Photo of Zakiya Harris, speaking at the 2009 Green Festival, by Aglehmer via flickr
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Green Festival. Partners Green America and Global Exchange created a “party with a purpose” that brings together environmentalists, community organizers, sustainable business, art, music, and culture. While the program varies slightly from year to year, the purpose is always the same – to show people that another way of living is possible, one centered on environmental, social, and economic justice.
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Zakiya Harris about this year’s upcoming festival in San Francisco. She is the festival’s Regional Director, a hip hop artist, a proud mother, and founder of EarthSeed Consulting, LLC. and Grind for the Green. We discussed how the festival has evolved throughout the last decade, what visitors can look forward to this year, and how the festival addresses issues of climate justice.
The Green Festival was born in San Francisco, which is only natural, according to Harris. She explains, “I think that San Francisco, and, to some extent, parts of Northern California have always been on the cutting edge of a number of issues that have literally touched the nation and touched the world.” But just as its reach expanded across the nation, the festival also expanded its program and audience organically, responding to national and international events.
Photo via Green Festival
The list of speakers proves this. Harris highlights two women in particular – Shannon Biggs and Antonia Juhasz. Biggs is an advocate for natural rights and also directs the Global Exchange Community Rights program. Her work with Global Exchange helps communities organize themselves in order to challenge encroaching corporate power. She educates communities about existing laws that they can use protect their rights. Juhasz is an author and the director of the Energy Program at Global Exchange. Her work focuses on confronting Big Oil and shedding light on the damage they do to communities around the world.
Likewise, a few young people will be featured over the weekend, as well. Part of what Harris considers the NOW Generation, these young people are all active in their local, national, or the international communities, pursuing environmental justice. A list of those young people here.
Harris says, “I think the notion that youth don’t have a voice or that youth aren’t involved is really a misconception, and that it’s rather that the mainstream media isn’t highlighting or giving voice to the work that a lot of our young people do.” And the Green Festival can serve as a platform for their voices or as a catalyst for activism. “A young person that doesn’t know about those things [green organizations] would have the opportunity to come to Green Festival and see a young person who started their own organization and has created this really cool new business.”
She adds that their exposure to these ideas might also influence their choice in their field of study in college. Essentially, the event not only educates young people, it also provides a platform for their voices and ideas, and connects them to activist organizations and each other.
For Harris, engaging voices outside of the mainstream is just as important as inspiring youth. To do this, efforts are being made to increase the amount of art, music, and culture brought to the main stage. Harris views music and art as vital to liberation movements, like the civil rights movement, and would love to see it embraced by the green movement, as well. Cultural diversity expands the dialogue and includes perspectives of communities that might not have realized they had a stake in the conversation. Traditionally, the environmental movement has not reached out to indigenous populations and underserved communities of color. That is where Harris steps in.
“If we want to make the impact, we have got to widen the scope and make sure that everybody is included in this new earth that we’re creating. We’re going to have to bring some new people into the room.” By working with community action organizations, and the artistic and musical communities, the Green Festival is utilizing that intersection between communities. A productive and inclusive dialogue will propel the green movement forward.
One of the many vendors at the Green Festival. Photo via Green Festival.
The Green Festival is able to reach out to a diverse audience because of its accessibility. In the past, there was not a place or event that such a wide range of people could gather and bring their children. Some green conferences, while great, are expensive. This is what makes this festival different. Admission is $15 and those 18 or under are free. City employees are free. If you donate caned goods, you can get in for free. There are also discounts for riding a bicycle to the festival.
Harris says, “The ticket price definitely allows a large cross section of people to come in, have the opportunity to eat, maybe see a speaker, and check out the Kids’ Zone and booths. There’s really something for everyone. We’ve also got art installations at Green Festival. We’ve got a lot of cultural activities that go on. All of this really works in combination to stir together the masses.”
But the event is not just good at drawing a diverse crowd and showing people a good time. It is a very effective educational program. That is due in part to its experiential format. With the goal of becoming a “zero waste” event in mind, the festival experience begins by learning about and using the various recycling and composting stations that are scattered around the festival. These areas do not mention “garbage”, rather they are “Resource Recovery Stations”. These stations help divert trash from landfills by sorting refuse so it can be recycled and reused. In addition, there are also water stations where participants can fill up their personal water bottles. The festival does not just provide information. It allows people to participate in a green community for an afternoon. That leaves an impact on people.
Thankfully, the Green Festival is growing in popularity, and has expanded across the nation. This year, it will be held in both New York City and Los Angeles – two very different, but very vibrant cities. Check out www.greenfestivals.org to find out where the closest event is to you. Come on out and celebrate the green community. Who knows, you just might learn something.
