Jessica Olson
While attending the 2016 Sierra Student Coalition’s Summer Grassroots Training Program (SPROG) in Courtland, Virginia I was first introduced to the connections between gender, equity, and the environment through a group activity led by Jessica Olson. It was during that activity where I first learned about intersecting constituencies within the environmental movement. Eager to learn more about the work being done in the realm of gender and population, I approached Jessica, a Sierra Club Gender, Equity and Environment Program staffer, following the activity about the 2016 Fall Workshop on Gender, Equity, and the Environment in Washington, D.C. A quick conversation later, and I knew I would be starting my application the minute I got home...and I am extremely glad I did. My weekend in D.C. was one of the most enlightening, powerful, and inspiring experiences of my life.
The agenda for the weekend was jam-packed with amazing speakers from, among others, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Refugee International, and Planned Parenthood. With each presentation and speaker, I found more and more connections between each organization's causes. The systems of oppression that are pre-existing in our society reach every sector of progressive work, from environmental justice, to reproductive rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and economic justice. It is important for activists to remember that when they do not address or attempt to break down these systems of oppression, they are contributing to them. My biggest takeaway from the weekend was that no matter your cause, we all must work together to make this world a more accepting place.
One of the most important aspects of the workshop were the attendees. Never have I been with such a diverse, motivated, and empowered group of people. There were so many passionate people with different missions, backgrounds, and accomplishments all sitting in one room. The different perspectives made for interesting discussions and conversations. Even more inspiring was that there were so many different representatives from various social movements who were all eager to learn about the connections between gender, population, and the environment and who were also eager to learn how they could use the knowledge gained from this weekend to further their own causes. This kind of willingness to learn is what gives me hope for the next four years.
The current state of the world and America is less than ideal, to say it lightly. But to know that groups of young people all over the country are joining together to learn organizing skills and ways to create a more accepting world is reassuring. This workshop connected me with people all around the country who are supportive, accepting, and equally as passionate about effectuating change. I encourage anyone interested in learning about organizing, the intersection of activist causes, and about world improvement to attend the 2017 Spring Workshop on Gender, Equity, and the Environment.