Climate Mic Drop

STORY POWER IN A CHANGING WORLD

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

ACT I: THE OPENING CHAPTER — Setting the Stage

🕣 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM

Locked 9:00–9:10 | Why Stories Move Us
Welcome from summit organizers
Opening performance/Opening Invocation by Grandmother Joan Henry (Tsalagi)

9:10–9:35 | Panel – Indigenous Storytelling as Lineage, Legacy & Protecting Future Generations
Speakers: Sachem Hawkstorm, Eriel Deranger (Indigenous Climate Action), Cherie Tirikatene Le Cheminant (Tāmata Hauhā) 

Moderator: Mitzy Clementina Bautista 

For Indigenous peoples, storytelling is lineage, law, and a living map for safeguarding what matters most. This conversation brings together Sachem HawkStorm (hereditary Sachem of the Schaghticoke First Nations and land rights advocate), Eriel Deranger (Indigenous Climate Action), and Cherie Tirikatene Le Cheminant (Tāmata Hauhā), with moderation by Mitzy Clementina Bautista (Quechua Aymara communicator and cultural strategist). Together, they will explore how ancestral knowledge and oral traditions sustain resilience, protect future generations, and chart pathways to climate justice rooted in reciprocity and belonging.

9:35–9:55 | Fireside Chat - Stories from the Frontlines: Community, Civil Rights, and Action
Elizabeth Yeampierre (UPROSE), Reverend Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus)

In this fireside chat, two of the most influential voices in today’s climate justice movement—Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, and Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus—will come together to reflect on how stories from the frontlines can unify and mobilize the climate movement. Drawing from legacies of civil rights, community organizing, culture, and faith, they will explore how narrative can bridge divides, honor lived experience, and chart a path toward collective action and justice.

9:55–10:25 |  Rights of Nature, Indigenous Rights, and Investigative Journalism

As climate change accelerates, journalism is not only a tool for informing the public but also for shaping cultural values around what—and who—needs protection. This session brings together leading voices in environmental reporting and advocacy to explore how the “rights of nature” framework can move from courtrooms and community struggles into headlines and newsrooms, as well as how Indigenous rights can be centered. Journalist Karla Mendes (Mongabay), movement leader Osprey Orielle Lake (Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network), and Ponca Nation elder and activist Casey Camp-Horinek will share how storytelling rooted in justice and reciprocity can challenge extractive narratives and amplify Indigenous leadership. Moderated by Aparna Mukherjee of the Society of Environmental Journalists, the conversation will probe how media can more responsibly reflect Earth’s inherent rights and inspire readers toward deeper accountability and care.

Karla Mendes (MongaBay), Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN), Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation)

Moderator: Aparna Mukherjee (Society of Environmental Journalists) 

10:25–10:50 | Interactive Panel – Uncovering Forms of Justice in Circularity
Atossa Soltani (Amazon Sacred Headwaters), Ina Progonait (HP), Emily Janoch (CARE) Moderator: Deirdre White (Pyxera Global)

There’s more to circularity than meets the eye. Circularity links people, livelihoods, and the planet through systems that honor labor, protect ecosystems, and expand equity. Atossa Soltani (Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative) brings the lens of Indigenous-led stewardship; Ina Progonati (HP) shares how circular models can also advance digital equity through programs like Hope Recycling Futures and HP’s partnership with the YMCA; and Emily Janoch (CARE) highlights opportunities for integrating climate justice into humanitarian work. Moderated by Deirdre White (Pyxera Global), this conversation explores how circular systems can create more just and sustainable futures.

10:50–11:00 | Voyaj app introduction & Prompt Question (led by Yasmine El Baggari)

11:00–11:10| Signature Voice – Science, Spirituality, Story & Unity
Mariko Pitts (Holomovement) 

Mariko Pitts of the Holomovement will share reflections at the intersection of science, spirituality, and story—exploring how unity can serve as both a guiding principle and a practical force for climate action. Drawing on the Holomovement’s vision of collective transformation, her talk will illuminate how bridging disciplines and worldviews can help us move from fragmentation to coherence, and from isolated efforts to shared momentum. This signature voice session invites participants to consider not only the data and policies that shape the climate movement, but also the deeper stories and values that bind us together in the pursuit of a livable future.

