Climate & Community 5/29/25: Maine Climate Leaders Conversation (Part 2)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community shares insight from Johannah Blackman, the Executive Director of A Climate to Thrive, and Kathleen Sullivan, the Program Coordinator for Freeport Climate Action Now, who recently planned and hosted a gathering for Maine climate leaders. Johannah and Kathleen discuss the purpose of the conversation and the long term impact spaces like this one could have on strengthening the movement.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 5/22/25: Maine Climate Leaders Conversation (Part 1)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community shares insight from Johannah Blackman, the Executive Director of A Climate to Thrive, and Kathleen Sullivan, the Program Coordinator for Freeport Climate Action Now, who recently planned and hosted a gathering for Maine climate leaders. Johannah and Kathleen discuss what sparked the idea for this gathering and why now is the time to convene climate leaders to grapple with the challenges of the moment and imagine a shared vision for the future.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 5/15/25: Mount Desert Island High School Ecoteam (Part 2)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community continues the conversation with science teacher, Ruth Poland, and senior Ecoteam member, Lucian Avila-Gatz, from Mount Desert Island High School. In this episode we hear about their perspective on youth driven climate action in the state, and their recent experience at the Maine Youth Climate Summit.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 5/8/25: Mount Desert Island High School Ecoteam (Part 1)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community speaks with science teacher, Ruth Poland, and senior Ecoteam member, Lucian Avila-Gatz from Mount Desert Island High School about what inspired their involvement in climate and sustainability work. We learn about the formation of the Ecoteam eight years ago and how the group is continuing to evolve alongside climate action initiatives in the state of Maine.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 5/1/25: Climate Action, District by District (Part 2)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community continues the conversation with Bath Middle School science teacher, Micah Depper, learning about how school districts statewide and nationwide have the opportunity to make a big difference on the state of climate action and emissions reductions in the US. We touch on the importance of student contributions to this initiative and the necessity to build networks of climate leaders in school communities throughout Maine, New England, and the country.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 4/24/25: Climate Action, District by District (Part 1)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community speaks with Middle School Science teacher from Bath, Micah Depper, about how he decided to form a working group of teachers, students, administrators and community members to research, plan, and implement initiatives to reduce their schools’ emissions and waste while also promoting climate literacy at every grade level.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 4/17/25: Finding Hope in New Community Connections (Part 2)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community continues the conversation with Maya and Tony about their experience reading “Active Hope” with A Climate to Thrive’s book group. Both reflect on how new connections have encouraged them to grow and how a new understanding of the word “hope” has strengthened their resolve to act.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.

Climate & Community 4/10/25: Finding Hope in New Community Connections (Part 1)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community speaks with two members of A Climate to Thrive’s “Active Hope” book group. In this segment, listeners learn what inspired Maya and Tony to participate in the group, and some of the key insights they have gained about themselves and the world.

About the Host:
Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.
 
Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.