Climate Justice Club

we are seeking a communicator and branch leaders for 2022-23!

The CSB/SJU Climate Justice Club works to further Climate Justice on our campus. We believe that climate crisis is a social justice issue and we're dedicated to raising awareness and making the difference we can on our campus. See a slightly outdated but comprehensive introduction with notes here!

The Climate Justice Club Board (Focal points and Branch leaders) meets on Sunday nights - Email [email protected] if you'd like to visit and check it out.

In addition to occasional events, we host two kinds of big meetings open to everyone: General Meetings where anyone can come and learn more about the club and Climate Justice, and Working Groups where we split into branches to get down to work!

Climate Justice Club general meetings and working group meetings are held once a month. hear about it by:

To be added to the CJC Email list with email updates on meetings, email [email protected]!

Club Leadership: CJC uses a horizontal leadership system with a Central Focal Point and several Branch Focal Points instead of a hierarchy and a President. This more egalitarian form of organization gives us more freedom to take on leadership and come to consensus. Students who want to participate in existing projects or start their own can talk to the leadership of their favorite branch and hop in on Working Groups. See our constitution here! See our job descriptions here.

Climate Justice Club 2022-23

Central Focal Point: Betsy Ruckman

Communicator (Email, Social Media): <vacant --your name here!>

Secretary: Jalayna Smith-Moore

IWL Climate Justice Coordinator: Mari Hermerding

Activism Branch

"Let's work together through direct action to support the change we want to see." 

  • Organizing sit-ins and tabling

  • traveling to protests and demonstrations

Focal Point: Isabelle Schmelzer

Knowledge Sharing Branch

"Let's spread the amazing news about the power we all have to change the world."

  • creating and distributing signs, posters and pamphlets

  • speaking to classes on campus about climate justice

Focal Point: Kian Sia Su

Policy Branch

"Let's use the systems of government around us to push our communities towards change."

  • mobilizing voters for climate issues

  • lobbying and meeting with politicians about climate crisis

Focal Point: Nicholas Mertens

Isabelle Schmelzer

Jalayna Smith-Moore

...and you!

Kian Sia Su

Betsy Ruckman

...and you!

Nicholas Mertens

Mari Hermerding

...and you!

What is climate justice? Watch this video from Corrie Grosse, using Enbridge's Line 3 Tar Sands pipeline as a call to action for climate justice.

FAQ:

Why Climate Justice? Why the flower? Where did Climate Action Club go?

When the club began, it was called Climate Action Club. Club leadership changed our name and our logo in 2019-20 to reflect a more justice-focused, inclusive club: Climate Justice Club! The logo was changed from a variation on the St. John's shield and cross to an upside-down globe with sunflower imagery-- which is actually not a sunflower, but a Minnesota native flower. The petals represent:

  • Equity - Importance of ensuring rights and opportunities to all, based upon each community’s individual needs

  • Decolonization - Recognizing and working to break down colonial systems that purposely advantage some at the expense of others

  • Divestment - Taking money invested in fossil fuel industries out of those industries and putting them into more socially responsible funds

  • Intersectionality - Looking at the different ways issues overlap and form connections (language, race, socioeconomic status, gender, education, etc.)

  • Anti-oppression - Actively working against systems of oppression, calling out and seeking alternatives for current injustices

  • Accessibility - Making sure resources, information, and opportunities are available and accessible to all based upon individual needs. Being purposeful about how and where such resources/information are shared

  • Grassroots - Movements for people, by people. Starting at the local level of community organizing and collaboration around the issues which directly impact their communities

  • Diversity - Every person is impacted by the climate crisis, and every person has unique passions, perspectives, experiences, and abilities to contribute, and all are equally important! TO CHANGE EVERYTHING, WE NEED EVERYONE!