Faith. Climate. Action.

This Saturday, March 21, we have a great opportunity to come together, learn, discuss, and grow stronger as a community. Our Faith. Climate. Action. event will take place at Portage United Church of Christ, 2731 W. Milham Avenue, from 1–4 p.m., with a social hour from 4–5 p.m. Even if you cannot attend the whole event, feel free to stop by for an hour or two.

Here is the schedule for the afternoon:

1:00 p.m.: Welcome

1:10 p.m.: Community reflection: How does your faith and/or conscience inform your climate action?

1:30 p.m.: Introduction to breakout sessions

1:40–2:30 p.m.: Workshop #1

2:30–2:40 p.m.: Break

2:40–3:30 p.m.: Workshop #2

3:35–4:00 p.m.: Closing discussion and action steps

4:00–5:00 p.m.: Social hour with vegan appetizers, networking, and tabling

Workshop options include presentations on each of our three pillars:

Community Resilience

Hear from Steve Wasko, director of the St. Suzanne’s Cody Rouge Community Center in Detroit. Steve will share on the theme of climate resilience hubs—community-powered spaces for climate preparedness, safety, and resilience. In his presentation, entitled “Resilient Together: Faith Communities as Climate Resilience Hubs,” Steve will talk about his experience transforming St. Suzanne’s into a space that serves the community and is ready to respond to weather events.

Ecosystem Resilience

Portage librarian and native plant enthusiast Quyen Edwards will share her experience transforming a public library space into a native flower habitat that welcomes pollinators, reduces mowing, is climate resilient, and is beautiful! In her workshop, entitled “Start Small: An Introduction to Native Plants,” Quyen will share her experience and expertise to help you learn and get started on your own native flower journey.

Spiritual Resilience

Hope for Creation welcomes people of all faith backgrounds and perspectives—or none at all. What we have in common is a deep connection with nature that leads us to see the Earth as sacred. Nancy Hoy Nott will encourage us to self-reflect on our own feelings about nature in her workshop “Poetry as Action: Exploring Climate Change Through Reading and Writing About Nature.” No poetry experience is necessary to put down some words that illustrate our connection to and love for the Earth.