Notable participants and attendees included music artists Earthgang and Jade Novah, climate activist Anaya Dillard, father of environmental justice movement Dr. Robert Bullard, and environmental justice pioneer Dr. Beverly Wright
WASHINGTON — This week, Hip Hop Caucus, the national nonprofit organization at the intersection of art, activism, and hip-hop culture, celebrated Climate Week New York with events across NYC to bring hip-hop culture, community awareness and civic engagement to the climate and environmental justice issues disproportionately impacting people of color.
On Monday, September 23, Hip Hop Caucus premiered the short film ‘Underwater Projects’ with a green carpet screening and reception at the Helen Mills Theater in midtown Manhattan. Following the screening, Hip Hop Caucus President & CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. and Hip Hop Caucus’ Managing Director and COO, and ‘Underwater Projects’ Director Liz Havstad, joined the film’s stars Deirdre “Moma D” Love and Malik Jordan of Teens with a Purpose, and UPROSE director Elizabeth Yeampierre for a panel discussion about the filmmaking process and their hopes for a cleaner, greener future in communities of color. Leading environmental activists and influencers attended the premiere, including sustainability activist Anya Dillard, executive director of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Beyond Petrochemicals campaign Heather McTeer Toney, climate activist and the youngest-ever White House advisor Jerome Foster II, father of the environmental justice movement Dr. Robert Bullard, and environmental justice pioneer Dr. Beverly Wright.
Narrated by comedian Wanda Sykes, ‘Underwater Projects’ focuses on the coastal urban flooding in the Hampton Roads area of Virgina, where the world’s largest naval base and a historic Black community are vulnerable to sinking. Underwater Projects mixes animation with live action to profile the area’s local leaders as they rush to create climate resilience plans to face an uncertain future.
Hip Hop Caucus also hosted the virtual We Shall Breathe Summit ahead of the premiere, which drew more than 200,000 live views. The summit highlighted the interconnected struggles for climate justice, economic justice, and voting rights through the perspectives of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities in the U.S. South and the Global South. The summit featured reflections from climate and cultural leaders including Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru, Good Energy Project strategist Bruno Olmedo Quiroga, and writer, educator and social influencer Conscious Lee, as well as music performances by singer Jade Novah, rapper and motivational speaker Yellopain, and musician AY Young.
On Tuesday, September 24, Hip Hop Caucus teamed up with GRAMMY-nominees Earthgang and the Earthgang Foundation to host “Urban Beats & Global Heat: Voting for Green Futures” at LUME Studios. The event highlighted the crucial intersection of climate action and voting, showcased a live art battle with artists Marly McFly, Lady J Day, and Jay McKay, and featured immersive art and sounds by Sterling Victorian and IMKA.
This week, Hip Hop Caucus President & CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood. Jr. shared remarks about frontline communities and climate leadership at the 6th International Rights of Nature Tribunal, 1st session: The End of the Fossil Fuel Era and at the Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit. Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. was recently featured as one of 50 leaders who are at the forefront of addressing the global climate crisis through innovative, impactful solutions in Forbes’ inaugural Sustainability Leaders List.
Earlier this month, Hip Hop Caucus launched the Respect My Vote! Campaign ahead of the 2024 Presidential election to mobilize Gen Z voters, voters of color, and returning citizens. Hip Hop Caucus will continue to host events throughout October and November to bring communities together and help with voter education on pressing issues such as climate change. Respect My Vote! is the largest and longest-running hip-hop voter mobilization effort.
For more information, visit www.hiphopcaucus.org and www.respectmyvote.com.
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About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
