Front and Centered, a diverse and powerful coalition of communities of color-led groups in Washington, is bringing together its members plus partners, advocates, and academics to Central Washington University (CWU) for its largest ever membership summit to discuss critical challenges and solutions related to climate justice, environmental justice, and building power toward a Just Transition with an eye toward the 2024 Legislative Session.
The Front and Centered 2023 Members’ Summit: Soulful Solidarity will be hosted on the CWU campus in Ellensburg, WA, to provide an opportunity for CWU students and faculty and local advocates who are focused on environmental science, sustainability, and related issues to participate, along with regional and national environmental justice partners. The three-day gathering will foster connections between diverse organizations and communities and ignite discussions and collaboration around solutions that pave the way for a more just and sustainable world.
What: Front and Centered 2023 Members’ Summit: Soulful Solidarity
Who:
- Keynote Speaker: Elaine Harvey (Wanux’ni), Yakama Nation
- Jeff Bousson, Sustainability Officer, Central Washington University
- Lily De Young, AmeriCorps Sustainability Education Program Specialist, Central Washington University
- Front and Centered staff and members
When: Friday, November 3 – Sunday, November 5, 2023
Where: Central Washington University, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg 98926 – Student Union Recreation Center (SURC) and other campus locations
While many of the summit sessions are geared toward coalition members, several discussions and events—including the keynote address—will be open to media, students, and faculty. Most of those events will be held in the SURC, and no pre-registration is required. To find out more, including which events are open to the public and media, contact Charlie McAteer at [email protected].
The Summit’s keynote speaker will be CWU alumna and a member of the Yakama Nation Elaine Harvey (Wanux’ni), who now serves as a department manager for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Harvey will deliver her address in the SURC Theatre on Friday, November 3, at 7pm, and the event is open to the public.
Two of the workshop facilitators for the Front and Centered conference are CWU Sustainability Officer Jeff Bousson and AmeriCorps Sustainability Education Program Specialist and CWU staff member Lily De Young. They will lead a workshop on Saturday, November 4, at 2:30pm titled “Centering Equity Within Central Washington University’s Draft Climate Action Plan.”
Front and Centered staff and member policy experts will be facilitating additional workshops, including one titled, “From Dreaming to Action: Exploring a Just Transition through a Community Education Lens,” held on Saturday, November 4, at 10:00am. Representatives from partner organizations, including the Native Movement in Alaska, the Oregon Just Transition Alliance, and the translocal Climate Justice Alliance will also be attending.
Front and Centered is a coalition of organizations and groups working together to advance climate and environmental justice and ensure that communities most impacted by environmental and economic inequities are at the forefront of policy and decision-making.
###
Media Contact: Charlie McAteer, Front & Centered Communications, [email protected]
