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Climate change affects every aspect of our existence, and to fight it, we need to assess every part of our lives to see what needs to change in the hopes of preserving our planet. Joining us to unpack the intersectionality of media, diversity, and environmentalism is the speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator, Kristy Drutman.
Kristy is here as the Founder of Browngirl Green and co-CEO of Green Jobs Board, and she explains how she gravitated toward her vocation and how she goes about her vital work of bridging societal divides. We learn about Kristy’s passions, her protocol for working with businesses to improve their DEI culture, how she aligns her lifestyle with her work and values, and how she navigates common yet hefty industry challenges.
We also dive into the great work being done at Green Job Board, what Kristy hopes to achieve with the Browngirl Green Podcast, how she embraces multiple forms of media to relay her message, and other industry-related topics that remain weighted her mind.
Key Points From This Episode:
Kristy Drutman details her path to the work that she does today. [0:00:27]
How she builds bridges across race, cultural, and wealth divides. [0:03:22]
Written works, podcasts, and other resources that underline her passions. [0:05:58]
Understanding her protocol for helping companies improve their DEI culture. [0:09:02]
The ins and outs of Green Jobs Board. [0:11:00]
Why and how Kristy embraces various forms of media to reach her goals. [0:18:05]
How “living more sustainably in line with your values” manifests in her work. [0:20:48]
Highlights from the Browngirl Green Podcast and Kristy’s hopes for the show. [0:23:35]
Navigating common industry challenges, and defining “environmental memoir”. [0:25:45]
Kristy’s other fields of interest, and how to connect with her and her work. [0:29:50]
Quotes:
“My family’s from the Philippines, so climate change became this really real thing for me while I was studying it in the classroom, and I realized that it wasn’t something that I could ignore or pretend wasn’t there; I needed to do something about it.” — @BrownGirl_Green [0:02:21]
“I view my role as a bridge-builder as someone who’s trying to lower that barrier to entry as much as I possibly can. That way, more people can see themselves in the work, they can see the opportunities [that] are possible, and they see themselves represented.” — @BrownGirl_Green [0:05:13]
“Ultimately, we’re driven by community. [Green Jobs Board] got started by community, especially by young people and young people of color. That’s what makes it so exciting to me.” — @BrownGirl_Green [0:15:15]
“I love doing green career coaching; helping people think about what their role is in the climate ecosystem because I think that’s the biggest thing.” — @BrownGirl_Green [0:22:12]
“With how absolutely ridiculous the world is today, you [still] have to find ways to laugh about the absurdity of it all.” — @BrownGirl_Green [0:26:05]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kristy Drutman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-drutman/
Kristy Drutman on X: https://x.com/BrownGirl_Green
Kristy Drutman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngirl_green
Kristy Drutman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrownGirlGreen
Browngirl Green: https://www.browngirlgreen.com/
Green Jobs Board: https://www.greenjobsboard.us/
‘The Mind-Body-Planet Connection’: https://youtu.be/42uMQ_iuRX0
‘S3E7 – The Mind-Body-Planet Connection’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TwMDivfIWChlhz7ZV3hoK
‘Lack of Diversity in Environmental Non-Profits’: https://www.browngirlgreen.com/writings/lack-of-diversity-environmental-ngos
‘Addressing the Lack of Diversity in the Clean Tech Industry’: https://www.browngirlgreen.com/writings/lack-of-diversity-clean-tech
‘Addressing the Lack of Diversity in Environmental Philanthropy’: https://www.browngirlgreen.com/writings/blog-post-title-three-m2w8n-jjkzn
Usman Fahimullah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usman-fahimullah-2b6649a6/
‘Toxic Prisons and Climate Change’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0J2y2ouPf1QhYPwJWdyr8T
‘S3E4 – How to be a Climate Storyteller with Project Drawdown’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pcRq4Xf8KZsru4s63qb4Z
Love & Climate: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHiCobhuSJG_0ubfEh-LG-6tbnzdRu2zG
‘Everything You Need to Know About Project 2025's Plan for the EPA’: https://drilled.media/news/newsletter-Project2025 -
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