Coming Up from the Roots: another full house!

Last night more than 75 people gathered for the second of three events in WEA's Fall Speaker Series Coming Up from the Roots. It was dry and warm inside during the Bay Area's first storm of the season. And the room was full of environmental leaders, fellow tenants of the David Brower Center, social justice activists, WEA Giving Circle members, friends, family and one 2 year old.


This group gathered to learn more about WEA's Women and Land Initiative, and to hear from four inspiring leaders:

• Vien Truong of Green For All: Vien spoke about the critical need for working across sectors to create green jobs. She invited people to get involved, and you can learn more about her critical work forging a nationwide green jobs coalition here.
• Wahleah Johns of the Black Mesa Water Coalition and WEA's International Advisory Board: Her stories about passing legislation in the Navajo Nation for green jobs were inspiring! The focus, determination, creativity and sheer person-power to make that happen is humbling. You can read about it here.
• Nina Simons of Bioneers. Nina talked about the power of women and what it means to be a woman leader. And that it's Bioneers' 20th year of convening social and environmental change leaders... Click here for more information about this year's conference this weekend.
• Adrienne Maree Brown of the Ruckus Society. She sang us a song that could be felt in our bones. It was a beautiful and peaceful way to end an evening.

Our next event in this series, the final one of the season, will be held Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm. This will be a very special evening with Joanna Macy, a long time supporter of WEA and a member of our International Advisory Board. RSVP here.

Back Row: Kevin Connoley, Vien Truong, Melinda Kramer, Caitlin Sislin, Amira Diamond, Wahleah Johns, Adrienne Maree Brown, Jihan Gearon, Billy Parish, Tohaana. Front row is Stacy Ho and Nina Simons.

Wahleah Johns and Adrienne Maree Brown