State’s largest environmental and climate coalition to host annual summit at CWU

Central Washington University will be hosting a conference for a statewide environmental and climate justice coalition the weekend of November 3-5, and anyone on campus and in the local community is invited to participate.

The Front and Centered 2023 Members’ Summit, “Soulful Solidarity,” will provide an opportunity for CWU students, faculty, and staff, to interact with other local advocates from around the state who are focused on environmental justice and the climate crisis.

The three-day gathering at CWU is designed to foster connections between diverse organizations and communities, while igniting discussions and collaboration around solutions that pave the way for a more just and sustainable world.  

While many of the summit sessions are geared toward coalition members, several discussions and events—including the keynote address—will be open to media, students, and faculty. Most of the events will be held in the SURC, and no pre-registration is required.

Local volunteers are also needed. If you are interested, or have questions about the summit, email events@frontandcentered.org.

The summit’s keynote speaker will be CWU alumna and Yakama National tribal member Elaine Harvey (Wanux'ni), who now serves as a department manager for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Harvey will deliver her address in the SURC Theatre on Friday, November 3, at 7 p.m., and the event is open to the public.

Two of the workshop facilitators for the Front and Centered conference are CWU Sustainability Officer Jeff Bousson and AmeriCorps Sustainability Education Program Specialist and CWU staff member Lily De Young. They will lead a workshop on Saturday, November 4, at 2:30 p.m. titled “Centering Equity Within Central Washington University’s Draft Climate Action Plan.”

Front and Centered expert staff, members, and community leaders will be facilitating additional workshops. Representatives from the Native Movement, the Oregon Just Transition Alliance, and the Climate Justice Alliance are also planning to attend.

Front and Centered is Seattle-based nonprofit made up of a diverse and powerful coalition of groups from communities of color across the state. The organization’s mission is to bring its members together with community partners, advocates, and academics to discuss critical challenges and solutions related to climate justice, environmental justice, and building power toward a “just transition,” with an eye toward the 2024 state legislative session.