COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CONVERSATIONS A CAMPUS-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE WELL-BEING IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE CHRISTIE MANNING, ROOPALI PHADKE, SAMANTHA BURLAGER MACALESTER COLLEGE

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS IN THIS WORK

 Significant changes predicted for Minnesota  Extreme weather climate impacts  Demographic transition  Who is most vulnerable to climate impacts?  Who is involved in the discussions and decision-making? PROJECT CONTEXT

 Make climate change local, tangible, personal  Invite new voices into climate adaptation planning  Foster network of community leaders  Understand concerns and priorities at neighborhood level PROJECT GOALS

PROJECT SCOPE

STEP 1: COMMUNITY PARTNERS

STEP 2: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS

PRIMER FOR PARTICIPANTS

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CONVERSATION?

PARTICIPANT DIVERSITY

By the end of the meeting… Our goal is to generate a list of shared concerns and actions that provide guidance to the district council and city officials about how we prepare and plan for the impacts of climate change. While we know preventing climate change is important, our focus today is how we can we be both READY & RESILIENT for the changes that are coming. PARTICIPANT CHARGE

SAMPLE AGENDA Introductions Mapping Activity Background Information on Climate Change Impacts Video and Discussion about Heat Waves Dinner Creating an Action Plan Closing Remarks

STEP 3: FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH CITY STAFF

OUR LEARNING  Barriers  Knowledge/information gaps  Other, more pressing concerns  Historical marginalization

“I appreciate how we were incentivized to come; from communities of color, and especially low income communities of color, this approach is something that is underutilized in our community, and is something that we need to look at, and I appreciate y’all doing it like this because you’re gonna get a lot more participation and a feeling that people really want to help, and I think you’re going to get a better group of people.”

OUR LEARNING  Barriers  Knowledge/information gaps  Other, more pressing concerns  Historical marginalization  Sources of encouragement  Energy and motivation once barriers are addressed  Strong concern for climate change impacts  Recognition of importance of community networks

 “We live in neighborhoods not communities. We’re isolated from each other so this has been cathartic for me just to see what other people think  “We developed a sense of community”  “At some point, we are going to really need each other in a big way, and [I] want to get to know [my] neighbors”

OUR LEARNING  Barriers  Knowledge/information gaps  Other, more pressing concerns  Historical marginalization  Sources of encouragement  Energy and motivation once barriers are addressed  Strong concern for climate change impacts  Recognition of importance of community networks  And a word of caution…  Vulnerable communities may be least trusting of government or other “outsiders”

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS