Hi, John. It’s me, Greta. No, not that Greta. 

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, and tell you just how impactful I found last Friday’s Youth Climate Strike.

I’m the new Membership & Digital Manager here at Maine Conversation Voters, and as one of my first assignments, I attended the Youth Climate Strike in Portland last week. It was incredibly encouraging to see the 2000+ concerned people who raised their voice, and raised a sign to show the importance of climate action. I was overcome with feelings of solidarity and community as I stood among the crowd of people chanting in unison; fighting for a future.

A few particularly impassioned young people addressed the crowd of eager onlookers. Starting with an outline of the severity of our climate situation, the speeches were empathetic and well rounded. Each orator was careful to focus on the importance of every person’s voice, however young, as well as the common threads that unite us. I was especially moved by one speaker who acknowledged the existence of ‘climate anxiety’ and ‘activism fatigue’, the former of which, I suffer from almost daily. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the bad news, but the affirmation and optimism I found at the climate strike, was both unexpected and gladly received. The grace, fervor, and eloquence demonstrated by each speaker, elevated the dynamism of our local chapter of this global event, and I was very happy to be a part of it. As more climate action events take place, we'll be standing side-by-side with those who prioritize our environment's health and show our support for these important issues.

If you're interested in learning more about last week's global Youth Climate Strike, I encourage your to explore fridaysforfuture.org. As for the Portland, ME event, below are a few image highlights, and more photos can be found on our Facebook page. 

Wishing you well,

Greta Warren