when I was nine years old I stood with my family in the rain it was a warmer
my family in the rain it was a warmer
my family in the rain it was a warmer January than most in Buffalo New York
January than most in Buffalo New York
January than most in Buffalo New York and we were waiting to enter st. Paul’s
and we were waiting to enter st. Paul’s
and we were waiting to enter st. Paul’s Cathedral my parents each grew up in
Cathedral my parents each grew up in
Cathedral my parents each grew up in families plagued by mental illness and
families plagued by mental illness and
families plagued by mental illness and addiction and so they gravitated to the
addiction and so they gravitated to the
addiction and so they gravitated to the church to community for both love and
church to community for both love and
church to community for both love and survival my brother and I grew up in
survival my brother and I grew up in
survival my brother and I grew up in that mindset but this wasn’t our church
that mindset but this wasn’t our church
that mindset but this wasn’t our church we were there to hear Archbishop Desmond
we were there to hear Archbishop Desmond
we were there to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak against apartheid in South
Tutu speak against apartheid in South
Tutu speak against apartheid in South Africa we filed in and packed into the
Africa we filed in and packed into the
Africa we filed in and packed into the hard pew under the pulpit just above us
hard pew under the pulpit just above us
hard pew under the pulpit just above us this man of faith in his purple tunic
this man of faith in his purple tunic
this man of faith in his purple tunic spoke of horrific atrocities endured by
spoke of horrific atrocities endured by
spoke of horrific atrocities endured by non-white South Africans and beautiful
non-white South Africans and beautiful
non-white South Africans and beautiful possibilities of dignity power and
possibilities of dignity power and
possibilities of dignity power and healing for all the room was electric I
healing for all the room was electric I
healing for all the room was electric I was riveted by his energy and the
was riveted by his energy and the
was riveted by his energy and the invitation for each of us to support
invitation for each of us to support
invitation for each of us to support freedom fighters in the land he loved I
sat there thinking about my friends who
sat there thinking about my friends who had recently arrived from Trinidad or
had recently arrived from Trinidad or
had recently arrived from Trinidad or whose black brown white or multiracial
whose black brown white or multiracial
whose black brown white or multiracial families had lived in the city for
families had lived in the city for
families had lived in the city for generations I thought about my own
generations I thought about my own
generations I thought about my own parents who moved here from Detroit and
parents who moved here from Detroit and
parents who moved here from Detroit and Milwaukee to finally build a home I
Milwaukee to finally build a home I
Milwaukee to finally build a home I squeezed the hand of my neighbor
squeezed the hand of my neighbor
squeezed the hand of my neighbor the son of Polish immigrants who had
the son of Polish immigrants who had
the son of Polish immigrants who had become like a grandfather to me our
become like a grandfather to me our
become like a grandfather to me our experience is coming together across
experience is coming together across
experience is coming together across race and bloodlines meant everything to
race and bloodlines meant everything to
race and bloodlines meant everything to me
me
me I knew that racism and segregation was
I knew that racism and segregation was
I knew that racism and segregation was common in Buffalo even in my community
common in Buffalo even in my community
common in Buffalo even in my community and yet my friends and I we had the
and yet my friends and I we had the
and yet my friends and I we had the freedom the ability to
freedom the ability to
freedom the ability to hop into our greatest potential so
hop into our greatest potential so
hop into our greatest potential so listening to Desmond Tutu speak I got a
listening to Desmond Tutu speak I got a
listening to Desmond Tutu speak I got a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach
funny feeling in the pit of my stomach
funny feeling in the pit of my stomach like it wasn’t okay for me to reach my
like it wasn’t okay for me to reach my
like it wasn’t okay for me to reach my potential if others couldn’t achieve
potential if others couldn’t achieve
potential if others couldn’t achieve theirs years later my parents would say
theirs years later my parents would say
theirs years later my parents would say that even at nine years old I could see
that even at nine years old I could see
that even at nine years old I could see and wanted to bring out the best in
and wanted to bring out the best in
and wanted to bring out the best in others that I could imagine and wanted
others that I could imagine and wanted
others that I could imagine and wanted to bring about the power of the whole
to bring about the power of the whole
to bring about the power of the whole following this vision led me as a 33
following this vision led me as a 33
following this vision led me as a 33 year old wife and mother to become the
year old wife and mother to become the
year old wife and mother to become the executive director of an environmental
executive director of an environmental
executive director of an environmental education organization working in urban
education organization working in urban
education organization working in urban public schools
public schools
public schools I wanted to lift up and celebrate the
I wanted to lift up and celebrate the
