learned the power of disruption as a form of protest. I learned how to canvass and became more confident in my outreach skills through participating in events for the Our Time campaign, encouraging young voters to support a Green New Deal. What has inspired me to become more involved in the organiza-
tion is the centrality of community. Singing movement songs has become a tradition, and I have found that it helps to build unity and hope among us. I have met so many incredible people who have given me a sense of community. It feels empowering and joyful being part of something where I can be myself and constantly be inspired by other people. It is easy to give up the struggle for justice when you are alone, but being in Climate Justice Toronto has helped me find the motivation, strength and hope to keep pushing for change!
VOICE: What have you learned as an activist in the context of COVID-19?
SAVI: In the long run, I think the pandemic has been a really crucial learning point for me as an activist. Prior to the pandemic, CJTO was organizing mainly in-person actions and meetings. As a group we’ve been forced to adapt and completely shift the ways we organize. I have learned that creating options for people who are unable to attend in person can help us grow our movements. Our movements will be stronger when we can engage and involve people in a variety of ways, whether that is through social media, phone zaps, email blasts or showing up in-person. I have also learned the importance of community care and
mutual aid. During the pandemic, It was clear that COVID-19 exacerbated many already existing inequities that communities
were facing, such as poverty and houselessness. We started up a mutual aid fund where over $28,000 was raised to support Black and Indigenous folks in the community who could not pay rent, have lost their jobs or are finding it hard to make ends meet. To me, I learned that organizing is not always about being in the streets or campaigning. It is also about building community care and being there for each other! We can create beautiful things when we show up for each other.
VOICE: What would you say to other young people who want to be more involved in climate justice but don’t know where to start?
SAVI: I recommend finding and joining a group near you! It can be daunting but with a friend, I promise you it’s worth it. There are so many incredible movements in our communities and it really is true that we’re stronger when we unite. When checking out a climate justice group, I suggest checking out
their priorities. Are they using an intersectional perspective to look at climate justice? Is there a critical analysis of the systems that create climate change in the first place? Are they working in solidarity with those who are on the frontlines, facing the harshest impacts? These questions are crucial to think about if we want to spend our energy organizing in the most meaningful ways possible. Climate justice groups can be found on social media, which is a
great place to start learning more! If you have any questions, messag- ing their accounts is always an option. You can find Climate Justice Toronto on Instagram: @climatejusticeto. Feel free to connect with me as well on Instagram if you have any questions or need support with getting involved: @
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