Seattle region will discuss the urgency of an anti-racist, feminist response to the climate catastrophe. Communities of color, including our incarcerated loved ones and youth, have often been left out of most climate conversations. What does it mean to have a vision of climate justice that is genuinely shaped by collective liberation and abolitionist dreams? We can’t be free until all of us are free. Please join us at this timely and important panel.
Panelist:
Debolina Banerjee, is the Climate Justice Policy Analyst at Puget Sound Sage. Her responsibilities include research-based analysis of climate policies, campaign support on climate justice issues, and building power within Sage’s local and statewide climate coalitions.
Gregory Davis, is an organizer who manages strategy for the Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC) with an emphasis on neighborhood engagement and empowerment. A long-time activist in Rainier Beach (RB), Gregory Davis has helped to found a number of groups in this community since 2010 such as RB A Beautiful Place for Youth, RB Restorative Justice Project, Corner Greeters, Targeted Local Hire Campaign with public agencies, Transit Justice Youth Leadership and Mix Zoning designation for the RB Light Rail Station Area. He also served as Executive Director for Emerald City Outreach Ministries now known as Urban Impact. He is also a principal with Kismet Strategies LLC whose tagline is “Helping those we assist reach their destiny.” They provide technical and expert facilitation for community coalitions and local governments.
Jonathan Jones-Thomas, is an environmentalist dedicated to water quality and agriculture who founded the Black Agriculture Leadership Council. They are pursuing ownership of 1000 acres to empower community with land access. He has certifications from the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health. His roots in environmental justice began with his incarceration at the Monroe Correctional Complex when he discovered that prison officials were contaminating the Skykomish River. He recorded evidence and worked with the Department of Ecology to bring this pollution to light. He is also the Environmental Climate Justice Chairman for the NAACP State Area Conference.
Shemona Moreno, is an activist, leader, changemaker, and the Executive Director of 350 Seattle. A proud Black & Latina woman, her mother is an immigrant from Mexico and her father a descendant of enslaved African people. These origins ground Shemona’s work in the fierce commitment to amplifying the demands of frontline communities hurt first and worst by climate catastrophe. She trusts that cultivating deep relationships among organizations fighting for racial, economic, gender, disability, and climate justices is how we build collective power to interrupt systems of oppression.
Jill Mangaliman, Facilitator, is an organizer born and raised in Seattle, and serves on the national executive committee of BAYAN USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino organizations that represent youth, women, migrants, lgbtqiplus, and artists and is an overseas chapter of BAYAN Philippines. Locally, Jill is the Chairperson of GABRIELA Seattle, a grassroots Filipina mass organization fighting for rights and welfare of Filipina women here and abroad. Jill serves on the boards of Front and Centered, Puget Sound Sage, and Washington Fair Trade Coalition.