11:10–11:20| Stretch, Coffee Break, Networking 

11:20–11:45 | Rewilding Our Imagination: Climate, Culture, and the Spaces Between
Collin Cavote (Biome), Elizabeth Thompson (Visions2030), Miranda Massie (The Climate Museum)

Moderator: Susan McPherson (McPherson Strategies)

What if our cities and cultural spaces could breathe, dream, and inspire transformation? This panel brings together visionary leaders who are reshaping the built environment to expand what’s possible for climate action. Collin Cavote(Biome) is pioneering living walls and rewilding the indoors, scaling biology to turn our buildings into ecosystems. Miranda Massie (The Climate Museum) is harnessing art, science, and public engagement to spark cultural change through the nation’s first climate-dedicated museum. Elizabeth Thompson (Visions2030) is behind large-scale, participatory installations like The Lumisphere Experience that invite communities to imagine equitable futures. Together, they’ll explore how imagination, physical space, and storytelling can converge to create worlds where both people and the planet thrive.

11:45–12:10 | Solutions Panel – Regenerating Our World: From Story to Systems Shift
Julia Jackson (Grounded.org), Chad Frischmann (RegenIntel), Carrie Hutchison (re:wild)​​, Moderator: Brittany DeGirolamo (Phocus Creative Group)

How do we move from powerful stories to transformative systems change? This panel spotlights leaders driving solutions that regenerate our planet and communities. Julia Jackson (Grounded.org) is mobilizing a global network of changemakers to accelerate scalable, nature-based climate solutions. Chad Frischmann (RegenIntel, and formerly Project Drawdown) is a leading voice in designing and implementing systemic strategies and regenerative solutions to the polycrisis. Carrie Hutchison (Re:wild) is advancing worldwide efforts to protect and restore biodiversity by connecting people with the wild places and species that sustain life. Together, they’ll share how science, storytelling, and collaboration can shift culture and policy,  and chart a regenerative path forward.

12:10–12:15 | Musical Performance & Q&A
Lila Goes Viral 

Pre-Lunch Story Spark: Johanna Salzazar (Foodstream)

LUNCH

🕛 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

ACT II: CATALYSTS — Science, Activism & Innovation in Motion

1:00–1:30 | Panel – Reimagining Science for All of Us: The Future of Science for Inclusive Climate Action
Science is only as powerful as the voices it includes. In the wake of the 2024 election, when the role of science in shaping climate policy and public trust faces renewed challenges, this panel amplifies early- and mid-career women of color who are redefining what science looks like, who it serves, and how it is communicated. From ecosystems to equity, from policy to people, they will share how inclusive science can drive climate action that is rooted in community and built for resilience.

Moderator: Dr. Ticora V. Jones, Chief Science Office, (National Resources Defense Council) 

Lightning Activism Talks 

Fast, fiery, and focused—these lightning talks spotlight activists and thinkers pushing climate action forward from different angles. Hannah Barisonzi of Green Crew shares how youth are leading on-the-ground climate projects. Dr. Dana R. Fisher explores how people power can be harnessed for large-scale social change. And Creatives for Climate calls for creative integrity and a cleaner information supply chain in the fight against misinformation.

In just 10 minutes each, these talks deliver sharp insights and bold ideas designed to spark new thinking and fuel collective action.

1:30–1:40 | Hannah Barisonzi (Green Crew) 

1:40–1:50 | Dr. Dana R. Fisher – Harnessing People Power for Social Change & Climate Action 

1:50–2:00 | Creative integrity and Cleaning up information supply chain (Creatives for Climate)

2:00–2:20 | Ancestral Currents: Indigenous Stories for Earth’s Future
Panchita Calfín Lafkenche (Mapuche Wisdom Keeper), Calfín Lafkenche (Leader, Minga Indígena)
Moderator: Cecilia Pagkalinawan

What wisdom flows through rivers, glaciers, and seas when they are seen not as resources, but as relatives? Panchita Calfín Lafkenche, Elder and Guardian of Patagonia’s sacred waters, invites us into the Mapuche tradition where storytelling is a living law of care and responsibility. Alongside her, Calfín Lafkenche brings the voice of Minga Indígena, a movement of over 100 Indigenous leaders who rose after COP25 was canceled, building a united platform for justice at COP26 and beyond.

