On April 13, we gathered for our annual Canvas for Our Climate event, an initiative made possible through UNC–Charlotte’s Levine Scholars program. Canvas for Our Climate encourages local high school students to hone their artistic skills and channel their passion for science into advocacy for Charlotte’s most environmentally impacted areas. We challenged students to visualize creative solutions for the climate crisis and bring environmental justice stories to life.
“As experienced professionals and role models, we are responsible for providing young people with a platform to communicate their perspectives, imagine solutions, and take them seriously,” says CleanAIRE NC’s Education Program Manager, Rafi Vaca, who played a pivotal role in organizing the event. “That’s what Canvas for Our Climate does.”
Canvas for Our Climate aspires to uplift the next generation of artists and environmental leaders, equipping them to drive meaningful change through their unique perspectives. Their work reminds us that the voices of those who will inherit this planet are vital to the conversation on how to protect it.
Rafi reflects, “I’m grateful to collaborate with younger generations in this work because they will experience the most severe impacts of the climate crisis, despite bearing the least responsibility for creating it.”
We look forward to hosting this event each year, giving students the opportunity to advocate for their environment in ways that spark their creativity. However, these vital programs rely on the generosity of our community. Your continued support makes events like these possible.
