Stories from Home: Living the Just Transition Podcast

After a season that journeys through the history of environmental and climate justice, how to identify good and bad solutions to climate change, the importance of storytelling and creativity in the movement, we conclude with a focus on the most foundational element of the work: each of us, our capacity for self-transformation and leadership, and our relationships in the ecosystems that are our families, neighborhoods, and communities. The Jemez Principles of Democratic Organizing includes a...

To be human is to tell stories and make meaning–through art, music, words, and creation. Just as some stories help to maintain the status quo, stories can also be the currency of change. When they compel us to question dominant narratives. When they bring us together in communion. When they heal us. When they make a Just Transition future feel attainable. In this episode, you’ll hear from two of Climate Justice Alliance’s three co-executive directors, Bineshi Albert and Monica Atkins, who...

What are real-life examples of climate solutions that are just, equitable, community-driven, and lead to a “brighter, better world?” They are community-driven solutions that stop harm, undo harm, and heal not only the Earth, but how we are in relationship with one another. In this episode we zoom in on “energy democracy,” a term describing a wide range of solutions that move away from a fossil fuel economy into renewable energies that also ensures energy is community-owned. We look at the...

In this episode, we talk to Bineshi Albert, co-executive director of CJA, about her experience at last year’s United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland – and how “net zero” and “carbon capture” are FALSE solutions to climate change that distract us from what we really need to do. If those are false solutions, how do we cut through the noise to REAL solutions that actually tackle the problems causing climate change– and not at the expense of people and all living...

We’re THRILLED to return with a new season of STORIES FROM HOME: Moving the Just Transition, that grounds us in the history of environmental justice, climate justice organizing and present day Just Transitions. Each episode deep dives into different dimensions of the movement – from the importance of community-led solutions to the climate crisis, to what is a false “solution”, to how we relate to one another in just relationship– with our host Keenan Rhodes, and the climate justice leaders...

Soil Generation’s Shania Morris and filmmaker Joshua Mallory describe the heart of Soil Generation, a collective of Black and brown urban farmers in Philadelphia and the unique richness and challenge of creating their story snapshot, a 12-minute meditation on land, food, community, and relationship, amidst a global pandemic. Shania talks about how Just Transition is really a “just return” to our deep, fundamental, and intuitive relationship with land and community. For over seven years Soil...

In this special, end-of-an-era episode, we get an inside peek into the thoughts and reflections of Angela Mahecha as she prepares to step down from a four-year tenure as Executive Director of Climate Justice Alliance. Keenan Rhodes chats with Angela at this seminal moment for her and for CJA as she prepares to move into other roles in the climate justice movement. Angela looks back on the past decade and her work as ED, the history of environmental justice and climate justice, plus she and...

This episode turns the tables on Stories from Home’s usual podcast host Keenan Rhodes! Join our guest host, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance’s Moñeka de Oro, in a conversation with Keenan on Kheprw Institute’s philosophy and approach to art, future vision and community empowerment. As a life-long member of the Kheprw community, Keenan digs into Kheprw’s history and his own development as a filmmaker and storyteller. Plus, he reveals the significance of the scarab beetle featured in...

“If we change how the money flows, away from corporations who harm us, and towards what sustains us -- wow, that’s a game changer.” - Charlie Sciammas of PODER In this episode, Yuki Kidokoro, the Reinvest Project Director at Climate Justice Alliance, chats with organizers Charlie Sciammas and Reina Tello of People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER) about public banking. What is public banking anyway? How does it build a better future for our communities? Join us...

In this episode, Keenan Rhodes chats with filmmaker John Acosta, editor Rob Nakai and Rodrigo Rodriguez, the Food Justice Field Organizer at SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP). Calling in from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where SWOP is based, they talk about their own backgrounds in film and social justice, and the documentary they collaborated on for SWOP and the Climate Justice Alliance’s Story Snapshots project. The film, which can be seen on CJA’s Story Snapshots website, digs into the...

“¿Por qué en el 2020 seguimos construyendo infraestructura de alto riesgo en una comunidad de justicia ambiental? En este capítulo nuestro presentador Keenan Rhodes habla con les organizadores Gabriela Cartagena y Noemy Rodríguez sobre el Story Snapshot de GreenRoots: Esperanza: The Heart of Eastie (El Corazón de Eastie), un cortometraje que documenta la lucha de una comunidad por ser incluida en la toma de decisiones en sus vecindarios y tres retratos de familias de la comunidad de East...

“Why are we still building high risk infrastructure in 2020 in an environmental justice community?” In this episode, host Keenan Rhodes chats with organizers Gabriela Cartagena and Noemy Rodriguez about GreenRoots’ story snapshot: a short film, Esperanza: The Heart of Eastie, documenting the community’s fight for inclusion in neighborhood decision-making and three portraits of families from the community of East Boston (“Eastie”). We talk about the importance of language justice, popular...

In this episode, recorded in February, Keenan Rhodes talks with CHamoru activist Moñeka De Oro of the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance about their snapshot project and sustainable vegan cookbook, composed of recipes shared by women of Guam. Check out the snapshot, releasing May 19, here: https://storysnapshots.climatejusticealliance.org/ Learn more about/support the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance: https://micronesiaclimatechangealliance.com/ Buy the book here:...

Earlier this year, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world and pressed pause on society as it was before, forcing even the powers that be to confront how extractive behaviors have left a gaping hole where social safety nets should be. We are witnessing and demonstrating community resiliency, people power and the strength of Just Transitions as we reconnect with more intuitive ways of being, and as our neighbors and loved ones uplift one another and support each other through this struggle. In...

Host Keenan Rhodes with Jennifer Falcon from the Indigenous Environmental Network for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and impetus behind their story snapshot, six graphic recordings by artist Arlo Iron Cloud representing the visions of six Indigenous folks from communities across Turtle Island (North America). View all the Story Snapshots at: https://storysnapshots.climatejusticealliance.org/ Learn more about the Indigenous Environmental Network: https://www.ienearth.org/ Read about...

Stories from Home: Living a Just Transition Episode 1 - What is Just Transition? What is a Just Transition? What do climate change solutions look like when they come from frontline communities at the intersections of art, culture, and social justice? The Climate Justice Alliance is thrilled to launch Stories from Home: Living the Just Transition, a behind-the-scenes podcast where host Keenan Rhodes deep dives into how creators and communities collaborate for climate justice storytelling in...

What is a Just Transition? What do climate change solutions look like when they come from frontline communities and the intersections of art, culture, and social justice? The Climate Justice Alliance is thrilled to launch Stories from Home: Living the Just Transition, a behind-the-scenes podcast where host Keenan Rhodes deep dives into how creators and communities collaborate for climate justice storytelling in the Story Snapshots project.