Climate change and global warming are affecting all of us. But, like many other challenges in society, it’s hurting communities of color the most.  Environmental crises are triggering more internal and international migration and displacement.  This event will begin with a BIPOC artists panel about identity, place-making and belonging.  This rich dialogue will provide the space to imagine different possible futures, highlight how art allows us to see the world in new ways, and encourage us all to come together to create climate solutions.  Following the panel, attendees will be invited to take part in a Community "Counter-Cartography" Generative Poetry Workshop by Spoken Word Artist-Activist & Owner of Lualo Studio LLC, Jenah Maravilla.  They will participate in guided meditation, create body maps and accompanying prose to illustrate the community's relationship between self and "home".  The Houston Audubon will connect bird migration with human migration and showcasing the wonder of bird migration. Their event table will highlight the importance of the Houston region and our sanctuaries as stop-over habitat for migratory birds.

Art from all participating artists will be featured at Houston Climate Justice Museum at The POST exhibit space.  The opening for this curation is set for February 18, 2024.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS & PARTNERS

Amenta B. -Panelist, April M. Frazier , Bennie Flores Ansell -Panelist, Blaffer Art Museum, Houston Audubon, Houston Climate Justice Museum, Houston Public Library (HPL), Ibraim Nascimento –Panelist, Jenah Maravilla, Journey HTX, Kristi Rangel -Moderator, Lualo Studio LLC, and Rev. Vanessa Monroe -Panelist

Witness Series 2024 experiences are made possible through the Community Artists’ Collective with generous funding from the Jacob & Terese Foundation. This year’s events are done in collaboration with Bayou City Waterkeeper, Blaffer Art Museum,  Chinese Community Center- Houston, Community Artists’ Collective, East End Management District, Grackle and Grackle Literary Services Harris County Precinct One, Houston Audubon, Houston Botanic Garden, Houston Climate Justice Museum,  Houston Health Department, Houston Parks & Recreation Department Houston Public Library (HPL), Journey HTX, Latino Outdoors Houston, Lualo Studio LLC,  National Wildlife Refuge System, and Nature Heritage Society- Houston.

“People will forget what you said, and what you did, but never how you made them feel.”
—Maya Angelou (paraphrase)