2023 Michigan Climate Summit

June 2, 2023  |  Oakland University

QUICK LINKS

• Schedule-at-a-Glance
• Photo Gallery
• News Coverage

2023 THEME

Addressing the climate crisis calls for social action guided by science, informed by values, and fueled by emotional engagement. This year, in addition to science and policy, we convened even more movement makers and connected to the broader cultural work of artists, storytellers, educators, and activists. The vision we achieved was an accessible, interactive, and fun day focused on increasing our collective capacity, supporting each other, and unleashing the creative potential of the climate movement to transform culture.

SPEAKERS & RECORDINGS

Thursday, June 1

Live Climate Storytelling Show: Tales From Heat Island

Curated by Here:Say Storytelling and hosted by the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.

Friday, June 2

Keynote: MIHealthyClimate Plan Update

• Cory Connolly, Climate & Energy Advisor, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE)
• Regina Strong, Environmental Justice Public Advocate, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE)

Plenary Panel: State Legislative Priorities

• State Representative Abraham Aiyash (D-MI-9), Majority Floor Leader
• State Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-MI-13), Energy & Environment Committee
• State Senator Sue Shink (D-MI-14), Energy & Environment Committee
• State Representative Dylan Wegela (D-MI-26)
• Moderator: Hudson Villeneuve, Federal Government Affairs Coordinator, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Breakout Session: Emerging Youth Leaders

• Richard (RJ) Card, West Bloomfield High School EARTH Club Diversity Chair
• Perla Guerrero, SPROUTS, Environmental Justice Group at Congress of Communities
• Anna Kavanaugh, Environmental Engineering Junior at Michigan Technological University
• Lake Liao, Sunrise Movement Troy, incoming freshman at Princeton University
• Moderator: Liv Rollinger, Climate & Clean Energy Specialist, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Breakout Session: Shut Down Line 5

• Kathleen Brosemer, Ph. D. Candidate in Energy and Environmental Policy, Michigan Technological University
• Jeffrey Insko, Professor of English and Coordinator of American Studies, Oakland University
• Sean McBrearty, Clean Water Action, Campaign Manager for Oil & Water Don't Mix
• Beth Wallace, National Wildlife Federation
• Moderator: Ellis Walton, Associate Attorney, Environmental Law & Policy Center

Breakout Session: Siting Renewable Energy

• Mike Buza, Chair of Sierra Club's Nepessing Group and the Michigan Chapter's Legislative Committee
• Brendan Miller, Michigan Field Director, Land and Liberty Coalition
• Peter Sinclair, Michigan-based videographer specializing in climate change and renewable energy issues
• Moderator: Bill Latka, Founder & Chief Storyteller, Storylicious

Keynote: Climate, Health, & Justice

• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services for Wayne County

Breakout Session: Health Impacts & Lived Experience

• Sue Anne Bell, University of Michigan School of Nursing
• Laura Carter Robinson, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist, Humanity&Planet; Executive Committee, Climate Psychology Alliance of North America
• Donna Givens-Davidson, President and CEO of the Eastside Community Network
• Dr. Porsche Fischer, MA, MS, Doctor of Human Services, Education and Evaluation Manager, Center for Health & Community Impact, Wayne State University
• Moderator: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services for Wayne County
• Co-Moderator: Lisa Del-Buono, Executive Director, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action

Breakout Session: Teaching the Climate Crisis

• Eileen Boekestein, Environmental Education Coordinator, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
• Brian Deyo, Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Grand Valley State University
• Riley Justis, Chief Operating Officer, Take Action Global
• Elena Lioubimtseva, Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning, Co-founder and coordinator of Climate Change Education Solutions Network, Grand Valley State University
• Jennifer Tianen (McQuillan), English Teacher and Founder of the West Bloomfield High School Literary Garden
• Moderator: Jeffrey Insko, Professor of English and Coordinator of American Studies, Oakland University

Interactive Workshop: Social Change through Storytelling

• Facilitator: Karen (Kabie) Stein, Creative Director & Producer, Here:Say Storytelling

Breakout Session: Oakland County Climate Action

• Kimathi Booth, Climate Justice Co-Chair, North Oakland Branch of the NAACP
• Woody Gontina, Vice Chair, Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board
• Analicia Hazelby, Chapter Leader, Greater Detroit Chapter Citizens Climate Lobby
• Erin Quetell, Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer, Oakland County Office of Sustainability
• Andrew Sarpolis, Senior Field Organizer, Sierra Club, and Turn Oakland County Green
• Moderator: Tina Catron, Michigan Field Consultant, EDF Action

Breakout Session: Students Driving University Action

• Taryn Indish, Student at Northwestern Michigan College, Northern Michigan Regional Organizer for Michigan League of Conservation Voters
• Alison Martin, Student at Western Michigan University, Director of Sustainability for the Western Michigan Student Association
• Aaeshah Siddiqui, Social Work student at Oakland University, Organizer for Public Citizen
• Moderator: Brendan Mortensen-Seguin, MiCAN intern and rising junior at Western Michigan University

Interactive Workshop: Creating Your Cipher

• Facilitator: Dominique Campbell, Musician & Cultural Organizer

Plenary Panel: Energy Justice

• Kamau Clark, Southeast MI Lead Organizer, We The People
• Michelle Jones, Soulardarity
• Rafael Mojica, Program Director, Soulardarity
• Moderator: Ellen Vial, Engagement & Coalitions Manager, Michigan Environmental Council

Plenary Panel: Intersectional Climate Justice

• Terra Bielby, Digital Organizing Director, Michigan Dems
• Marnese Jackson, Co-Director, Community Engagement & Equity, Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
• Monica Lewis-Patrick, President & CEO, We The People of Detroit
• April Lindala, Ph. D., Professor and Director (2007-2019), Center for Native American Studies, Northern Michigan University
• Moderator: Victoria Stewart, Director of Advocacy and Outreach, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Marshall Clabeaux, Michigan Mosaic Energy Cooperative; Dr. Jeffrey Insko, Oakland University; Bentley Johnson, Michigan League of Conservation Voters; Michelle Jones, Soulardarity; Bill Latka, Storylicious; Colleen Ludwig, Summit Art Director, Oakland University; Brendan Mortensen-Seguin, Western Michigan University; Frank Provenzano, Oakland University; Liv Rollinger, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Ashley Rudzinski, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Andrew Sarpolis, Sierra Club, Turn Oakland County Green; Jeff Smith, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Ellen Vial, Michigan Environmental Council; Hudson Villeneuve, Michigan League of Conservation Voters