Protecting Earth’s Future

Article written by Gabriel Nagel

Guest Speaker Beverly Castandeda

DPS for Climate Action met with Guest Speaker Beverly Castaneda, an indigenous rights and climate activist from Denver, Colorado. She is also part of the AFC+A, an environmental nonprofit focusing on community resilience, and Spirit of the Sun, a community improving tribal conditions for youth. Through this meeting, our team was able to gain new insight on how to ensure our policy can help build a greater environmental connection.

In initiating our conversation, Beverly emphasized that she is passionate about her work because “[she] wants our future generations to have not only sustainable, but flourishing lives.” It became clear that the air that we all breathe is profoundly connected, and DPS has a dramatic impact on our community and nature. The future of our land and water is crucial.

Building a Resilient Future

Sometimes, the calls of action from DPS for Climate Action are drowned out by statistics. However, through this experience, we realized that the process of taking climate action is so much more than tons of carbon. It is about our “earth, fire, and water” and building a deeper connection with our roots.

We hope that our policy work can help fulfill the rights of future generations to have a breathable world. Through our community's collective pressure, we will achieve climate action and environmental justice. As youth, that future is non-negotiable.