I wanted to lift up and celebrate the potential of teenagers to solve our
potential of teenagers to solve our
potential of teenagers to solve our climate crisis the organization was in a
climate crisis the organization was in a
climate crisis the organization was in a tough financial situation I remember one
tough financial situation I remember one
tough financial situation I remember one cross-country trip to Washington DC it
cross-country trip to Washington DC it
cross-country trip to Washington DC it was my third trip that month I was
was my third trip that month I was
was my third trip that month I was building a relationship with a new
building a relationship with a new
building a relationship with a new funder hiring a new team redesigning our
funder hiring a new team redesigning our
funder hiring a new team redesigning our programs everything we needed to succeed
programs everything we needed to succeed
programs everything we needed to succeed but I wasn’t
but I wasn’t
but I wasn’t I worked constantly lost 15 pounds
I worked constantly lost 15 pounds
I worked constantly lost 15 pounds couldn’t imagine having a second kid I
couldn’t imagine having a second kid I
couldn’t imagine having a second kid I felt responsible to do everything to
felt responsible to do everything to
felt responsible to do everything to save the day neglecting the roles others
save the day neglecting the roles others
save the day neglecting the roles others could or had to play I was overwhelmed
could or had to play I was overwhelmed
could or had to play I was overwhelmed and defeated maybe some of you can
and defeated maybe some of you can
and defeated maybe some of you can relate I was in tears in my hotel room
relate I was in tears in my hotel room
relate I was in tears in my hotel room trying to make it all work my phone kept
trying to make it all work my phone kept
trying to make it all work my phone kept buzzing my husband was trying to get
buzzing my husband was trying to get
buzzing my husband was trying to get through I pulled it together with enough
through I pulled it together with enough
through I pulled it together with enough energy to answer he was abrupt our
energy to answer he was abrupt our
energy to answer he was abrupt our daughter Alfio was sick and crying for
daughter Alfio was sick and crying for
daughter Alfio was sick and crying for me to come home I snapped that there was
me to come home I snapped that there was
me to come home I snapped that there was nothing I could do
nothing I could do
nothing I could do first frustrated been helpless and
first frustrated been helpless and
first frustrated been helpless and guilty
guilty
guilty my efforts to build a thriving
my efforts to build a thriving
my efforts to build a thriving organization were failing all will I let
organization were failing all will I let
organization were failing all will I let my family down
this was not what doesn’t – – had
this was not what doesn’t – – had inspired in me I was not shining
inspired in me I was not shining
inspired in me I was not shining I was not bringing out the best in
I was not bringing out the best in
I was not bringing out the best in others we were not growing together I
others we were not growing together I
others we were not growing together I had to stop standing still
had to stop standing still
had to stop standing still I saw myself through Althea’s eyes
I saw myself through Althea’s eyes
I saw myself through Althea’s eyes distracted unavailable stressed I
distracted unavailable stressed I
distracted unavailable stressed I realized I had literally overworked
realized I had literally overworked
realized I had literally overworked every opportunity afforded me as a white
every opportunity afforded me as a white
every opportunity afforded me as a white woman in my attempts to increase the
woman in my attempts to increase the
woman in my attempts to increase the chances of others with less access I was
chances of others with less access I was
chances of others with less access I was propelled not by status but by a kind of
propelled not by status but by a kind of
propelled not by status but by a kind of Savior ego but to find my value as a
Savior ego but to find my value as a
Savior ego but to find my value as a human by how much work I did for the
human by how much work I did for the
human by how much work I did for the cause and here was a four year old
cause and here was a four year old
cause and here was a four year old little girl who needed me more than
little girl who needed me more than
little girl who needed me more than anyone my commitment to social change
anyone my commitment to social change
anyone my commitment to social change had to include me being a more present
had to include me being a more present
had to include me being a more present parent so I took a deep breath and I
parent so I took a deep breath and I
parent so I took a deep breath and I made the hard decision to leave the
made the hard decision to leave the
made the hard decision to leave the organization
organization
organization I stopped plowing ahead and I was
I stopped plowing ahead and I was
I stopped plowing ahead and I was rebuilding starting to reconnect to my
rebuilding starting to reconnect to my
rebuilding starting to reconnect to my potential what moved me in Desmond
potential what moved me in Desmond
potential what moved me in Desmond Tutu’s invitations so many years before
Tutu’s invitations so many years before
Tutu’s invitations so many years before was this idea that each of us has a
was this idea that each of us has a
was this idea that each of us has a place in bringing about a better world
place in bringing about a better world
place in bringing about a better world and sacrificing yourself is not a
and sacrificing yourself is not a
and sacrificing yourself is not a solution
