Climate Voices Initiative: Engaging African Nova Scotian Communities in Climate Conversations
Grant Award: $2,500
Conversations around climate change often overlook the perspectives of underrepresented communities. The Climate Voices Initiative, led by Future Civics in collaboration with Dalhousie University, aims to change that by exploring climate awareness and activism among African Nova Scotian (ANS) and African-descent youth and seniors. Using participatory action research, this project sought to bring community perspectives into climate discussions.
The project was sparked by the Center for Environmental Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging African Nova Scotian communities in clean energy and environmental justice. Founder Vanessa Hartley was particularly interested in understanding how Black communities define and engage with climate initiatives on their own terms. Building on existing research, including the work of Dr. Ingrid Waldron on environmental racism, Climate Voices Initiative set out to ensure that ANS communities are not just participants but leaders in climate solutions.
When Shakara Russell, the project supervisor, approached HCi3 to partner on this project, her initial thought was, “We wanted to understand how we can move climate and energy-related projects into the hands of the community, so they are the stewards, benefiting directly from these initiatives.” Too often, communities are secondary beneficiaries of climate projects rather than active decision-makers. This initiative sought to shift that dynamic by focusing on education, awareness, and engagement.
One of the key takeaways from the project was that ANS communities are deeply invested in climate action—but the conversation often needs to start with immediate, tangible concerns. Clean drinking water, affordable electricity, and reliable heating are priorities, and discussions about energy storage or electric vehicles must be framed in ways that reflect these lived experiences. “You can’t talk about energy storage without addressing energy management, energy production, and affordability,” said Shakara.
During outreach on electric vehicle charging stations in ANS communities, many residents disengaged—not due to a lack of interest, but because the conversation quickly shifted to financial barriers. “People asked, ‘Who’s going to pay for that? Who’s going to manage that?’ and that restricted the discussion,” said Shakara. The research highlighted the need for a strategy that removes financial burdens from communities, allowing them to focus on long-term benefits rather than immediate costs.
This work also emphasized the importance of making climate discussions accessible. For those outside the climate sector, jargon-heavy conversations can create barriers to engagement. “If you live and breathe sustainability, it’s easy to connect the dots. But if you’re a janitor or a teacher, these conversations might not feel relevant,” Shakara noted. One key recommendation from the project is the need for direct, digestible information and trusted messengers from within the community who can facilitate these discussions.
Through this initiative, ANS research assistants interested in sustainability was hired to explore these dynamics further. Although the community ultimately decided not to move forward with an EV charger, the conversation opened new possibilities. “They’re now asking, ‘If not EV chargers, then what else?’ That’s a critical shift,” said Shakara.
One of the long-term goals that emerged from the project is to establish a network of individuals working on climate issues in ANS communities. Many communities are engaged in similar discussions, but without a centralized effort to connect them, the work remains fragmented. “We need to make sure this isn’t a one-off conversation,” Shakara emphasized.
The project also left the community with practical tools for evaluating future initiatives. Shakara encouraged residents to consider not just environmental benefits but also economic sustainability. “We need to build climate projects that don’t require external funding every year to survive but can sustain themselves and provide financial benefits to the community,” she explained. Whether it’s reducing household energy costs or creating local job opportunities, ensuring tangible benefits will be key to long-term participation.
The Climate Voices Initiative revealed critical insights into how ANS communities engage with climate work. It underscored the need for ongoing, community-led conversations, financial support structures that alleviate barriers to participation, and more accessible ways to communicate climate solutions. While this project raised many questions, it also set the stage for deeper, more impactful climate engagement in African Nova Scotian communities.