This session will open a space to hear stories that move like water across time — stories that hold communities together and chart pathways for planetary survival.

2:20–2:30 Climate Finance Spark - Putting Nature on the Balance Sheet: Rewriting the Climate Finance Story  

Speakers: Katie Hoffman (SOSV, Regeneration.VC), Sarabeth Brockley (Wild Assets) 

Finance is one of the most powerful levers we have to shift culture, protect ecosystems, and scale climate solutions. But the story of climate finance too often feels abstract or inaccessible. This session will bring the conversation back to what matters—people and the planet.

Katie will explore how capital markets can accelerate technologies and models that regenerate ecosystems, reduce planetary overshoot, and serve frontline communities. The dialogue will challenge participants to see finance not just as numbers on a balance sheet, but as a force that can rewrite our relationship with nature—humanizing investment, expanding who gets to participate, and unlocking solutions that can scale with speed and integrity.

2:30–2:55 | Climate Tech Panel: Wired for the Planet 

Speakers: Tibet Sprague (Hylo), Jaclyn Wittal (SenseNet), Ori Shaashua (Gigablue) 

How can technology accelerate climate solutions while strengthening equity, resilience, and community power? This panel features innovators pushing the boundaries of what climate tech can do—from Hylo’s platforms for collective action, to SenseNet’s real-time environmental intelligence, to Gigablue’s pioneering work in marine carbon dioxide removal through Marine Carbon Fixation and Sinking (MCFS). Together, these leaders will explore how digital tools, monitoring systems, and ocean-based innovations can scale nature-positive solutions. The discussion will also highlight the importance of cultural engagement, including how Māori perspectives are helping shape Gigablue’s work to ensure alignment with community values and ecological safety.

Participants will leave with a glimpse into the future of climate technology—wired not just for efficiency, but for justice, resilience, and long-term planetary stewardship.  

Moderator: Kwasi Asare, Feedia 

ACT III: THE PLOT THICKENS —  Stories that Shift Power

🕐 2:55 PM – 4:30 PM

2:55–3:05 | Signature Voice – Owning Our Stories & Our Identity (add time)
Jamia Wilson (Penguin Random House)

What does it mean to claim our voice, and how can movements strengthen their identity through story? In this intimate conversation, Jamia Wilson (Penguin Random House) brings her experience as an author, publisher, and cultural critic to the climate stage. With a career spanning leadership at Feminist Press, authoring groundbreaking books like Young, Gifted and Black, and her current role shaping narratives at one of the world’s largest publishing houses, Jamia will share insights on how movements can refine their storytelling, align with their deepest values, and own the power of identity. Her guidance offers a vital lens for the climate community, centering truth, creativity, and justice in how we speak and who we speak for.

3:05–3:25 | Interactive Panel – Climate on Screen: Media for Movement Building – led by Picture Motion  
Emy Kane (Lonely Whale); TBD

Moderator: Juliette Richey (Picture Motion)

3:25–3:40 | Interactive Exercise – All Hands on Set: Climate Screenplay Co-Creation
Kim Steele (Documentaries Don’t Work)

All Hands On Set is a hands-on session led by filmmaker and producer Kim Steele, designed for Climate Week participants across film, finance, philanthropy, policy, tech, and nonprofit sectors. Using a fictional climate rom-com as the case study, the workshop challenges attendees to apply their existing tools, influence, and networks toward accelerating climate action through the entertainment industry. This isn’t about awareness, it’s about activating media as a lever for advancing climate solutions.