solution
solution it’s martyrdom snuffing out your spirit
it’s martyrdom snuffing out your spirit
it’s martyrdom snuffing out your spirit just when the world needs you most when
just when the world needs you most when
just when the world needs you most when our children need us
our children need us
our children need us when we need each other I learned the
when we need each other I learned the
when we need each other I learned the hard way that one person can only do so
hard way that one person can only do so
hard way that one person can only do so much and that we too often silence the
much and that we too often silence the
much and that we too often silence the contributions of too many and changing
contributions of too many and changing
contributions of too many and changing that is how we bring about a world that
that is how we bring about a world that
that is how we bring about a world that is whole so much greater than the sum of
is whole so much greater than the sum of
is whole so much greater than the sum of its parts and I wanted whole solutions
its parts and I wanted whole solutions
its parts and I wanted whole solutions to ignite our full potential to allow
to ignite our full potential to allow
to ignite our full potential to allow each of us to take care of ourselves and
each of us to take care of ourselves and
each of us to take care of ourselves and our families to connect with each other
our families to connect with each other
our families to connect with each other in and across communities to protect the
in and across communities to protect the
in and across communities to protect the land we love that was the kind of work I
land we love that was the kind of work I
land we love that was the kind of work I wanted to do in my life and so if when a
wanted to do in my life and so if when a
wanted to do in my life and so if when a friend approached me about helping a
friend approached me about helping a
friend approached me about helping a scientist banker and movie star in their
scientist banker and movie star in their
scientist banker and movie star in their quest to move America to 100% clean
quest to move America to 100% clean
quest to move America to 100% clean renewable energy I was intrigued here
renewable energy I was intrigued here
renewable energy I was intrigued here we’re leaders powerful in their own
we’re leaders powerful in their own
we’re leaders powerful in their own right made even more powerful by coming
right made even more powerful by coming
right made even more powerful by coming together and there’s Stanford based
together and there’s Stanford based
together and there’s Stanford based research proved that we can get to 100%
research proved that we can get to 100%
research proved that we can get to 100% clean renewable energy with technologies
clean renewable energy with technologies
clean renewable energy with technologies that exist today we don’t have to wait
that exist today we don’t have to wait
that exist today we don’t have to wait for some breakthrough we can do this now
for some breakthrough we can do this now
for some breakthrough we can do this now we can Electrify everything and power
we can Electrify everything and power
we can Electrify everything and power all our energy needs with the wind water
all our energy needs with the wind water
all our energy needs with the wind water and Sun how it works is that it’s
and Sun how it works is that it’s
and Sun how it works is that it’s different in every state
different in every state
different in every state Solar wins big in Nevada wind is in
Solar wins big in Nevada wind is in
Solar wins big in Nevada wind is in Texas and water is key in New York I
Texas and water is key in New York I
Texas and water is key in New York I learned that this transformation isn’t
learned that this transformation isn’t
learned that this transformation isn’t just possible it’s happening fast in 20
just possible it’s happening fast in 20
just possible it’s happening fast in 20 states rooftop solar is already the same
states rooftop solar is already the same
states rooftop solar is already the same price or cheaper than
price or cheaper than
price or cheaper than electricity from the grid and the solar
electricity from the grid and the solar
electricity from the grid and the solar industry alone employs more Americans
industry alone employs more Americans
industry alone employs more Americans than oil coal or gas in fact you could
than oil coal or gas in fact you could
than oil coal or gas in fact you could populate a city the size of Pittsburgh
populate a city the size of Pittsburgh
populate a city the size of Pittsburgh with people employed in the renewable
with people employed in the renewable
with people employed in the renewable energy sector alone exclusively with
energy sector alone exclusively with
energy sector alone exclusively with people employed in the renewable energy
people employed in the renewable energy
people employed in the renewable energy sector it was a compelling case but I
sector it was a compelling case but I
sector it was a compelling case but I wasn’t sure it was a match for me clean
wasn’t sure it was a match for me clean
wasn’t sure it was a match for me clean energy felt too narrow and like a lot of
energy felt too narrow and like a lot of
energy felt too narrow and like a lot of people I was tired of an environmental
people I was tired of an environmental
people I was tired of an environmental movement that didn’t see the bigger
movement that didn’t see the bigger
movement that didn’t see the bigger picture so with my heart beating I met
picture so with my heart beating I met
picture so with my heart beating I met with the board to share and lay out what
with the board to share and lay out what
with the board to share and lay out what was most important to me I wanted to add
