BIPOC Climate Justice Summit Addresses Community Power and Accountability
News related to:HBCU Green Fund · 3 min read
NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- HBCU Green Fund and ACE Observatory hosted the 6th Annual BIPOC Climate Justice Summit at the American Museum of Natural History during Climate Week NYC. The summit, titled "Climate Democracy Frontiers," aimed to center community power, public trust, and accountability in the face of climate change. This event came after the U.S. Supreme Court began its new term with arguments in a major climate case that could shape the future of lawsuits against fossil-fuel companies.
Felicia Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund, emphasized the importance of the summit.
The summit kicked off with an address by Chase Iron Eyes, an attorney, activist, and member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, who was raised on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Iron Eyes highlighted the importance of solidarity in the fight against climate change.
Dr. Isatis Cintrón-Rodríguez, climate scientist and director of ACE Observatory, underscored the critical need for building power, public trust, and community leadership.
Dr. Genevieve Guenther, author of The Language of Climate Politics, discussed how climate change is communicated through language, from media coverage to propaganda and disinformation. Jessica Cruz, deputy director of the New York City Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, shared how the city connects the climate crisis to everyday concerns such as housing, affordability, and quality of life.
The audience also had the opportunity to learn about the contributions of Black professionals in STEM over the past century and the challenges that remain today. Dr. Sean M. Decatur, President of the American Museum of Natural History, introduced members of the National Technical Association (NTA) for a panel marking the organization's 100th anniversary. The discussion explored the contributions of Black professionals in STEM and the challenges they face, including misinformation, mistrust of science, the need to inspire more young people to pursue careers in science and technology.
Hattie Carwell, a physicist and HBCU Green Fund Alumni Fellow, presented a look back at the organization's founders and past leaders, including Katherine Johnson, the trailblazing mathematician and NASA space scientist portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the award-winning film Hidden Figures. Other panelists included Kyesha Ruffin, founder of Science in the City; Dr. Ambrose Jearld, a marine biologist; Gary Harris, a nuclear engineer; and Dr. Shelia Stiles, a research geneticist.
The Museum's Hall of the Universe, displaying galaxies, stars, and planets, provided a cosmic background for the NTA and an innovative runway for the eco-fashion show featuring designs by Monsurat Amoo, a sustainable fashion designer and HBCU Green Fund Alumni Fellow. The audience also viewed short films about inner-city farmers produced by and featuring chef and eco-hip-hop artist DJ Cavem, who later took the stage for a live performance.
The panel "When Communities Lead, Democracy Works" explored how residents and elected officials can work together to advance community-designed clean-energy solutions. Dr. Frances Gregory of the HBCU Green Fund led this discussion.
The summit concluded with a call for deeper collaboration, stronger frontline leadership, coordinated cross-border action, and greater accountability for those responsible for climate harm. The panel featured Dr. Isatis M. Cintrón-Rodríguez; Ayisha Siddiqa, Planetary Guardians; Thalia Cachimuel, BLIS Collective; and Jacqueline Patterson, The Chisholm Legacy Project.
The 6th Annual BIPOC Climate Justice Summit was co-convened by HBCU Green Fund, ACE Observatory, the National Technical Association, Columbia Climate School, and dozens of frontline organizations, in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History as host partner.