Pancho Argüelles, Nana Gyamfi, ashley sparks, Monique Verdin

Immigration and climate justice are inextricably connected. This participatory workshop asks us to imagine how saving the planet can build community and create systems of mutual aid that support those most impacted by climate change.

Francisco Argüelles Paz y Puente (a.k.a. Pancho) was born in Mexico City and has lived in the United States since 1997. For over thirty years he has worked on human rights issues in Mexico, Central America, and the United States. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, son, and daughter and serves as Executive Director of the Living Hope Wheelchair Association, a community-based organization of migrants with spinal cord injuries. Through PazyPuente, LLC, he provides training and consulting services to social and racial justice organizations across the country.

Nana Gyamfi is the Executive Director of Black Alliance for Just Immigration. She is a seasoned organizer and activist with over three decades of service to the Movement for Black liberation, and over twenty years experience directing Black social justice organizations and networks. Nana is a human rights and criminal defense attorney, a professor in the Pan African Studies Department at the California State University Los Angeles, and radio personality who hosts 2 popular shows in Los Angeles. She is also the president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL).

Monique Verdin is an interdisciplinary storyteller, citizen of the Houma Nation and director of The Land Memory Bank & Seed Exchange. Monique is currently working to support the Okla Hina Ikhish Holo, a network of indigenous southeastern gardeners, to grow food and medicine sovereignty in the lower Mississippi River Delta. ashley sparks is a Southern theater maker, facilitator, coach, and IRL/virtual convening curator that works nationally. sparks leads spark + dive, inc. and co-directs the theater company Mark-n-Sparks along with Mark Valdez. Sparks’ work is a constellation of ensemble theater practice, immersive experiences, cross-sector collaborations, facilitation, and coaching - in service of rehearsing the creation of new worlds and dismantling systems of oppression.