was most important to me I wanted to add
was most important to me I wanted to add community to the science business and
community to the science business and
community to the science business and culture lens we applied to all our work
culture lens we applied to all our work
culture lens we applied to all our work I wanted to have another kid I wanted
I wanted to have another kid I wanted
I wanted to have another kid I wanted everyone on our team to do what was
everyone on our team to do what was
everyone on our team to do what was theirs to do and grow together and I
theirs to do and grow together and I
theirs to do and grow together and I wanted the media attention and dollars
wanted the media attention and dollars
wanted the media attention and dollars we’ve raised to be shared with the
we’ve raised to be shared with the
we’ve raised to be shared with the grassroots organizations already
grassroots organizations already
grassroots organizations already implementing solutions on the ground
implementing solutions on the ground
implementing solutions on the ground were they with me they responded with a
were they with me they responded with a
were they with me they responded with a resounding yes and a little more than
resounding yes and a little more than
resounding yes and a little more than two years ago I became the executive
two years ago I became the executive
two years ago I became the executive director of the solutions project
director of the solutions project
director of the solutions project together we changed our mission to 100%
together we changed our mission to 100%
together we changed our mission to 100% clean renewable energy for 100% of
clean renewable energy for 100% of
clean renewable energy for 100% of people for everyone 100% for 100% is a
people for everyone 100% for 100% is a
people for everyone 100% for 100% is a big bold vision and requires leadership
big bold vision and requires leadership
big bold vision and requires leadership from all corners and sectors and the
from all corners and sectors and the
from all corners and sectors and the solutions project has a specific role to
solutions project has a specific role to
solutions project has a specific role to play our work is to inspire people to
play our work is to inspire people to
play our work is to inspire people to crave clean energy and invest in the
crave clean energy and invest in the
crave clean energy and invest in the community organizations making change
community organizations making change
community organizations making change happen for everyone when
happen for everyone when
happen for everyone when we play that role well we create space
we play that role well we create space
we play that role well we create space for others to do what they’re great at
for others to do what they’re great at
for others to do what they’re great at our partner in my friend Mia Yoshi Thani
our partner in my friend Mia Yoshi Thani
our partner in my friend Mia Yoshi Thani leads the Asian Pacific environmental
leads the Asian Pacific environmental
leads the Asian Pacific environmental network which organizes Asian American
network which organizes Asian American
network which organizes Asian American and immigrant voices in California to
and immigrant voices in California to
and immigrant voices in California to fight dirty fossil fuels and demand
fight dirty fossil fuels and demand
fight dirty fossil fuels and demand affordable clean energy they are winning
affordable clean energy they are winning
affordable clean energy they are winning big like 1 billion dollars for solar
big like 1 billion dollars for solar
big like 1 billion dollars for solar installations on low-income housing
their work is part of a shared vision
their work is part of a shared vision but not my part my part is to invest in
but not my part my part is to invest in
but not my part my part is to invest in Nia and her incredible team so they have
Nia and her incredible team so they have
Nia and her incredible team so they have the resources they need and the platform
the resources they need and the platform
the resources they need and the platform they deserve we found more and more
they deserve we found more and more
they deserve we found more and more Americans are coming together to ensure
Americans are coming together to ensure
Americans are coming together to ensure everyone has access to clean energy even
everyone has access to clean energy even
everyone has access to clean energy even in unexpected places
in unexpected places
in unexpected places take my hometown of Buffalo New York a
take my hometown of Buffalo New York a
take my hometown of Buffalo New York a cities so challenged yet full of human
cities so challenged yet full of human
cities so challenged yet full of human potential another one of our local
potential another one of our local
potential another one of our local partners push Buffalo worked to
partners push Buffalo worked to
partners push Buffalo worked to transform blocks with abandoned houses
transform blocks with abandoned houses
transform blocks with abandoned houses in an abandoned job market into a
in an abandoned job market into a
in an abandoned job market into a vibrant landscape of solar-powered homes
vibrant landscape of solar-powered homes
vibrant landscape of solar-powered homes where small business grows and
where small business grows and
where small business grows and communities are strengthened we’re Josh
communities are strengthened we’re Josh
communities are strengthened we’re Josh Smith plants rain gardens to manage
Smith plants rain gardens to manage
Smith plants rain gardens to manage storm surges away so saline mentors
storm surges away so saline mentors
storm surges away so saline mentors local kids after school and Lorna Hill
local kids after school and Lorna Hill
