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Inclusion Conference

CCL's Inclusion Conference

Rising Above: Renewal and Resilience for Our Future

Sept. 20-21, 2024

Online

Conference Overview

As a grassroots movement, our work thrives when we actively seek out and welcome everyone. Each person’s unique values and perspectives enrich the tapestry of our advocacy. Join us at CCL’s Inclusion Conference, Rising Above: Renewal and Resilience For Our Future where we will explore new energy, opportunities, and ideas as we center belonging and justice to forge a sustainable future where we all thrive.

This conference is organized and led by CCL’s Affinity Action Teams including: Asian Pacific, Climate and Culture, Differently ABLED, Environmental Justice, Higher Education, Latinos, LGBTQIA+ and Allies OUTreach, Listening to Indigenous Voices, Peace Corps, People of the Global Majority, and Youth. Learn more about the Action Teams on CCL Community.

Featured Speakers

Program

Time Zone displayed: Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Friday, Sept. 20, 2024

“Nations of Water” is a documentary film that emerged from a broader academic project focused on exploring the intersection of law and climate-induced migration in the Pacific. While positive law has only marginally adapted to the needs of those forced to flee due to climate change, the Pacific islands stand at the forefront of this crisis. The region faces these challenges without the support of a regional human rights protection system, adding to the complexity of the situation.

The nations of Oceania, severely impacted by erosion, flooding, soil salinization, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, are not merely passive victims. They represent thousands of people determined to remain on their ancestral lands by anticipating displacement scenarios and actively contributing to the creation of solutions.

This project has evolved into a remarkable human endeavor, involving numerous contributors, including experts, academics, field leaders, and members of international organizations from Australia, Hawaii, Kiribati, Niue, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Their efforts have been further enriched by the collaboration of Lynn Englum, a researcher dedicated to combating climate change. Her project, “Vanishing Places,” has provided invaluable images of territories, communities, and ecosystems under direct threat.

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024

Headshot of Rachel Kerestes, a Caucasian woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, smiling warmly at the camera. She is wearing a light purple blouse and is photographed against a soft-focused, dark gray background.

Rachel Kerestes

Executive Director, CCL/CCE

Karina Ramirez

Diversity and Inclusion Director, CCL/CCE

Introduced by Daniel Opoku, member of CCL Climate & Culture Action Team

Photo of Frank X Walker

Frank X. Walker

Multidisciplinary artist and educator, first African American writer to be named Kentucky Poet Laureate

Introduced by Mike Roman, member of CCL Peace Corps Action Team.

photo of Ambassador Teburoro Tito

Hon. Teburoro Tito

Ambassador to the U.S. and Permanent Representative to the UN Kiribati Mission to the UN

To build an inclusive chapter, you need to identify the needs of your local community through multiple long-term conversations. Learn about a game-changing approach to community building and inclusion that can help build instrumental partnerships with needed stakeholders to impact system change.

Introduced by Giovanna Santo, CCL Higher Education Action Team Member & CCL Broward Chapter Member.

photo of keely lewis

Keely Lewis

CCL New Orleans Group Chapter Leader, CCL Lousiana Co-State Coordinator and Community Organizer

Power is an unlimited spiritual resource that fuels limitless transformation. By realigning ourselves individually and collectively with spiritual values, we can harness this infinite potential to drive impactful climate action. Reconceptualizing power this way empowers us to overcome the lethargy and fragility of today and build a renewed and resilient tomorrow.

Introduced by Allison Fabrizio, member of CCL People of the Global Majority Action Team.

photo of Julian Cauzae

Julian Cauzae

Founder of Zenethica

“Likely voters.” That describes you and me, right? We vote. In Presidential elections. Most of the time… Nope, “Likely voters” means the people who show up for EVERY election. Midterms. Primaries. Midterm primaries. Special elections for city council members. Run-off elections for dog catcher. (What even is the board of supervisors anyway?) Every. Election.

