Nourish me and I shall nourish
YOU

Build me, as if I will be around
FOREVER

I heard the water’s going to
BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

I heard it roars before it
SCREAMS

As quiet as its kept
As distant as it seems

I heard the water’s going to
BRING DOWN THE HOUSE 

Girl, close your eyes, shut your mouth

I SCREAM, as a wave,
Crashing in

Longing to touch
The Shore
The Boardwalk
The Sidewalk

I heard the water’s going to
BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

So, I open my eyes
And I start to SWIM

As I reflect on my position at the forefront of climate action, I am constantly engaged in the effort to address the critical issues of climate change by creating compelling narratives that emphasize the urgency of the situation. Amidst this work, I am confronted with a significant dilemma: How can I effectively cope with my eco-anxiety, the deep-seated unease and distress I experience regarding the current and future environmental harm caused by human activities and climate change? This question weighs heavily on my mind as I navigate the complexities of advocating for environmental justice while managing my own emotional well-being.

I came up with an idea to co-create a Climate Adaptation Toolkit. This toolkit serves as a participatory action research workshop centered on addressing sea level rise, water infrastructure, policy considerations, and the resilience of communities in responding to flooding in NYC. It involves collaborative efforts to build community resources aimed at mitigating the impacts of flooding.

The first two pop up’s took place as a joint collaboration with artist Nora Almeida’s Open water project, at Coney Island Kaiser Park and the Creek with local residents on September 1st and 30th, 2023. The next workshop will take place in June 2024.

In Community

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olive Toran, Artist and Climate Adaptation Specialist 

Faith Toran, who goes by Olive is a Climate Change Communication Storyteller, Guitarist & Author. Olive, is a force on the front line of climate action, leveraging her 12 years of expertise as a Communication Specialist to drive meaningful change. With a Master's degree in Global Communications and a wealth of experience spanning from her Peace Corps service in Burkina Faso to her role as a Field Communication Manager for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Haiti and Cameroon, Olive has dedicated herself to addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change by crafting compelling narratives that amplify the urgency of the climate crisis. Additionally, she is also conducting research which focuses on Risk Communications and MSF’s Operational Response to climate-driven events in Kenya and South Sudan, East Africa.

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