_{*If you’d like to support my work but can’t afford to donate or upgrade, please check out the curated ad below.}

My fellow Cohort 9 members may recognize the photo above, since I’ve been using it as my intro background. It’s one of my favorite spots on the North Shore of Mni Sóta Makoce. It’s a required stop any time we can make the trip. In fact, I plan to celebrate completing this fellowship by hiking the magnificent parks and trails between Duluth and Grand Marais. But first, the spring equinox has come with a boon to my education and connection to the climate realm during Aries season, and I am giddy!

I’m positively obsessed with climate. My reasons are many: I love the Earth and all its wonderful inhabitants, and I want us to thrive in harmony; I’m personally affected by the impacts of pollution, heat, and I’m keenly aware of the impact on human health and vulnerable communities; the acute anxiety I feel watching the thermometer swing from -2°F to 82°F in under a week won’t let me forget, melting 14 inches of snow down to mud. The list goes on, and it’s why I want to focus on climate full-time.

I found out about the Climatebase Fellowship on the job trail. Since I’m actively seeking opportunities in the climate ecosystem, I built a profile on Climatebase.org, set an alert for remote job opportunities, and quickly found a few gigs I knew I could both enjoy and excel at. I also liked the idea of searching for staff to hire there as Taproot Media grows, but I had no idea they also offered accessible, focused learning with access to subject matter experts, online job fairs, and a robust, hands-on curriculum until one of my job alerts arrived in my inbox with an invitation to “accelerate” my career. After more than 6 months of “funemployment,” my curiosity was immediately piqued.

The fellowship kicked off last week, and after the first few keynotes and networking sessions, I’m already feeling buoyed with momentum. The program spans 12 weeks through the beginning of June, and I’m insatiably hungry for knowledge of the contemporary climate space. Each week, we’ll focus on a different aspect of climate in depth with an amazing international community network, collaborate on peer projects, and get personalized mentorship and career advice. It’s my first foray into structured professional education and development since undergrad, and I feel honored to have been accepted to learn alongside so many inspiring people, grateful for the scholarship supporting my studies, and heartened by how it’s aligning with my values.

I genuinely appreciate how they set the tone with the first slate of keynote speakers:

We began with an expert in system change who deftly explained why — in our current moment of polycrisis — multisolving is necessary. I deeply appreciated Dr. Sawin’s equity-first focus in thoughtfully reflecting the historic challenges we face and how communities and coalitions can come together with shared purpose to create the changes we need. For all the questions about how to build climate resilience, weaving community connections and bundling problems to meet many needs at once is always a great place to start.

Next, we heard from an advocate supporting Indigenous communities and rights who provided a sobering warning: The Amazon is at an ecological tipping point, with over 20% deforested and close to 20% degraded. If the pace continues, large portions of the Amazon may irreversibly shift to savannah rather than remain a rainforest, which would have catastrophic consequences for the climate and present an existential threat to life. Despite these dire circumstances, however, forests still stand on Indigenous-managed land. His message was a simple and galvanizing one, and I hope advocates will look to his example for decolonial funding and policy supporting Indigenous land rights.

The week wrapped up with a wonderful introduction to an effort to treat fossil fuels like the existential threat they are: The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Introduced by the chair and founder — who also happens to work at an organization I’ve applied to and would love to work for, it was exhilarating to learn about the international collaboration that’s already under way, and that people, organizations, and businesses can get involved with endorsements. It was also oddly reassuring to hear her affirm that the majority of people believe in climate change and are concerned about it, yet most of us feel like we’re alone or won’t have support amid all the other issues that demand our time and attention. It was also incredibly validating to hear her attribute the “green hush” to the influence of Putin and Trump, and the statistics she shared underscored why it’s important to break the silence:

While I grapple with grief and outrage over the deadly and destructive war on Iran, I was glad Dr. Berman highlighted that it exposes energy insecurity and the ways our current system enables dependence and vulnerabilities. It was also helpful to see her outline the ways industry has distorted our discourse before honing in on our capacity to have a shared goal that stretches across borders and leads to a future that’s cleaner, safer, and more affordable — a world free of fossil fuels. Truly a lovely vision to move toward.

LEARN MORE + GET INVOLVED! 👇🏼

Turns out, Robin Wall Kimmerer not only released a new children’s book — Bud Finds Her Gift, she’s also inviting us to join her in a grassroots movement to raise a garden, raise a ruckus, and reimagine our shared future through acts of care for the planet with Plant Baby Plant. Recently, she also celebrated the vernal equinox by hosting a live Plant Circle, offering a beautiful botany lesson and ode to buds that you can watch anytime. Here’s to this season of growth and regeneration. 🌱✨

Direct from nerds I know and love to you. You’re welcome, and thank you. ❤

If you want to work with a professional who’s accurate, responsive, and won’t share your ideas or brand with consumer AI products, please get in touch! I’m open to work and can promptly provide a rate sheet, a resume, references, and work samples.

I have years of experience leveraging traditional research methods to produce authentic, trustworthy articles and engaging educational multimedia. To learn more about my background, click the link below.

Until next time,

October 2025 - Word Nerdery and Sundry