Pandora Thomas Earthseed Consulting Black Permaculture Network Health and Climate Change: What is at risk, what can be done?

SANKOFA

Climate Change disproportionately impacts those that are least responsible- namely people of color. African Americans 1.Emit 20% less carbon dioxide emissions than whites and nearly 18% less than all other Americans 2.71% of African Americans live in counties in violation of federal air pollutions standards and 78% live within 30 miles of coal-fired plant. They are also more likely to live near a landfill or incinerator 3.Have 36% higher rate of asthmas(and die at twice the rate than whites) 4.Have greater risk of heat related deaths(which will increase by at least 90% due to climate change) due to being more likely to live in inner cities 5.Have a higher tendency to live in coastal areas, which will be impacted as sea levels rise 6.Experience food insecurity rate of 25.7%, much higher than national average which is 14.6% 7.Increases in economic insecurity can drive rises in crime in all communities 8.Natural disasters have shown to result in spikes in physical and sexual violence against women and girls

Edreana Black

THE PROBLEM Tens of thousands of people released from California Prisons into a broken system of Re- Entry

THE SOLUTION Tens of thousands of individuals Re-Entering our communities!

THE SOLUTION Mandela Welcome + Permaculture Design  

Pathways to Resilience Green Life/ Planting Justice/ Earthseed Impact Hub Oakland/ Merritt College SELC/United Roots -5 month training program Ceremony and Ritual -Circles of Reconnection -Case Management and Stipends -Permaculture Design Course -Social Enterprise Immersion -Community Ownership -Community Immersion -Capstone Experience -Media Documentation -Graduation and Celebration -Job and Apprenticeship Placement

Lessons and principles from natural systems FEED WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE GROW: Create the conditions that will favor the things or situations you want, rather than focusing on what we don’t want How are we framing the issue (are we defining something only as a “problem” instead of also seeing the potential) OBSERVE AND INTERACT(OR LISTEN) with and to existing networks, groups, communities BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP-Respect the roots of culture, place, and people. How are we functioning alongside and in support of existing relationships and structures? What seeds have already been planted How do we tend existing healthy systems What existing leadership potential or messages can we leverage ENHANCE “SOCIAL EDGES AND ECOTONES” in mutually beneficial ways (the boundary between two biological communities and the transition zone between two ecological communities- the result can have greater fertility, productivity and diversity than either of the other two)

5.Cultural Competence IS a part of “ecological” competence: – Awareness of your own cultural view – Awareness of your attitude towards cultural difference – Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews – Cross-cultural skill building How can we build relationships between issues and make the links in our work?

Articles/Authors cited Starhawks Common Sense Permaculture Principles – 6/starhawks-common-sense-permaculture- principles/ The Hidden Consequences of Climate Change: –

Thank you and have a beautiful day!!