3:40–4:20 | Storytelling for Collaboration and the Next Generation
Speakers: Kristy Drutman (Brown Girl Green), Isaias Hernandez (Queer Brown Vegan), Wawa Gatheru (Black Girl Environmentalist)

How can storytelling build collaboration across movements, identities, and generations—while sustaining the next wave of climate leadership? This session brings together leading digital storytellers and youth organizers who are reshaping the climate conversation. Kristy Drutman and Isaias Hernandez share how personal narrative, media platforms, and cultural framing can bridge divides and spark collaboration. Wawa Gatheru highlights how youth-led climate movements are shaping the future, what stories resonate most across communities, and why investment in emerging leaders is critical for long-term impact.

Together, they’ll explore how storytelling, community building, and funding intersect to create trust, break silos, and expand the reach of collective climate action. Attendees will gain insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of climate leaders, and leave with strategies for how stories—and the resources behind them—can drive enduring change.

Moderator: Lance Gould (Brooklyn Story Lab)

STRETCH & COFFEE BREAK  4:20–4:30PM 

ACT IV: REWRITING THE NARRATIVE — Workshop & Co-Creation

🕒 4:30 – 6:10 PM

4:30–5:15PM | Interactive Exercise – Climate Optimism, Climate Conversations, Climate Futures
Facilitators: Natalia Vásquez (AutoDesk), Bernadette Woods Placky (Climate Central), Anne Therese Gennari (The Climate Optimist) 

This immersive session invites participants to step into the future and practice building it. Guided by three dynamic facilitators, attendees will engage in exercises that expand imagination, sharpen understanding, and shift perspective:

• Climate Optimism with Anne Therese Gennari: reframing fear into possibility, and learning how hope can drive sustained engagement.

• Climate Futures with Natalia Vásquez: envisioning possible futures and exploring how storytelling can unlock creativity and agency.

• Climate Futures with Natalia Vásquez: envisioning possible futures and exploring how storytelling can unlock creativity and agency.

• Climate Conversations: with Bernadette Placky Wood: facilitating prompts and tools for fresh climate-focused conversations..

Through collaborative activities, participants will co-create narratives that blend futures thinking, literacy, and optimism—leaving with tools to inspire action, strengthen resilience, and imagine bold pathways forward.

5:15–6:15 | Mic in the Middle, Roundtable

This interactive roundtable brings everyone into one shared conversation space, blending dialogue with practical “narrative audits.” Together, participants will examine the dominant climate stories shaping our culture and policy, surface what voices and perspectives are missing, and explore how reframing can lead to more just and impactful narratives.

Instead of breaking into smaller groups, this format keeps the energy collective—inviting drop-ins, shared reflections, and collaborative problem-solving. The goal is to leave with fresh insights, sharper tools for storytelling, and new connections across sectors, all rooted in a commitment to building narratives that drive equity and action.

Facilitated by Melissa Jun Rowley & Jasmine Davenport (Dream.org) 

• Energy Transition: Andrea Karelas (RE-volv), Madeline Weir (REVERB), Holly Bender (Sierra Club)

• Public Health:  Pryanka Surio,  Bruno Olmedo Quiroga (Good Energy) 

• Gender: Jackie Omotalade (Pyxera Global), Mona Hamdy (Harvard W3D), Sara Yawanawa (Yawanawa) 

Inside the Roundtable

Think of it as two mini-conversations back to back, with a reset moment in the middle:

• 5:15–5:35 | Part A
  
  Energy Transition + Public Health
  
  

• Kickoff framing from facilitators (2 min)
  
  

• Each speaker offers a tight opening reflection (1–2 min max)
  
  

• Moderated dialogue among this group + a couple audience drop-ins
  
  

• 5:35–5:40 | Reset - Joseph Romm
  
  Quick “narrative audit” pulse check: what themes are surfacing? Ask audience to jot or share one insight.
  
  

• 5:40–6:10 | Part B
  
  Gender + Cross-cutting Perspectives
  
  

• Again, tight opening reflections
  
  

• Dialogue + audience drop-ins
  
  

• Close with one “what story shift do we need most?” from each act.
  
  

• This way, everyone has airtime, but the conversation is still digestible.

ACT V: THE RESOLUTION — Closing Ceremony 

🕓 6:15 PM – 6:30 PM | Reflections & Pledges 

Yasmine El Baggari leads reflection and Q&A

• closing song by Ryan Whitewolf 

6:30 PM | Event Concludes