AAPI Climate Justice Convening
October 18-20, 2023 | The LINE LA | Los Angeles, CA
Bringing together AAPI community leaders, experts and allies to address climate justice and equity, with an emphasis on the NHPI lens.
Climate justice is a top priority.
The climate crisis impacts us all and disproportionately impacts communities of color who are often left out of the conversations on solutions.
Two years ago, the AAPI Victory Alliance made history by creating the first think tank to center AAPIs. Through our initial polling and analysis, we found a gap in research looking at how climate change affects the AAPI community. The climate change issue is regarded as urgent and important within the wide and diverse AAPI communities, as well as intersects with our other priority policy areas. That’s why we are using our role as conveners to bring together climate change experts and AAPI community leaders to ensure that the specific concerns of our communities are centered in these conversations and, most importantly, heard by those in power.
The Climate Justice Convening: Details
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To increase understanding and visibility on how the climate crisis is uniquely impacting AAPI communities, and how organizational and civic leaders can serve AAPI communities.
To kickstart a coalition of leaders to meet regularly to continue this conversation, as well as demand accountability from our elected officials.
To build community power in AAPI communities.
To create more effective climate action across individual, community and system levels.
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What does a just transition to a clean economy look like for our Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian American communities?
Who and what are being left out of the climate and environmental justice conversation, as it pertains to Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian American communities?
How are we going to deliver bold and meaningful change when Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are a part of this conversation? What would meaningful change look like?
Agenda
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6 PM - 8 PM
Early Registration and Networking
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8 AM - 9 AM: Breakfast
9 AM - 10 AM: Welcome
10 AM - 10:30 AM: Keynote Speaker - Charming Evelyn
10:30 AM - 12 PM: Fireside Chat: “Justice for Whom: Uplifting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Voices”
Framing climate change within the context of AAPI communities, especially how NHPIs are experiencing the most extreme effects of climate change, resulting in loss of land and livelihood. Include insights about climate migration and how natural disasters, especially for islands, are forcing people to migrate.
Moderator: Jennifer Chau, AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member
Speaker: Nile Bunger, AZ AANHPI For Equity
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM - 2 PM: Presentation: “Policies and Economics: Inflation Reduction Act Opportunities”
Presenter: Ning Mosberger-Tang, AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member
2 PM - 3:30 PM: Community Building and Reflections
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM: Closing
4 PM - 6 PM: Reception
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9 AM - 10 AM: Breakfast
10 AM - 10:15 AM: Welcome Back
10:15 AM - 12 PM: Session: “Power Hour: A Just Energy Transition”
Speaker: Darrell Clarke, Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
12 PM - 1 PM” Break and Networking
1 PM - 2:30 PM: Panel: “Investing in Our Collective Future and Young People”
Moderator: Sung Yeon Choimorrow, AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member
Panelist: Erin Purdie, SEIU
Panelist: Sim Marcel-Bilal, Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM: Closing
Note: Schedule may be subject to change day-of.
Speakers
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Nile is a multiracial Ocean/Environmental activist of black, white, and south pasefika descent with a love for all animals and the outdoors. While working on her Environmental Science degree, she obtained a certificate in Marine and Antarctic Science as well as completing a children and climate specific course through UN Climate Change Learning. Aside from this, she was a Formal UNA-USA Delegate for the United Nations CSW 66th discussing gender equality for women and girls related to the topic on Climate Change and Environmental Disaster Risks. In the past 12 years she has gained work experience with marine wildlife, conservation, climate education, and political awareness. Nile is passionate about civic engagement and bridging the gap between our climate crisis being seen as a political issue, instead of a human existence issue. She believes the first key step in tackling our climate crisis is to talk about our climate crisis, and the connection between climate injustice and racial injustices.
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Erin is the Political Manager at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). She is the Youth Civic Engagement Director, Rights Restoration Civic Engagement Director and leads the union’s voting rights work.
In her capacity as Youth CE Director, Erin has worked with various youth-led and youth-oriented organizations to empower, engage and mobilize young voters across the country.
Prior to joining SEIU, she worked on Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, on Capitol Hill, and for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Erin is based out of Washington, D.C.
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Charming is a product of Sierra Club International. Her love affair for the environment has always been there but was given a name/voice when she first received a Sierra news magazine from Sierra Club over 30 years ago. It gave voice to some things she had always done in her life such as conservation of water, electricity, awareness and gratitude for open space and clean swimmable water. She grew up next to the ocean and spent a lot of time at the beach. Nothing beats clear blue water and seeing starfish and other ocean life gently floating beneath your feet.
She has a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Guyana and serves as the Chair of the Angeles Chapter Water Committee and Vice Chair of the Environmental & Social Justice Committees. The Angeles Chapter serves LA and Orange Counties. She is also the Co-Chair of Sierra Club CA Water Committee.
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Sim is a youth climate organizer from South LA, specializing in community empowerment, civic engagement and voter outreach to BIPOC youth. He co-founded Youth Interest PAC and hosts strikes for Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles.
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Ning is the founder and president of 1.5°Climate Strategies Group. She has a background in computer science and worked for a number of years in the tech industry, including a few years developing Google’s early advertising platforms. Since 2006, she has focused on conservation and environmental education, climate change mitigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy. She does her work through a private foundation, a social welfare non-profit, and as a private investor in cleantech startups. She also serves on multiple boards including League of Conservation Voters and AAPI Victory Alliance. Ning received her B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Arizona.
The 1.5°Climate Strategies Group is a nationally recognized donor collaborative that is focused on identifying a comprehensive range of impactful and equitable climate solutions and mobilizing the necessary resources to rapidly catalyze and scale up these solutions. Our organization prides itself on promoting collaboration as a means of effecting meaningful change.
Current members include board members and/or employees of Wallace Global Fund, National Education Association, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Preston-Werner Foundation, donor advisors for wealthy individuals, as well as many successful entrepreneurs, investors, and other climate donors.
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Darrell is the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Transportation chair and Conservation Committee co-chair, where his greatest focus is on climate solutions. He is also a member of Move LA’s leadership board, served on Metro’s Community Advisory Council and the City of Santa Monica’s Planning Commission, and was a founder and co-chair of Friends 4 Expo Transit which won approval of the Expo Line light rail from downtown L.A. to Santa Monica.