Upcoming events.
What If We Get It Right? - An Evening with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Join SPACE Gallery, Sierra Club Maine, Print, and a coalition of environmental organizations at Hannaford Hall for a special appearance by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. Johnson will be joined by special guest performers and discussing her provocative and joyous new book that asks the important question, “What If We Get It Right?”
This special evening is a homecoming celebration for the book, as Dr. Johnson currently serves as the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College, and culminates her 28 stop book tour across the country, including signature “climate variety show” events.
Through clear-eyed essays and 20 vibrant conversations, infused with data, poetry, and art, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson guides us through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice. Sugarcoating nothing, while imagining the myriad of opportunities we have to still get the future “right,” Johnson’s book invites musings from friends and contributors across the fields of culture and science. Visionary farmers and financiers, architects and advocates, help us conjure a flourishing future, one worth the effort it will take—from every one of us, with whatever we have to offer—to create.
In October and November, SPACE Gallery is thrilled to present the work of Olalekan Jeyifous in the SPACE Window Gallery, a visual artist featured in the book and part of Dr. Johnson’s curatorial project “Climate Futurism” which began at Pioneer Works in 2023. Jeyifous’s newly commissioned works are an extension of his project Frozen Neighborhoods, which reimagines Brooklyn from the 1990s on an alternate timeline—set within an alternate world in which the government combats climate change through a market-based system of so-called “mobility credits” that curtails movement of the poor and working classes.
Books will be available for purchase through Print: A Bookstore, and local environmental orgs will table in support of their work in the Hannaford Hall lobby.
$5 sugg. donation
Presented by SPACE Gallery at Hannaford Hall with support from:
Made possible with support from Becky Bartovics, Roger Berle and Lesley MacVane.
Models for Community Equity Ownership in Offshore Wind
Join us and Maine Climate Action Now on the evening of Wednesday, October 23rd to learn about the different models of ownership that could play out in offshore wind and explore possible realities regarding shared ownership or profit sharing.
A panel of experts will briefly describe models such as community investment; federal ownership; state ownership; public/private partnership; and cooperative ownership. After the presentation, a moderator will facilitate questions to the panel delving more deeply into abstract possibilities and on-the-ground realities on this topic.
Monthly Teach-In for Youth
Disability and Climate Justice
Wednesday, September 17th, 5 PM, on Zoom - For our September Teach-In for Youth, we'll be joined by Izzy Bailey, a Rehabilitation Counselor at the Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired in the Maine Department of Labor. Izzy will help us dig into the intersection of disability and climate justice. Discover how climate change disproportionately affects people with disabilities and how their voices and experiences are crucial in crafting inclusive, equitable environmental solutions.
Clean Transportation Festival
Clean Transportation Festival
Join us for an afternoon of fun celebrating clean transportation options. In addition to food, drinks, and games, there will be e-bike demonstrations, keynotes from leaders in the field, and opportunities to take action to support a clean transportation future. You'll have a chance to interact with the organizations leading on making our streets cleaner and safer through investment in public transit, active transportation, and better community design. Diamond Street will be closed to car traffic for the duration of the event. Bring your family and your friends to support a clean transportation future!
Event Partner Organizations
Floating Offshore Wind 101- An Educational Panel with Q&A
Floating Offshore Wind 101- An Educational Panel with Q&A
Offshore wind has incredible potential for Maine, including creating a sustainable and carbon-free source of homegrown energy; creating good-paying sustainable jobs; providing real benefits for Maine workers and communities; and giving a tangible plan for meeting the state's aggressive climate goals.
Free pizza and childcare will be provided.
Representative Ronald Russell (District 17) Rep. Ron Russell is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives. He is a member of the Labor and Housing Committee.
Rep. Russell and his wife, Jeanne, both grew up in eastern Maine and moved to their farmhouse on Verona Island in 1978. During his 42-year career in business with a large, diversified Maine company, Rep. Russell was proud to lead efforts to give back to the community. One of these initiatives, the company’s “Ice Cream For A Cause,” has raised money for several thousand Maine charities and causes since Rep. Russell helped launch the program in 2012.
Throughout his career and in retirement, Rep. Russell has been an active member of the community, volunteering with Northeast Historic Film, Main Street Bucksport, the Bucksport Community and Economic Development Committee and other local organizations. He has been involved with the Heart of Maine United Way for more than 20 years, including as a member of the board of directors.
Rep. Russell and his wife have four grown children – all graduates of Bucksport High School – and eight grandchildren.
Annie Ropeik, Independent Climate Journalist Annie Ropeik is an independent climate journalist in Camden. She previously reported for Spectrum News Maine in Portland and spent about a decade as a local public radio reporter in Alaska, Delaware, Indiana and New Hampshire. Her award-winning energy and environment reporting has appeared in Energy News Network and Inside Climate News and on NPR, the CBC and podcasts such as Outside/In and Living on Earth. A Maryland native and Boston University graduate, Annie serves on the board of the Society of Environmental Journalists.
Jack Shapiro, Climate and Clean Energy Program Director, NRCM Jack brings 15 years of advocacy, policy, and organizing experience to the NRCM climate and clean energy team. Prior to joining NRCM in 2021, Jack worked at Greenpeace USA and at Organizing for Action, pushing for ambitious federal climate policies. He served for four years as an appointee in the Obama Administration working on diverse issues ranging from conservation, clean energy, and green buildings to community resilience and biodefense. Jack has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s degree in Ethics, History, and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Originally from the Northwest, Jack lives in Brunswick with his family.
