Please join the Western New York and Finger Lakes Chapters for the September Coalition meeting on climate anxiety, a growing concern for many climate activists, especially younger activists joining climate movements looking for change and positive action. The panelist will discuss the psychological and social effects of climate anxiety and how cross-generational and global connections can provide increasing levels of support. The panel features Dr. Jennifer Fendya of the WNY Chapter, Dr. Divya Gupta of Binghamton University, and Lauren Kim, co-chair of the Climate Reality NYU campus chapter, with Len Luka moderating. The panelists’ biographies are included below. Together, we’ll explore how to transform climate anxiety into action and support each other as we continue to build a sustainable future.
Meet our panelists
Jennifer Fendya, PhD, is a licensed Psychologist and registered Sandplay practitioner in Buffalo, NY. A certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, she leads Forest Bathing walks throughout the Eastern US and last year traveled to Japan to experience Shinrin Yoku at its origin. She currently is working on the “Forest Bathing” entry for the online resource Ecopsychepedia and is studying to become an ANFT-certified Trails, Spaces & Places Consultant. A Master Gardener, Jennifer leads the Therapeutic Gardening Initiative at Grassroots Gardens, and recently taught her first Miksang contemplative photography class for Roswell Park’s Young Adult Cancer Support Program through Buffalo’s Center for Exploratory & Perceptual Arts. Jennifer is on the Climate Cafe facilitator training team for the Climate Psychology Alliance – North America and co-facilitates in-person Climate Cafes locally and online through Healing Circles Global.
Divya Gupta, PhD, is an environmental social scientist. Her research and teaching focus on international environmental policies and politics. She is especially interested in understanding and exploring the roles of diverse state and non-state actors in local-level governance, development, and justice. Divya has been conducting empirical research in India and Nepal, looking at the community-based response to changes like climate and the pandemic. She is also working with her network of collaborators to study the implementation of contemporary decentralization and rights-based approaches in forest management in the global south. She is also the co-host of the In Common Podcast, the official podcast of the International Association for the Study of the Commons.
Lauren Kim is a rising sophomore at NYU and the co-chair of the Climate Reality NYU Campus Chapter. Lauren is considering majors in environmental studies and data science.
Len Luka is the Renewables Outreach Coordinator for New Yorkers for Clean Power (NYCP). Before joining NYCP, Len enjoyed many years of teaching and research at a small liberal arts college and later moved to Binghamton University as an academic advisor. A deep concern for the success and well-being of younger generations motivates Len to build a healthy, fossil-free future for all.
Meeting ID: 958 6631 3240
Passcode: NYRocks