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Celebrate the Green Festival’s 10th Anniversary
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Green Festival. Partners Green America and Global Exchange created a “party with a purpose” that brings together environmentalists, community organizers, sustainable business, art, music, and culture. While the program varies slightly from year to year, the purpose is always the same – to show people that another way of living is possible, one centered on environmental, social, and economic justice.
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Zakiya Harris about this year’s upcoming festival in San Francisco. She is the festival’s Regional Director, a hip hop artist, a proud mother, and founder of EarthSeed Consulting, LLC. and Grind for the Green. We discussed how the festival has evolved throughout the last decade, what visitors can look forward to this year, and how the festival addresses issues of climate justice.
The Green Festival was born in San Francisco, which is only natural, according to Harris. She explains, “I think that San Francisco, and, to some extent, parts of Northern California have always been on the cutting edge of a number of issues that have literally touched the nation and touched the world.” But just as its reach expanded across the nation, the festival also expanded its program and audience organically, responding to national and international events.
The list of speakers proves this. Harris highlights two women in particular – Shannon Biggs and Antonia Juhasz. Biggs is an advocate for natural rights and also directs the Global Exchange Community Rights program. Her work with Global Exchange helps communities organize themselves in order to challenge encroaching corporate power. She educates communities about existing laws that they can use protect their rights. Juhasz is an author and the director of the Energy Program at Global Exchange. Her work focuses on confronting Big Oil and shedding light on the damage they do to communities around the world.
Likewise, a few young people will be featured over the weekend, as well. Part of what Harris considers the NOW Generation, these young people are all active in their local, national, or the international communities, pursuing environmental justice. A list of those young people here.
Harris says, “I think the notion that youth don’t have a voice or that youth aren’t involved is really a misconception, and that it’s rather that the mainstream media isn’t highlighting or giving voice to the work that a lot of our young people do.” And the Green Festival can serve as a platform for their voices or as a catalyst for activism. “A young person that doesn’t know about those things [green organizations] would have the opportunity to come to Green Festival and see a young person who started their own organization and has created this really cool new business.”
She adds that their exposure to these ideas might also influence their choice in their field of study in college. Essentially, the event not only educates young people, it also provides a platform for their voices and ideas, and connects them to activist organizations and each other.
For Harris, engaging voices outside of the mainstream is just as important as inspiring youth. To do this, efforts are being made to increase the amount of art, music, and culture brought to the main stage. Harris views music and art as vital to liberation movements, like the civil rights movement, and would love to see it embraced by the green movement, as well. Cultural diversity expands the dialogue and includes perspectives of communities that might not have realized they had a stake in the conversation. Traditionally, the environmental movement has not reached out to indigenous populations and underserved communities of color. That is where Harris steps in.
“If we want to make the impact, we have got to widen the scope and make sure that everybody is included in this new earth that we’re creating. We’re going to have to bring some new people into the room.” By working with community action organizations, and the artistic and musical communities, the Green Festival is utilizing that intersection between communities. A productive and inclusive dialogue will propel the green movement forward.
The Green Festival is able to reach out to a diverse audience because of its accessibility. In the past, there was not a place or event that such a wide range of people could gather and bring their children. Some green conferences, while great, are expensive. This is what makes this festival different. Admission is $15 and those 18 or under are free. City employees are free. If you donate caned goods, you can get in for free. There are also discounts for riding a bicycle to the festival.
Harris says, “The ticket price definitely allows a large cross section of people to come in, have the opportunity to eat, maybe see a speaker, and check out the Kids’ Zone and booths. There’s really something for everyone. We’ve also got art installations at Green Festival. We’ve got a lot of cultural activities that go on. All of this really works in combination to stir together the masses.”
But the event is not just good at drawing a diverse crowd and showing people a good time. It is a very effective educational program. That is due in part to its experiential format. With the goal of becoming a “zero waste” event in mind, the festival experience begins by learning about and using the various recycling and composting stations that are scattered around the festival. These areas do not mention “garbage”, rather they are “Resource Recovery Stations”. These stations help divert trash from landfills by sorting refuse so it can be recycled and reused. In addition, there are also water stations where participants can fill up their personal water bottles. The festival does not just provide information. It allows people to participate in a green community for an afternoon. That leaves an impact on people.
Thankfully, the Green Festival is growing in popularity, and has expanded across the nation. This year, it will be held in both New York City and Los Angeles – two very different, but very vibrant cities. Check out www.greenfestivals.org to find out where the closest event is to you. Come on out and celebrate the green community. Who knows, you just might learn something.