Taproot Earth

19 years ago today, Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf South. In her wake, Katrina left a devastating loss of people, land and regional culture. In the months following the Katrina Disaster, many Gulf South communities activated in the face of state inaction, mobilizing to restore their communities and themselves. On August 23rd, Taproot Earth, The Foundation for Louisiana and the Ashe Cultural Arts Center of New Orleans held a remembrance dinner honoring these unsung heroes, holding space to celebrate a history of resistance — and officially launching the Katrina 20 Local Committee. The Katrina 20 Local Committee is a community-led collective tasked with commemorating the 20 years of survival, resistance, culture, joy and community power displayed in the aftermath of Katrina and subsequent climate disasters. Over the next 12 months, the Katrina 20 Local Committee will examine what the community has learned, archive and capture frontline stories and solutions and engage in collective visioning of a sustainable future — culminating in the official commemoration of Katrina 20 in August 2025. If you are a directly-impacted member of Hurricane Katrina, and want to get involved, please apply to join the committee by visiting bit.ly/KATRINA20NOW. #Katrina19 #WeChooseNow #Katrina20

While the climate crisis needs bold leadership, good policies, and (some) technology innovation, we will not meet climate goals without fundamentally shifting how we value one another, and the precious ecosystems we depend on. How do we move away from a culture of extraction, disconnection, and scarcity? How do we build one of abundance, security, and care? Beyond grateful to gather with these water and climate justice leaders at PolicyLink’s Equity Summit next week on this very topic. See you there? 🌎 ✊🏾www.equitysummit2024.org 🫶🏾💧 #EquitySummit2024 #LoveAndSoul #WECRCaucus #ClimateAction #WaterEquity Thank you Benny Starr, Denise Fairchild, PhD (Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC)), Anthony Ramón Pérez Soto (Earth Guardians), Colette Pichon Battle (Taproot Earth), and Houston Cypress (Love The Everglades Movement, Inc.) for sharing your wisdom and hearts. 💕

It was an honour to be amongst the great minds that convened at Nairobi, Kenya for the Global Climate Reparation Assembly in early August. The far reaching effects of climate change have become a major highlight in this generation's list of human rights issues. This assembly was a gathering of footmen from the frontlines from different continents representing places adversely affected by climate change. We had a collective but singular goal of defining “Global Climate Reparation”. In doing so, diverse opinions and vulnerabilities were shared from personal experiences, and in representative capacities. From discussions, resolves were made to take the initiative that empowers climate action towards attaining climate justice. Commitments were also renewed to make global change through local and global action. I would like to thank Taproot Earth for this great initiative, her Global facilitators for excellent execution, Lapid Leaders Africa for hosting us, my Kenyan siblings for their hospitality, and all the participants at the assembly for the brilliant exchange of ideas and intellect on defining “Global Climate Reparations”. I look forward to continuous participation in similar discussions and engagement that influences policies and promotes human rights. #humanrights #climateaction #climatechange #climatejustice #climatereparations #taprootearth

CAPPA at the last #GlobalClimateReparations Governance Assembly organised by Taproot Earth in Kenya. The gathering deepened collaboration among frontline #ClimateChange campaigners across the world. We redefined climate reparations and dismantled age-long corporate and political narratives that support sustained infractions and those that delay responsibilities and by extension justice. We harmonised what accountability, repair, redemption and rebuild means to us and concluded that acknowledgement of historical liabilities, transparency, respect for communal ethics and growth patterns are the first steps to reparation followed closely by the just redistribution of resources, land sovereignty, systems change, debt cancellation, black liberation and maximum respect to black culture, identity and historical antecedents. The call for the rejection of imperial styles and systems was also made. Thank you Taproot Earth, we came back with fertile seeds and we will pollinate them across our networks. Taproot Earth

I tell you a little story. We converged in Nairobi Kenya, and the goal was focused! It was the Global Climate Reparations Governance Assembly that brought over 150 #climate #frontline leaders together for alignment/realignment, relationship deepening, and building a shared analysis towards climate justice rooted in Black and indigenous peoples' liberation. At the phenomenal Assembly, convened by Taproot Earth, we collectively created a reflective, intentional, and inclusive definition of climate reparations while grounding ourselves in our collective rootedness and acknowledging the histories, struggles, and accomplishments that have gone before us. Liberation does not come by passive nods and hypocritic ideals of political correctness paraded as policies, and neither does climate reparations. The right hands must be on deck, and suppression must be resisted. We therefore did not shy away from making uncomfortable choices, resisting and redefining our collective heritage to set the stage for what we deserve. "We", being our lands, our histories, our future, our lives, our communities, and our essence. Strength. Courage. Justice. Àṣẹ! #Climatereparations #ClimateJustice #GCR #GlobalAssembly

I was honored to join over 250 dedicated individuals committed to climate action at the Global Climate Reparations Assembly in Nairobi, where we came together to work toward a shared understanding of #globalclimatereparations. This impactful gathering, organized by Taproot Earth in collaboration with Lapid Leaders Africa, highlighted the importance of developing a just and equitable framework for Global Climate Reparations, designed with frontline communities in mind. The event also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Lapid Leaders Africa—a significant milestone in their mission to nurture responsible young African leaders. This moment underscored the vital role that women and young people play in advancing positive change across political, environmental, and climate arenas, not only in Kenya but across Africa and beyond. I look forward to many more such impactful engagements dedicated to #climatejustice.

Just wrapped up an incredibly enriching week in Nairobi Kenya with Taproot Earth where we engaged in critical discussions on climate justice, social justice and the liberation of Black and Indigenous communities as we worked on defining “Global Climate Reparations”. It was an honor to engage with and learn from people worldwide who are on the frontlines of these struggles. I was also inspired by the passionate advocates and activists committed to driving meaningful change in their respective communities and globally. This week was a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of centering marginalized voices in our fight for a more just and sustainable world. I look forward to continuing these crucial conversations and turning ideas into action. #climatejustice #climatereparations #socialjustice #redefinethefuture Taproot Earth Lapid Leaders Africa

It was an absolute privilege participating in the groundbreaking discourse on #ClimateReparations at the Global Climate Reparations Assembly overseen by Taproot Earth in conjunction with Lapid Leaders Africa. ●The Assembly highlighted the need [and the configurations] for a just and equitable definition of Global Climate Reparations generated by and for the frontline communities. The 10 year celebrations (marking a milestone of training and bringing up responsible young African leaders) by Lapid Leaders Africa were the climactic moment illustrative of how women and young people are an indispensable and now, inevitable force for driving positive change in #political #environmental and #climatechange spaces not just in Kenya but Africa and globally. Looking forward to many more such impactful engagements dedicated to climate justice for the marginalised and frontline (Black, African and indigenous) communities.

Já estamos no quarto dia da Assembleia Global de Governança em Nairobi a convite da Taproot Earth e o que posso te dizer é que muito está sendo discutido e feito para que haja reparação e libertação.

Day 3 of the Taproot Earth Global Climate Reparations Assembly... #TaprootEarth #GlabalReparation #BlackEarth Representating the Sustainable Energy Access Forum Kenya (SEAF-K)