Written by Taysha DeVaughan on April 2, 2019,
Reposted from https://www.samsva.org/engagement
On March 27th-31st S.A.M.S President Taysha DeVaughan attended the Climate Justice Alliance member convening in Albuquerque, NM. As a member group of the Alliance for Appalachia, SAMS leadership development is a key component of providing positive environmental stewardship for our region. On behalf of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards DeVaughan also serves as a member of the Coordinating Committee for the Alliance for Appalachia. As such she, along with 2 other members at A4A, had the opportunity to foster national connections and relationships with other organizations working on environmental justice issues. During the conveing DeVaughan was able to gather information on themes such as Zero Waste, Food Sovereignty, Public Transit, Energy Democracy, Efficient & Affordable Housing, Durable Housing, Land, Air & Water as well as Ecosystem Restoration & Stewardship. Some organizational connections included the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition, Indigenous Environmental Network, It Takes Roots and many more.
The members of the Climate Justice Alliance are creating a new center of gravity in the climate movement by uniting frontline communities, organizations, and networks into a formidable force. Their translocal organizing strategy and mobilizing capacity is building a Just Transition, away from extractive systems of production, consumption and political oppression, and towards resilient, regenerative and equitable economies. They believe that the process of transition must place race, gender, class and processes for decolonization and systems change at the center of the solutions equation in order to make it a truly Just Transition. #CJA19 #LivingOurPower
We would like to thank our partners at the Alliance for Appalachia & Climate Justice Alliance for the opportunity to build leadership within the S.A.M.S Organization and to amplify our voice in the national conversation around climate change.
www.theallianceforappalachia.org
