Central College will serve as the virtual host for “Called to Climate Action,” a statewide student leadership event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Also hosted by Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, its annual student leadership program promotes climate awareness, action and leadership among student across Iowa campuses.
“Called to Climate Action” was planned by a team of summer interns at Central, Dordt University, Graceland University and Loras College and also included additional student leaders from across Iowa.
Rev. Michael Malcom, a nationally renowned speaker on the intersection of environmental and racial justice, will serve as the keynote speaker. Malcom is the executive director of Alabama Interfaith & Light and a licensed and ordained United Church of Christ Minister. He is the founder and executive director of the People’s Justice Council and the environmental justice representative for the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. Malcom currently the co-chair of the Building Power from the Grassroots Task Force with Climate Action Network International, and the co-chair of the Environmental Justice working group for the Southeast Climate and Energy Network.
The program also will feature a panel on climate policy featuring six members of Iowa’s congressional delegation. Open to students and faculty, attendees are asked to register individually in order to participate in breakout sessions to discuss the presentations and plan civic engagement activities for their campuses and communities. The event is free.
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light was founded it 2006 and is part of the national Interfaith Power & Light movement. Its mission is to empower people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change.
For more information or to register, visit the event’s website.