Leah Thomas’ Post

Unlock your campus's potential in fostering interfaith understanding with INSPIRES Index. Participate for free and receive a custom report. Learn more: https://bit.ly/46whEko

Unlock your campus's potential in fostering interfaith understanding with INSPIRES Index. Participate for free and receive a custom report. Learn more: https://bit.ly/46whEko

In the Summer edition of Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development's publication, In The Know, I was pleased to share my thoughts on NYSDEC's Commissioner Policy No. 49, which sets forth a framework for considering agency compliance with the #Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's (#CLCPA) goals in the issuance of new and renewed permits. The fact-sensitive inquiry elucidated in that policy paper sets forth NYSDEC's analytical framework for ensuring that permits issued under many of its major permitting programs -- including #SPDES and #SolidWaste -- contribute to overall reductions in #GHG #emissions from both in-state and down-stream sources. https://lnkd.in/eb6Miekn

In this third East and West Dialogue on Ecological Civilizations sponsored by Earth Charter International, the conversation focuses on the issue of education. Dr. Philip Clayton, President of the Institute for Ecological Civilization, is featured in this panel discussion! Watch the recording:

In honor of #nativeamericanheritagemonth, I’d like to share an article I wrote for On Cape Magazine. It highlights the complimentary relationship between Indigenous knowledge and science. The article begins on page 44. https://lnkd.in/eHDWjhTc

So many great resources offered during #WPC25 this past week, including a number by teachers from our Osage, Muskogee Creek and Cherokee hosts. As we move into week 2 of the Food Solutions New England New England 21 Day Equity Challenge, we will share some of these. Given today’s topical focus of “addressing white privilege and supremacy culture,” this seemed particularly appropriate … “IllumiNative Org is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of—and challenging the #narrative about—Native peoples.” … “Our mission is to build #power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance #justice, equity, and self-determination. We utilize research, narrative and culture change strategies, movement-building, and organizing to disrupt the invisibility of Native peoples, re-educate Americans, and mobilize public support for key Native issues.” https://illuminative.org

Doctoral students study humans as individuals and as members of systems, learning to optimize interpersonal relationships to become change agents for social and ecological justice. Sign up for the Oct. 19 info session: https://ow.ly/nTv750PStGp #HumanDevelopment #ChangeTheWorldStartWithYours

Embarking on your first principalship? This Edutopia - George Lucas Educational Foundation article provides essential tips on assessing and nurturing your school’s culture and climate. Learn how to gather insights, establish core values, and create a supportive community: https://hubs.ly/Q02DqgWh0

The recording for the panel discussion 'Who's Afraid of the Working Class?', hosted by The Working Class Climate Alliance (WCCA) is now available on YouTube to watch. It was a discussion about the historic and contemporary failure of the left movement to centre class politics in its efforts and aims. For this we invited Payal Parekh, climate scientist turned climate justice activist, Asad Shoaib, London-based development researcher, Matt Huber, professor of Geography at Syracuse University and Michael Albert, author at ZNetwork to share their thoughts. We invited these people - four individuals from different ideologies/parts of the left to show that despite people holding diverse views - both about the small things but also the big things, it is possible for people to engage together in good terms and in good faith, about the things that broadly unite them (as well as to raise areas that they do not). As an organisation, the WCCA feels strongly about seeking to find commonalities between people, organisations and movements where they exist, as a democratic transformation of society can only emerge through the collaborative effort of everyone working together. Democracy is not always easy! So long as someone's beliefs and actions seek to do no harm, then we must strive to build bridges. Thank you to everyone who came and to our speakers for coming too. A brief overview of the panel discussion: "Unless leftist movements include the working class in discussions and decision-making processes, building a mass movement capable of transformative change remains an impossible task. Despite this, broad sections of the left continue to operate as spaces of exclusion by frequently disregarding working-class perspectives when they are voiced, and perpetuating a distorted narrative of the class struggle as something that exists solely between the global populace and bourgeoise, whilst ignoring the class struggle that manifests between the working and middle classes. This resistance to class politics has produced movements that are undemocratic, classist and authoritarian in scope, standing no chance at building coalitions with broader groups. This reluctance to acknowledge and address class politics leaves us all scratching our heads – what are they afraid of?" This is the first of a two-part series on the topic. We decided to invite middle class people to start with to show that there is solidarity across classes, as working class people have expressed their disenfranchisement, sadness and alienation that their voices remain unheard at times. For the second one (time, date and speakers to be announced) we will be inviting working class activists to have their say, and to share the great work that they have been doing. I hope you enjoy!