Celebrate Giving Tuesday and help us unlock matching gift funds! Give Now

Blog

Chispa and the People’s Climate Movement 2018

Sep 21, 2018

This past weekend, more than 250,000 people rose for climate, jobs, and justice, at over 800- town halls, rallies, and community events that took place from coast to coast.

Our Chispa programs throughout the country were there, demanding clean air, clean water, and healthy futures for low-income and communities of color whose lives, on a daily basis, are deeply affected by environmental, social and economic injustices.

Take a look at some of the events we participated in:

In Phoenix, nearly 100 Arizonans gathered to plant seeds in a community garden. Chispa Arizona and their partners discussed how workers’ rights, migrant rights, climate justice and issues of equity are connected, linking the struggles of immigrant and labor communities in a collective fight for a healthier, better future.

Meanwhile, Chispa Connecticut knocked on “Thousands Doors for Justice,” with volunteers joining a statewide effort to register voters and share updates from the Clean Energy for All campaign. Chispa Connecticut also participated in a rally in New Haven, calling for justice and aid for Puerto Ricans, who are still suffering the aftereffects of Hurricane Maria. Communities across Connecticut are calling on local leaders to commit to building a 100 percent clean, renewable energy world that puts people and justice before profits. There was even a 60-foot long “fossil fuel dragon” breathing fire into the movement!

In Las Vegas, Chispa Nevada partnered with community organizations to host an art walk featuring local artists’ works that focused on the climate and health issues Nevadans face and how together, people can fight for a safe and habitable planet for families and future generations. The art walk provided a space for communities to begin to heal from the injustices they have endured, so that they can continue moving forward.

In Denver, Colorado’s Protegete joined a dozen community partners to host a rally and series of workshops about embarking on a just and equitable transition to 100 percent renewable energy across the state. The events lifted the voices of workers and communities of color most impacted by climate change and pollution. Climate Nexus produced this great video on the events — check it out:

Meanwhile in Albuquerque, Juntos: Our Air, Our Water specifically addressed the need to advance the climate, jobs and justice movement to the next phase: meaningful climate action that is committed to obtaining and preserving racial and economic justice for all, especially workers, indigenous peoples, frontline communities and immigrant communities who are working to transition from the fossil fuel industry to a clean energy future.