Organizing a conference or workshop (9 points) - Samiah Lewis

 

    I created “Environmentalism 101: Rooted in Justice” at Spelman to bridge the gap between environmental awareness and social justice. The goal of this workshop was to educate and empower fellow students from all demographics, across different majors, classifications, and backgrounds, to understand how environmental issues like climate change, food insecurity, and urban development are deeply intertwined with racial and economic inequality. 

    My session began with an open conversation about how climate change disproportionately impacts Black communities, both locally in Atlanta and across the United States. I introduced the concept of environmental racism, explaining how systemic neglect, industrial zoning, and underinvestment in infrastructure have left many Black neighborhoods more vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate. We discussed examples such as higher rates of asthma due to pollution, limited access to green spaces, and increased exposure to flooding and heat. 

    Using Atlanta as a case study, I highlighted the city’s role as an urban heat island, where excessive pavement, a lack of tree canopy, and continuous construction lead to significantly higher temperatures in predominantly Black neighborhoods. I explained how these rising temperatures worsen public health outcomes and energy costs, and how the ongoing removal of trees for new apartment complexes and road expansions only deepens the problem. 

    We then shifted to food deserts, exploring how many predominantly Black and Brown communities lack access to fresh and affordable produce. The audience reflected on how this affects community health, mental well-being, and self-sufficiency. The discussion naturally connected to environmental justice and how unequal access to resources and nature reflects deeper structural inequities. 

    Throughout the workshop, rather than just speaking at the audience, I invited others to share their personal experiences. One student from Chicago spoke about how climate change has affected her city. She talked about fluctuating Lake Michigan water levels and how increasingly extreme temperatures have put unhoused and low-income residents in danger. Others shared how their hometowns also face challenges with food deserts, environmental neglect, and a lack of green infrastructure. These discussions helped all of us recognize that environmental injustice is not isolated to one place, it’s a nationwide issue. These issues connect our communities through shared struggle. 

    Then, I ended the workshop with a hands-on activity based on reconnecting with nature. I led a potting and propagation session where each participant learned how to pot and propagate snake plants and golden pothos, which are plants known for their resilience and air-purifying qualities. They got to name their plants and take them home as living reminders of my workshop’s message. 

    I shared how plants and trees are not just aesthetically pleasing but essential to our psychological and physiological well-being. I used this as an opportunity to remind others that reconnecting with nature can also be an act of resistance and healing, especially in urban environments where green spaces are pretty limited. 

    We concluded the workshop by brainstorming ways we, as college students, can contribute to environmental justice, even within the constraints of campus life. Some of the ideas included: Advocating for more trees and green spaces surrounding campus, supporting local Black-owned farms and farmer’s markets, participating in community clean-up events, reducing plastic use, promoting sustainable campus initiatives, educating peers about environmental racism and its impact, etc. 

Samiah Lewis

CO'27