Turning fear into community-based activism with sunrise movement (interview with steven marquardt of sunrise movement)
Steven Marquardt (@jinku_baby) is a community organizer and Hub Coordinator Fellow with Sunrise Movement Chico, a chapter of the notable youth-led climate activist organization Sunrise Movement (@sunrisemvmt).
In this podcast episode, Steven sheds light on why he wasn't interested at first in getting political and what changed his mind; how you can get started with taking and leading community-based action; and more.
To start, get a glimpse below into the conversation between Steven and Green Dreamer Podcast's host, Kamea Chayne.
Musical feature: Trust The Sun by Power to Change by Luna Bec
“Environmentalism is the umbrella in which every social justice issue is affected by and intertwined with.”
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This is a conversation on Green Dreamer with Kamea Chayne, a podcast and multimedia journal illuminating our paths towards ecological balance, intersectional sustainability, and true abundance and wellness for all. This preview has been edited for clarity. Subscribe to Green Dreamer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or any podcast app to stay informed and updated on our latest episodes.
On the importance of demanding systemic change:
“It's great that we can make individual changes—there are so many things we can do. We can divest from the big banks; we can change our diets; we can drive less and fly less. Those are good changes and are important to do.
But at the end of the day, sadly, all of us changing our individual behaviors is not going to be enough to stop the extraction of fossil fuels and the unsustainable practices of industrialized society.”
On how environmentalism relates to social justice:
"We need to help people realize that climate change and environmentalism are not just about the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and protecting our parks.
It is an intersectional issue; it's a racial justice issue; it's an economic issue. Environmentalism is the umbrella in which every social justice issue is affected by and intertwined with.
Final words of wisdom:
“There are a lot of issues. Find an issue that matters to you that you feel passionate about, and find the most fun and creative way to tackle that issue.
I think that's going to lead you to a really good place.“
