Core to UUSC’s work is its partnerships. UUSC and its staff regularly convene its partners to discuss issues of great importance to the communities they serve. This winter, four UUSC staff members attended a convening in southern Louisiana with UUSC partner The Lowlander Center to discuss issues of great concern for Indigenous communities impacted by the climate crisis. Below are reflections from those staff members on the experience.
Historically, advocacy has been used as a tool for change in the social justice movement. It is vital in connecting everyday people and decision-makers to collaboratively solve social and environmental issues.
In Louisiana, Indigenous communities are living with the dire impacts of the climate crisis. Massive storms often severely damage or destroy entire homes and residents find that their insurance providers will not cover the costs associated with repair. Each year, dozens of families are often displaced due to storms, sea level rise, and lack of economic opportunities resulting from changes in the environment that impact shrimping, fishing, and other means of earning a living.
Four UUSC staff joined the local members of UUSC partner The Lowlander Center in December to discuss how to use advocacy and research to develop solutions. The Lowlander Center is based in southern Louisiana and works with several Indigenous communities across the state to address climate change issues impacting these groups.
December’s discussion concerned the impacts of climate change, the insurance challenges the local members are facing when trying to recover or adapt, and response by the local communities and government agencies.
Diliman Abdulkader, UUSC’s policy and legislative coordinator, attended the convening to learn more about the policy priorities of Indigenous communities in Louisiana.
“A crucial component of advocacy is to truly understand the issue you’re advocating for, engaging with the Indigenous communities in Louisiana did just that,” he said. “It gave me a front-row seat to the concerns of the community. It allowed me to have detailed discussions with Indigenous leaders.”
Diliman said that the experience allowed him to ask questions of Indigenous leaders and better understand the issues they are facing on the ground, which will better inform his work on Capitol Hill, advocating for policy changes benefitting Indigenous communities in Louisiana and across the country.
“The knowledge I gained from my visit will allow me to take their legitimate concerns back to Capitol Hill and be a voice for these communities with a goal of translating their grievances into legislative wins.”
“I was so honored to attend the convening in December,” said Taylor Anderson, assistant for partner support and grantmaking at UUSC. “It was amazing to witness the tremendous resilience of the community members who made protecting and sustaining the environment their livelihood.”
At one point during the convening, a creative session was facilitated where UUSC staff and Indigenous leaders created artwork.
“While making jewelry and painting together, I was able to really engage with everyone and hear their testimonies about the vast environmental changes that they have seen throughout their lives,” Taylor continued. “While it was very inspiring to hear them discuss their love for their homes, it was also sobering to understand that their homes were something that they were required to fight and advocate for. I left this gathering in genuine awe of our partners and the vital work that they do.”
UUSC staff learned that the local communities are experiencing complex challenges while meeting their needs with respect to securing insurance for their property and minimizing the impacts of climate change to their environment, especially when it comes to land loss and frequent fires.
The convening was a strong opportunity to hear directly from those most impacted, center their solutions, and develop plans to make those solutions a reality.
