Matt Scott

Sharing your personal climate story is a powerful way to shift narratives, rally support, and bring climate change solutions to life.

On a sunny fall afternoon, an intergenerational group of dozens of Latine community members descended upon Bregamos Community Theater for Mic at the Mill, a bilingual storytelling event organized by Drawdown’s Neighborhood interviewee and community leader Xóchitl Garcia as part of Save the Sound’s Urban Waters Initiative, in partnership with Women Without Borders, Semilla Collective, and Project Drawdown’s storytelling program. 

Everyone taking climate action, no matter who you are or where you live, has a story to share. Part of my role leading Drawdown Stories, Project Drawdown’s storytelling and engagement program, is to pass the mic to those who too often go unheard in the climate space so they can share stories of climate action and solutions that resonate with their communities.

A piece of Black history and my dad’s life and death have shown me the need for new narratives. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my career as a storyteller, it’s this: Everyone has a story, and those stories have power. But in a society that often prioritizes science, data, news of the problem, and traditional voices over personal narratives, this essential truth is easy to overlook.

Earth Week, which takes place April 14–22, is an occasion inviting people everywhere to turn their attention to climate change and find their role in climate solutions. Do you know how you’ll help the world counter climate change this coming Earth Week?