Future Focus with Josh Wood
Channel: Maine Audubon Media
Date: 2021-02-02

Josh Wood, 15, is a racial and climate justice organizer based in Sanford, Maine, and is the co-organizing director of Maine Strikes. He speaks about intersectionality to class and race in rural areas, how to make small towns more accessible and equitable, and how to make change on big levels in small places. Josh served as the youngest Communications Director in the state #BlackLivesMatter movement after the death of many Black people across America during a global pandemic. Through starting a petition to remove school resource officers in his hometown, awareness of racial justice issues have grown increasingly local to his area.  In August 2020, he helped create initiatives in Black Lives Matter Maine that have since seen the demilitarization of police departments in small towns, equitable changes to schooling, and more. He was recognized by the Portland Press Herald for his contribution to small town movements, and now continues to work with Maine Climate Strikes to pass county-wide climate emergencies and manage statewide action teams.
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Future Focus is a youth-led monthly webinar series highlighting youth climate justice activists and their stories from across the state.  Each one-hour session will focus on a different individual and the intersectional leadership work they are doing in their community and beyond.  Brought to you by Maine Audubon, Maine Climate Action Now, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, MEAA Changemakers, Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative