Yesi Robles Pelayo: Overcoming Barriers to Help Others Move Forward

One of the most important things you can do regarding climate change is talk about it.

• Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential for the clean energy revolution, yet EV ownership still needs to be affordable for many working-class families and lower-income community members. Hourcar Evie is one of a handful of all-electric car share programs in the nation that helps the Twin Cities curb carbon emissions while allowing more people to affordably access clean transportation without having to own an EV.

• Yesi grew up in California and explained that she did not come from the best background. Growing up there exposed her to a rougher life, where she experienced the impacts of poverty, gang violence, and homelessness. Yesi realized that she wanted something better for her life, but after experiencing an injury, she could not continue her dream of serving in the U.S. Army. Yesi described a point when she did not know what she wanted to do with her life and remembered that she felt angry. “There reaches a time when you can’t breathe, and you know that you want something better…you want to be a better and more productive person in society, you want to be happy, and to be able to breathe in the air and smell it.” Have you ever experienced obstacles in life that made you feel a sense of hopelessness or anger? Having heard about Yesi’s story and the challenges she has encountered and overcome, are there aspects that resonate with you? 

• Coming to Minnesota for Yesi meant a chance at a new life and an opportunity for a fresh start, finding meaningful employment, and going back to school. “It’s hard, but if you don’t give up, it gets better.” As a mother, Yesi finds even more motivation to contribute to something bigger than herself. Part of Yesi’s work is as a fleet technician, fixing cars remotely or out in the field, recharging vehicles, and getting them ready to be dispatched for community use. What motivates you to create positive change within yourself and the world? 

• Being from an immigrant background, Yesi describes that sometimes it feels like she is part of two very different worlds. While there is a sense of belonging, she says, you also don’t fully fit in, either. “Here, my English isn’t the greatest, but in Mexico, my Spanish isn’t the greatest.” How can we engage individuals who speak different languages but are interested in engaging in climate solutions work?

• Telling your story can help others. As someone who has experienced homelessness, Yesi describes the importance of talking to people who are experiencing homelessness or are unhoused and assisting them by sharing resources, practicing acts of kindness, having simple conversations, and encouraging them by relating her own experiences as a way to pay it forward. What are some attitudes our society has about people who experience homelessness or are unhoused? How might hearing Yesi’s story play a role in influencing how you think about our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness or are unhoused? How can you show kindness to others and be part of Yesi’s drive to pay it forward?

• Drawdown Ecochallenge, presented by Ecochallenge.org, is a fun and social way to take measurable action on the top solutions to global warming. Take the challenge, and see how a few weeks of action add up to a lifetime of change for you and the planet. If you want to take action on Transportation like Yesi is, visit drawdown.ecochallenge.org/challenges/transportation.

• The Drawdown Labs Job Function Action Guides are practical and shareable resources that highlight specific, high-impact climate actions employees in common corporate professions can take at work. 

• ChangeX connects people with proven ideas for strengthening communities with the resources needed to implement those changes. Explore countless ways to improve your community and help the world reach drawdown.

• Climate Generation's Green Careers for a Changing Climate Instructional Supplement (for Grades 6-8) contains resources to help young people learn about Green STEM Careers — careers that can help solve the impacts of climate change using STEM skills. Throughout this instructional supplement, students will be using the resource Drawdown to make important connections to solutions that these careers will implement.

• Solutions Journalism Network highlights the importance of reporting stories of climate solutions in the media to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Visit their Teaching Climate Solutions resource to find curated collections and the latest examples of climate solutions journalism.

• SubjectToClimate (StC) is a nonprofit online connector for K-12 leaders of all subjects to find materials on climate change at no cost. Explore StC’s educator-generated database to connect to Project Drawdown-based climate education resources.