Climate and Equity Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 5 | June 2025

Updates from Climate and Equity Fellows

From Bess Hjartarson (’24)

Resources and Opportunities

Rebecca Solnit’s Substack Meditations in an Emergency

Many of us are finding current events — social, political, environmental— challenging or evening discouraging. As we have found during the Summer Institutes and in between, it helps to talk about it, and to hear from each other what helps, and how each of us is responding. As part of that exchange, you may find hope or inspiration from Rebecca Solnit’s reporting and reflections.

“I believe we have the power to stand up for our rights and the rights of nature, the protection of the vulnerable (including nonhuman life and the planet), the rule of law, the values of equality, democracy, and justice. For the old E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one – motto of this country. To stand up in ways that matter and sometimes turn the tide… And here’s the beautiful thing I see, shining like a lighthouse across this stormy landscape. All that activity comes from love, and while a thousand things tell us in a thousand ways, and have all our American lives, that everything we want is private and personal and much of it is money and commodities, we are so much bigger than that. So much better than that. We want so much more than that, which is a testament to our idealism. By idealism I mean care for things beyond ourselves, where empathy, solidarity, generosity, commitment to the public realm and the collective good flourish.” -Rebecca Solnit

Student Climate & Conservation Congress:

In case you missed it, a last-minute opportunity shared by Sarah Griggs ’22 — and if it’s too late for one of your students to participate this year, keep an eye out for future opportunities! See the note from Sarah below:

Hi everyone,

I wanted to pass along a great (and very last-minute) opportunity: there are still spots open for this summer’s Student Climate & Conservation Congress (SC3), and if you know any students who’d benefit from an experience with other climate and sustainability leaders, now’s the time to encourage them to apply!

SC3 is a week-long leadership program for high school students passionate about climate, conservation, and community action. It takes place at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, from June 29 to July 5, 2025.

I’ll be heading down for a couple days this year to see it in action, and I’m really excited to get a glimpse of the work happening there. From everything I’ve heard from colleagues, it’s a transformative experience for students — one that helps them build skills, confidence, and connections with peers and professionals alike.

Quick details:

· Open to rising 9th–12th graders across the U.S.

· Hosted by the Green Schools Alliance in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

· Tuition assistance is available — funding may help reduce costs for students with financial need

Here’s the link with more info and the application: https://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/students-sc3

Please share widely with students, families, or colleagues who might know a great candidate — and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

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The Climate and Equity project is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.