Sarah Haggerty, Conservation Biologist/GIS Manager, Maine Audubon
Scott Cuddy, Director of Membership Development, IBEW 1253
Monthly Teach-In for Youth
Water and Climate Justice
Water, the building block of life, is essential to survival yet often taken for granted. Many overlook the importance of water in the impending devastation of the climate crisis. But as this vital resource becomes scarce in the face of scorching droughts and rising global temperatures, water sovereignty is crucial to the vitality of communities. For many, this grim future is now. For our August Teach-In for Youth we’ll be joined by Luke Sekera-Flanders, co-founder of Community Water Justice, to discuss the state of water sovereignty in Maine.
This workshop will be virtual on Zoom
Luke Sekera - Flanders grew up in Fryeburg, along the Saco River. He has been involved in water justice advocacy since 2012 as a founding member of Community Water Justice, a network of communities across the state resisting water privatization and working toward just and responsible relationships between communities and the water bodies and sources they rely on. Luke is also a member of the Maine Youth for Climate Justice coalition, the Maine Environmental Changemakers Network, and works with other environmental organizations across the state.
Divest Maine Rally
Bring a sign, a friend, and, most importantly, yourself!
Join Divest Maine in showing Maine Public Employee Retirement System (MainePERS) that Mainers support fossil fuel divestment.
The climate can’t wait... it’s time to divest from fossil fuels now!
Climate Activist Support Space
We are excited to announce the return of MYCJ's Climate Activist Support Space for Youth!
Calls will occur on the last Mondays of the month at 7pm.
Our Support Calls for youth are a space to connect and process the climate crisis and some of the difficulties of climate activism in community - any youth (30 years and younger) living in Maine can join.
May Teach-In for Youth
It's been a while since we held an orientation event and there are a lot of new faces around here, so we thought we'd host one so that you all can learn more about MYCJ and the work we do, and how MYCJ can help you reach your climate activism goals!
Art for Divest Maine
Youth climate activist Scarlet Labbe-Watson will be presenting her senior project “Art for Divest Maine” at the Steel House in Rockland on May 15th.
Climate Activist Support Space
We are excited to announce the return of MYCJ's Climate Activist Support Space for Youth!
Calls will occur on the last Mondays of the month at 7pm.
Our Support Calls for youth are a space to connect and process the climate crisis and some of the difficulties of climate activism in community - any youth (30 years and younger) living in Maine can join.
April Teach-In for Youth
MYCJ’s April Teach-In for Youth will be all about the Maine Climate Council’s Youth Representatives who are helping shape Maine’s Climate Action Plan!
Annual Youth Day of Action
Join Maine Youth for Climate Justice, MEEA Changemakers, JustME for JustUS, Maine Youth Power and Maine Youth Action for our annual Youth Day of Action at the State House in Augusta on April 9th from 10am-2pm. We’ll kick off the day with a youth rally & press conference, and opportunities to engage with youth across the state of Maine, then we’ll head into the State House to meet our legislators and lobby for climate justice!
There will also be an option to join virtually and take action at home!
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
Women & Gender Expansive Cohort Meeting
You're invited to the 2024 kickoff of MYCJ's Women & Gender Expansive Cohort! Join our first meeting on Tuesday March 26th at 5pm!
The purpose of this cohort has always been to create a safe space for any human who identifies as a woman, transgender, and nonbinary person to feel invited and included in the culture of climate activism. In this new iteration of the cohort, we will work to support, grow, diversify, and challenge ourselves to be heard and represented equally within our communities and social environments. This first meeting will be low-key and interactive, with the hope of collaborative mapping out the next few months of cohort programming with our collective needs and desires in mind. We hope to see you there!
Climate Activist Support Space
We are excited to announce the return of MYCJ's Climate Activist Support Space for Youth!
Calls will occur on the last Mondays of the month at 7pm.
Our Support Calls for youth are a space to connect and process the climate crisis and some of the difficulties of climate activism in community - any youth (30 years and younger) living in Maine can join.
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
March Teach-In for Youth
MYCJ’s March Teach-In for Youth will be a Legislative Training and Youth Day of Action Information Session!
MYCJ College Cohort Meeting
Come join a community gathering space of Maine college students who care about their climate and want to work together to help protect the magical beauty of Maine!
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
Letter Writing Party for Wabanaki Sovereignty Legislation
MYCJ is hosting a LTE writing party for L.D. 2007 on Tuesday March 5th at 6pm!
Join MYCJ and youth across the State as we draft Letters-to-the-Editor in support of the Wabanaki Self-Determination Bill (LD 2007). Any Mainer under the age of 30 is welcome! During this writing party, we'll provide context and talking points to help us draft our letters, then we will turn on some music and do some writing! MYCJ staff will be there to help answer any questions you have while you draft your letter! We will then walk through submitting our letters to our local papers. Bring your friends!
Rising Tides Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Climate Science, Justice and Action in Maine: Learn how climate change impacts Maine's ocean and coastline and what you can do about it in this six-part participatory online series! This program is free for Maine youth aged 13 - 18 and will occur weekly on Zoom from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays February 28 - April 3, 2024.
Climate Activist Support Space
We are excited to announce the return of MYCJ's Climate Activist Support Space for Youth!
Calls will occur on the last Mondays of the month at 7pm.
Our Support Calls for youth are a space to connect and process the climate crisis and some of the difficulties of climate activism in community - any youth (30 years and younger) living in Maine can join.
February Teach-In for Youth
MYCJ’s February Teach-In for Youth will cover the 2024 Legislation for Wabanaki Self-Determination and Wabanaki Studies in Maine Public Schools