We Rise has been partnering with Mycelium Youth Network for over a year, and together, we are so excited to share this two-part podcast series with you. Here is the first of two keynote speeches from MYN's Autumn 2020 conference entitled Apocalyptic Resilience: An Afro-Indigenous Futuristic Adventure. This first episode features the unstoppable Isha Clarke with Youth vs. Apocalypse, and Atekpatzin, indigenous educator (bios below).

Mycelium Youth Network prepares young people for climate change, using a combination of our ancestral knowledge and practices, and the best of science technology engineering arts and math (STEAM) thinking. For the past year We Rise, MYN, and Bioneers have been collaborating to bring you an amazing project to support young people telling their stories of climate resilience and environmental justice. You can learn more and support the work by going to MyceliumYouthNetwork.org. Feel free to follow @MyceliumYouthNetwork on Facebook & Instagram and @MyceliumYouth on Twitter for more updates.

Isha Clarke is a West Oakland resident, organizer, advocate, activist, and co-founder of Youth Vs Apocalypse. Isha is a recent high school graduate who was born, raised, and educated in West Oakland, CA. Isha recognizes that climate change is the consequence of fundamental systems of oppression like white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism, and therefore, disproportionately impacts people of color, indigenous communities, and working-class people. Knowing this, Isha’s work is focused on building a movement that shapes the leadership of frontline communities, creates solidarity between other fights for justice, and works to dismantle the systems of oppression that fuel climate change. As a result of this work, Isha was awarded the 2019 Brower Youth Award, 2020 Diller Tikkun Olam Award, and has become a nationally recognized speaker, presenter, and writer.

Atekpatzin Young is an independent researcher, consultant, writer, artist, and musician. Mr. Young has done extensive research on the Indigenous peoples of Tehuayo, Indetah and Aztlán and their present-day descendants. He has also studied the relationship of ancient and contemporary Nahua religious practices. He spent fifteen years studying with traditional Indigenous healers. Mr. Young is the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship award, and the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Leadership Award.

Thank you to Dani Ahuicapahtzin Cornejo for generously contributing your music to this episode. Original music: Wayñumi Aswan Allin from new album Debajo del Agua.