Likely voters are the people who determine elections. If you and I don’t vote, then elected officials do not have the political backing, from us, to champion the policies that WE want. They have to prioritize the issues for the likely voters who DO show up.

But what if you moved and don’t know your new area’s registration details? What if you don’t have time to figure out who’s on your ballot?

Well, come to our ballot research party! We’ll teach you how to host your own ballot research party with your friends, and also allow some space for us in the session to do some homework on our own individual ballots.

Introduced by Edidiong Mendie, CCL Environmental Justice Action Team Co-Leader.

photo of Debbie Chang

Debbie Chang

CCL Alabama Huntsville Chapter Group Leader and CCL Environmental Justice Action Team Steering Committee Member

Resilient Advocacy explores practical mindfulness techniques to sustain resilience and peace of mind while engaging in climate advocacy. Discover how to manage stress, stay focused, and maintain your well-being amidst the challenges of climate action. Together, we’ll develop strategies to nurture both your advocacy efforts and your mental health.

Introduced by Isabella Rappaccioli, CCL Latinos Action Team Member.

photo of arlene jm grant

Arlene J.M. Grant, Esq.

CCL Volunteer, Baltimore, MD Chapter

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

Who is invited to attend the Inclusion Conference?

Everyone is invited to participate. There are many ways to contribute to the success of CCL’s mission, and we encourage those who are able to join us virtually for our Inclusion Conference to please register.

How do I register?

You can register above, or go to our Eventbrite registration page. Registration will remain open through the conference hours.

Is there a registration fee?

No, this is a free event. If you would like to support CCL’s work, including our virtual conferences, you can make a donation on our website or make a suggested donation of $25.00 (or any amount of your choosing) when you complete your registration. Thank you for your donation!

What should I do if I need to cancel?

Although this is a free virtual event and we plan to have space for all, we would like to have an accurate count of attendees. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible by email.

Program & Agenda

Where can I find the conference schedule?

We’ll be making updates to the program as we get closer to the virtual conference, so be sure to check back for the most up-to-date agenda. You do not have to sign up for specific sessions, you can log in to whichever session you choose the day of the conference.

Technology

How do I connect to the virtual conference?

We’ll be using Zoom for this conference. For the best experience on Zoom, be sure to update your Zoom app to the latest version. We’ll be sending reminder emails in the week leading up to the conference with more details on how to access each session.

If you have any issues connecting to Zoom or experience audio or video problems, visit the Zoom Support Help Center. 

Video conference etiquette & tips:

  1. We suggest you use earbuds or headphones rather than your computer speakers & mic for better sound quality and reduced feedback.
  2. Please mute your mic when you are not speaking. All conference sessions will mute participants upon entry. 
  3. If you have unstable internet, try to turn your video off and close all internet browsers and windows on your computer.
  4. Plan to restart your computer before the event begins.

The conference agenda can be found on the conference website (in the “Program” section). You can see the session titles, times, descriptions, and speaker names. On the day of the conference, Zoom connection information will be available. Click the “Join via Zoom” button next to the session you’d like to join. Zoom will open in your web browser, and give you the option to open the meeting in your Zoom Application if you have it downloaded.

If you are joining by phone, find your local number to dial: https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/u/adtOOuWWAo, or, U.S. Toll-free 1-877-369-0926 or 1-855-880-1246. Each session’s Zoom Meeting ID will be available in the Program section which you can enter when prompted on the phone.

What if I have technical issues participating virtually?

To improve audio/video quality, close all applications and other browser windows. You can read this support topic to learn how to turn on closed captions. If you have problems connecting, please visit Zoom’s support site.

How do I find the video conference login information for each session?

You can check back on this conference website (scroll up on this page) the morning of the conference to find the video conference access information for each session. You can see the session titles, times, descriptions, and speaker names. On the day of the conference, Zoom connection information will be available. 

Click the “Join via Zoom” button next to the session you’d like to join. Zoom will open in your web browser, and give you the option to open the meeting in your Zoom Application if you have it downloaded.