Trump administration officials have vowed to reverse long-standing environmental regulations. Yolo County groups are sponsoring a community meeting in Davis on Jan. 8 to discuss how to respond to actions that will affect local communities, the nation, and the planet.
The meeting will be held at Davis Community Church, 412 C Street in Davis, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration is recommended at http://bit.ly/CommunityGathering2. Walk-ins will be admitted if space is available. Child care, Spanish interpretation and other accommodations can be requested by sending an email to davisphoenixco@gmail.com with COMMUNITY GATHERING in the subject line.
The open meeting will focus on climate and environmental justice issues.
Speakers include Nick Buxton, author of “Breaking With Fear: Building Justice, Solidarity and Compassion in a Climate of Insecurity.” Buxton is a writer based in Davis who works on issues of climate change, militarism and economic justice. He also volunteers for the Cool Davis Initiative.
Itzel Morales, a biochemical engineer and environmental educator, will also speak. Morales, a native of Mexico, works for Green Island Environmental Group, where she creates incentives for recycling and conservation programs. She is also a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, speaking to audiences around the world about climate change. Morales is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at UC Davis and works to empower communities to mitigate climate change.
Pastor Chris Neufeld-Erdman will participate in the meeting as well. Under his leadership, Davis Community Church was designated an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church USA. The church is active with the Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice.
In addition to presentations, attendees will meet in small groups to share resources and plan solutions. Local environmental groups will also be available.
The gathering is the second in a series of meetings planned after the election to discuss how local communities should respond to the current political climate. More than 350 people registered for the first meeting with many more showing up at the door. That Dec. 4 meeting focused on groups targeted by the incoming administration: Muslims, LGBTQ, immigrants, undocumented, and women.
Sponsors of the Jan. 8 meeting include the Davis Phoenix Coalition, Davis United Methodist Church, Yolo MoveOn, Sierra Club Yolano Group, Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice, Cool Davis, Davis Community Church, St. James Environmental Justice group, and Yolo Climate Action.
