Drawdown’s Neighborhood is a climate solutions short documentary series passing the mic to climate heroes who often go unheard.
Twin Cities (MN): Episode #
3
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Whitney Terrill:
Mobilizing an Interfaith Movement for Climate Solutions

In this Episode
Whitney Terrill
she/her
Former Environmental Justice Program Manager
Matt Scott
he/him
Manager, Storytelling & Engagement
“Enjoy the journey and focus on the greatest good you can do, the idea of doing good is significant to me. To seek truth, beauty, and goodness in all things.”
In this Episode
Whitney Terrill
she/her
Former Environmental Justice Program Manager
Matt Scott
he/him
Manager, Storytelling & Engagement

Whitney’s Story

Faith communities play an essential role in calling for greater justice in our world and can have a powerful impact on climate solutions by organizing multi-faith congregations around shared values for caring for each other. Whitney Terrill is the former Environmental Justice Program Manager at Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light. She is helping reach drawdown by partnering with faith and spiritual communities to engage in climate solutions. Through this work, Whitney believes these communities have a moral responsibility to address climate change and to play an active role in alleviating the suffering of others. Whitney is part of a growing multi-faith movement that builds spiritual alliances, generates momentum for collective climate action, and advocates for long-term solutions that create pathways for justice in our world.

Discussion Questions

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

  • Growing up with the Mississippi River in the background, Whitney formed an early appreciation of this famous waterway. Later, after college, learning about efforts to make water a commodity to be publicly traded, which felt unjust to her,  helped fuel Whitney's desire to protect clean water as a right that everyone should have access to. This awakening inspired her to join others to help stop the Line 3 Pipeline, which crosses 200 bodies of water, including the Mississippi River, and compromises treaty rights in Northern Minnesota, as it causes pollution in lands and waters promised to Native communities to utilize forever. In this work, Whitney sees her role as a "spiritual ally" to follow the guidance of Indigenous Water Protectors, as well as the guidance of Dakota and Anishinaabe leaders—who often start protests with prayers and ceremonies—who see the Line 3 pipeline as the prophetic Black Snake that threatens their communities and sacred waters. Even though Whitney does not share the same religious beliefs, she can see the importance of acting together to achieve greater justice. How can multiple faith practices unite in a spiritual alliance to help create momentum toward environmental justice?

  • One of the biggest challenges is managing the emotional burden and time commitments that are part of working on environmental justice initiatives, encouraging people, and building momentum even when there is the potential to lose a given fight. One way that Whitney works to overcome these obstacles is to hold value in prioritizing self-care and then caring for others in the community in turn. How can you care for yourself when working to make a difference for good in our world? Why do you think self-care and community care can be important aspects of being an effective organizer for environmental justice?

  • Whitney has a deep connection to the land and Minnesota in particular. In sixth grade, Whitney took a field trip with her class to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Northern Minnesota, where she saw Lake Superior and the Saw Mill Valley. The experience of witnessing the beauty of nature, the birds, and the vastness of the sky was a transformational moment that deepened Whitney’s spirituality and love for the natural world. Whitney shares that she continues to think about this particular moment as a constant motivation in her faith and her work on climate change. Can you recall a field trip that helped to foster a deeper appreciation for nature? Where did you go, and what positive impact did it have on you?

  • It will take everyone to respond to the climate crisis, and we will be more powerful when we act together. Yet, it is crucial to understand that while we have solutions, there are still many questions that can help us to discover new solutions, invest in research, and inspire dialogue. In Whitney’s work, she offers thoughtful questions that have come up in her organizing efforts: “How do we change a system ...not designed with the community in mind? How do we build power…without burning bridges with relationships that we actually need with energy companies? How do we give people enough space, time, energy, and care so they can prioritize climate change on top of everything else they have going on?” What are some questions that you have about climate change or climate solutions? Who is one person that you might be able to ask for guidance? What is an information resource that might provide answers to your questions?

  • Faith plays a vital role in sending the message that there is a moral responsibility to care for the suffering of others and the planet, which is present in sacred texts of almost all faith traditions. Whitney shares that religious leaders have an even greater responsibility to act on climate change and that their efforts can influence spiritual followers and institutional spaces, leading to the greening of buildings, for example. Do you identify with a particular religion or faith practice? If so, do you have ways to connect with religious leaders to inquire about how they lead on climate change?

  • Attending Hampton University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), was an important experience for Whitney, who shared, “I got a break from being a minority and had the opportunity to really have my culture centered.”Whitney discovered the importance of being immersed in the HBCU environment as helpful in building her confidence and belief in herself despite how others might discriminate against her. As a Black Muslim woman who wears a hijab, Whitney shares, “After experiencing racial slurs on the street, even religious slurs, I found it very hard to be outside.” As an active advocate for protecting the environment, this has been challenging. Whitney continues, “Just recently did I start feeling comfortable being outside again, which is so sad as an [environmental justice] organizer.” How have religious discrimination, racism, and other forms of discrimination hindered our ability to achieve drawdown collectively? How can we fight against racism while working towards solutions to climate change?

 

Learn More

Learn about the solutions in this story.

Explore Climate Solutions 101, the world's first major educational effort focused solely on climate solutions. This video series combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of inspiring, scientifically knowledgeable voices from around the world: drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101.

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