Speaker: Nivi Achanta, CEO, Soapbox Project
Nivi Achanta: places where we can come together collectively and build civic power for the climate movement in a way that does good and feels good at the same time.
How (and why) are you taking action on climate change solutions in, for, and with your community?
Nivi Achanta: Soapbox Project creates the world's most joyful community spaces for climate action, and the reason that we believe this is so critical, especially now, is that all of us are struggling with climate anxiety, loneliness, and powerlessness, and we need third places where we can come together collectively and build civic power for the climate movement in a way that does good and feels good at the same time.
Describe a moment when you felt the real-world impact of your work in climate solutions.
Nivi Achanta: It's easy to tell people they need to drive less and walk more and reduce their emissions and that kind of thing, but our built environment really influences the way that we show up for each other in in the world. So one of the concepts and structures we've been raising awareness for at Soapbox Project is social housing and a really, really cool thing that happened early. Here this year partially through our advocacy and the awareness we've been raising is the city of Seattle where our flagship location is passed a historic social housing bill contributing taxpayer money to build affordable dense housing that will result in socioeconomic and climate justice impacts for years to come.
Who or what inspires/inspired you to care about climate change and climate solutions?
Nivi Achanta: It wasn't really a question for me to care or not care about climate solutions. I mean, I, I am from India, and that is a place where rising temperatures are far more apparent, and currently I live in Seattle and It's, it's hard not to be in love with the world, with all the lakes and the trees and the wild flowers, and at the same time feel such deep grief for the ways that extractive greed are ruining these beautiful things. Around us. So I don't know, for me it's just living as a human, loving the place I live, wanting to live my best life with my best friends on this best planet, and I don't think that's, I don't think that's that much to ask for.
