Indisposable Organizing: Black Leadership on the Front Lines

Episode #79

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The problem of plastic pollution is not just a matter of waste – it is also a matter of justice. As Gulf Coast organizer John Beard notes, communities living in areas of petrochemical extraction are living in “sacrifice zones” and suffering the toxic consequences of our extractive economy without even receiving the benefits of industry jobs. And all across the country, these communities – all too often communities of color – are fighting back and fighting for the right for clean air, water, and a just transition to a regenerative economy where people and planet are seen as indisposable.  

As we near the end of Black History Month, join us in honoring the incredible work of some of the many Black organizers in the Break Free From Plastic movement, and get to know a few of our community leaders working on petrochem-related organizing. Join John, Louisiana-based organizer Kaitlyn Joshua, and BFFP US Coordinator Melissa Aguayo for a frank and inspiring discussion of how racial, environmental, and climate justice intersect – and how intersectional organizing and solidarity can change our world.

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Brooking Gatewood

Brooking hosts Upstream’s The Indisposable Podcast and guides our team on virtual collaboration and culture-building. She has worked with Break Free From Plastic US since 2016 as a facilitator and strategist, and has spent much of the last decade supporting collaborative leadership for many ambitious change efforts - from saving monarch butterflies to curbing diabetes. In her spare time, Brooking can be found writing and performing poetry, or hosting community-connection events in her local LA neighborhood.

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Pioneering Reuse Down Under: A conversation with KeepCup

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Tipping the Scale Toward Waste Reduction with Extended Producer Responsibility