Anna Siegel, a youth activist, speaks to a packed forum in 2020 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. Submitted photo
The Center for an Ecology-Based Economy plans to host its 2030 Vision Climate Convergence from Friday through Sunday, April 22-24. The event is to be held in downtown Norway, under tents at the recreation park on Cottage Street.
This year’s convergence, themed Collective Power for Climate Justice, aims to continue to build momentum for climate action in western Maine and beyond during this critical climate decade, according to a news release from the center.
Participants can attend the whole weekend or any part of it. Organizers plan to livestream the plenary sessions for those who can’t make it in person. Sliding scale registration is required, and details, as well as a full schedule of events, can be found online at ecologybasedeconomy.org.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided for attendees on Saturday and Sunday, and pizza from the wood-fired oven at the Alan Day Community Garden will be offered Saturday evening.
Building on its 350-person event in early 2020 and last year’s virtual convergence, 2030 Vision will host local and state organizers, advocates and experts to inspire action and strengthen Maine’s climate movement. Celebrating Earth Day and CEBE’s ninth birthday, the three-day event will focus on training organizers, building community, highlighting youth voices, and educating people about how to engage in local and statewide efforts.
The center welcomes Lokotah Sanborn, Penobscot community organizer and food sovereignty advocate, to kick off the event Friday night. The evening also will include the world premiere of “Youth Voices,” a 30-minute film featuring young people in Maine sharing their thoughts on the climate, followed by a series of Pecha Kucha presentations.
Saturday and Sunday will include more plenary speakers, facilitated round table discussions and workshops on a broad range of climate-related topics. Dr. Richard Silkman, author of “A New Energy Policy Direction for Maine: A Pathway to a Zero-Carbon Economy by 2050,” and Sue Inches, author of “Advocating for the Environment,” will be featured speakers on Saturday.
Saturday evening will feature GoldenOak in concert, for which separate tickets are also available.
State Sen. Chloe Maxmin, author of “Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It,” will speak on Sunday and participate in a workshop on rural political organizing. Luke Sekera-Flanders, co-founder of Community Water Justice, will also speak on the importance of organizing for water justice in Maine.
For more information, call the center at 207-739-2101 or email events@ecologybasedeconomy.org.
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