(Clara Sims and Sister Joan Brown, osf, represented Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico and El Paso at national IPL’s annual conference and lobby day in Washington, D.C., earlier this month)
By Clara Sims
Our first full day of programming focused on the conference theme of “Climate Solutions Through Truth, Justice and Reconciliation,” with a Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Training. This training was led by the wonderful leaders of the Spark Mill and Innerwork Center. We spent time sharing our personal experiences and learning together about the many intersecting identities and concerns of IPL and different state affiliates who hold both shared and distinct concerns about pathways to greater racial equity and justice.
In representing New Mexico, we lifted up the need to continue to work closely with our indigenous siblings and partners especially, and we must continue to center how the impacts of colonial legacies and worldviews remain so present in the extractivism and dumping our communities experience as “sacrifice zones.” As a minority majority state we know NM IPL holds unique work in racial justice and reconciliation, and we wholeheartedly affirm the need to move into ever deeper work at state and national levels to reckon with the many ways racial injustice and climate vulnerability powerfully overlap and reinforce one another.
Our day ended with the extraordinary keynote speaker, Jacqui Patterson – Founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project: A Resource Hub for Black Frontline Climate Leadership. Jacqui shared so much wisdom, grit, and inspiration with us – lifting up the voices of many prophetic artists, musicians, and poets in her remarks. The opening poem Jacqui shared, “Hope Isn’t A Vacant Lot,” is worth spending time with especially…
Lobby Day
The next day we got to prep for our lobby days at the Capital with panels on target legislation as well as “best practice tips” from veteran advocates, including our very own Sr. Joan Brown. Joan acted in a role play about visiting with legislative representatives, displaying *excellent* acting skills in her role. No surprise, when it comes to getting the non-committal staff member of a moderate Iowan congressman to listen to the climate concerns of small family farmers, you know which Kansas-born Sister to call!
Our legislative focus this year at the national IPL level centered on the Farm Bill, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), and Permitting Reform. For the first time ever the Farm Bill, which is updated every five years, has the potential to include comprehensive climate-conscious legislation. We are thrilled to report that our New Mexico congressional representatives are championing this legislation and others and were so engaged in our raising of concerns for New Mexico communities, especially for those in southeast and Permian Basin where much more accountability is needed for methane pollution and set-backs from oil and gas wells and so much more. Above all, we offered gratitude to our congresspeople for all their hard work and service and persistence. They recognize how much we are also offering dedication and persistence in our service to New Mexico communities.
The challenges are many and multiplying but there is also such hope in our working together and dreaming of what can still grow in goodness for all.
Joan and I are both grateful to be returning home to keep persisting with you, and, as a parting thought – these words from Rasheena Fountain:
“Home is where footprints survive and all life thrives
In my dream, Chicago blues join the songbirds in melodies of hope,
a vision I imagine as skyscraper promises to you, the skies
I wish in new heights, in treetop rebellions the oaks and maples offer
to the children, from our ancestors, for the continuation of breaths
I love beyond white picket fences into avenue streets
I reenvision vacant lots as forests—spaces where we can plant new seed
Home is where footprints survive and all life thrives”