local kids after school and Lorna Hill uses theater to tell stories of justice
uses theater to tell stories of justice
uses theater to tell stories of justice and peace these everyday heroes do what
and peace these everyday heroes do what
and peace these everyday heroes do what they do to make their communities better
they do to make their communities better
they do to make their communities better some may think of themselves as climate
some may think of themselves as climate
some may think of themselves as climate Crusaders others may not and it doesn’t
Crusaders others may not and it doesn’t
Crusaders others may not and it doesn’t really matter they are creating and
really matter they are creating and
really matter they are creating and adopting solutions that work for
adopting solutions that work for
adopting solutions that work for everyone
everyone
everyone clean energy is a part of that path and
clean energy is a part of that path and
clean energy is a part of that path and that path is wide enough for all of us I
that path is wide enough for all of us I
that path is wide enough for all of us I found a better place for myself on that
found a better place for myself on that
found a better place for myself on that path now a mother of two daughters and
path now a mother of two daughters and
path now a mother of two daughters and every working parent knows it
every working parent knows it
every working parent knows it is a constant challenge to be present
is a constant challenge to be present
is a constant challenge to be present and provide for your family what would
and provide for your family what would
and provide for your family what would keep me from ever going back to that
keep me from ever going back to that
keep me from ever going back to that dark hole overworked and miserable in a
dark hole overworked and miserable in a
dark hole overworked and miserable in a hotel room our culture is in a dark hole
hotel room our culture is in a dark hole
hotel room our culture is in a dark hole because too many of us are disconnected
because too many of us are disconnected
because too many of us are disconnected from ourselves from each other and from
from ourselves from each other and from
from ourselves from each other and from the earth and that has us disconnected
the earth and that has us disconnected
the earth and that has us disconnected from our potential our power our ability
from our potential our power our ability
from our potential our power our ability to see clearly the world we want and
to see clearly the world we want and
to see clearly the world we want and work with others to achieve it our
work with others to achieve it our
work with others to achieve it our relationships are what keep us connected
relationships are what keep us connected
relationships are what keep us connected and moving forward on that path
very few people need saviors in this
very few people need saviors in this world we need partners and true friends
world we need partners and true friends
world we need partners and true friends each of us has a role to play in
each of us has a role to play in
each of us has a role to play in bringing about a better world a better
bringing about a better world a better
bringing about a better world a better world is each of us having a place we
world is each of us having a place we
world is each of us having a place we can no longer think a few brilliant
can no longer think a few brilliant
can no longer think a few brilliant outside experts will solve our problems
outside experts will solve our problems
outside experts will solve our problems we can and must solve them together each
we can and must solve them together each
we can and must solve them together each of us bringing our brilliance forward
of us bringing our brilliance forward
of us bringing our brilliance forward connecting with and celebrating each
connecting with and celebrating each
connecting with and celebrating each other
other
other protecting and honoring the whole that’s
protecting and honoring the whole that’s
protecting and honoring the whole that’s a 100% solution so what’s yours to do
a 100% solution so what’s yours to do
a 100% solution so what’s yours to do where can you connect with others how
where can you connect with others how
where can you connect with others how can you heal yourself our communities
can you heal yourself our communities
can you heal yourself our communities and the earth a Sandra Stein Graber a
and the earth a Sandra Stein Graber a
and the earth a Sandra Stein Graber a mother cancer survivor and fierce
mother cancer survivor and fierce
mother cancer survivor and fierce advocate for healthy communities wrote
advocate for healthy communities wrote
advocate for healthy communities wrote we are all musicians in a great human
we are all musicians in a great human
we are all musicians in a great human Orchestra and it’s now time to play the
Orchestra and it’s now time to play the
Orchestra and it’s now time to play the save the world symphony you are not
save the world symphony you are not
save the world symphony you are not required to play a solo but you are
required to play a solo but you are
required to play a solo but you are required to know what instrument you
required to know what instrument you
required to know what instrument you hold and play it as well as you can
hold and play it as well as you can
hold and play it as well as you can you are required to know what place in
you are required to know what place in
you are required to know what place in the score you are what we love we must
the score you are what we love we must
the score you are what we love we must protect that’s what love means thank you
protect that’s what love means thank you
protect that’s what love means thank you [Applause]
”
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