During the Spring ’24 semester, Professor Shelly Eversley connected her “Climate Justice” course at Baruch College to the NYC Climate Justice Hub‘s Classes & Curriculum Initiative. Throughout the class, Prof. Eversley’s students produced five short documentaries on different climate justice issues across NYC. Four of the films aired on CUNY TV’s “Sustainability Matters” in a special episode hosted by Prof. Eversley and award-winning documentary filmmaker Harriet Hirshorn.
“These student documentary shorts were researched, written, filmed, and edited by students—many of whom were studying climate and environmental justice issues for the first time. I am so proud of their collaborations to create data-driven, personal stories that should inspire us all to take action. Of course, too, we are so grateful for the NYC Climate Justice Hub, CUNY TV, and the [NYC-EJA] community organizations that offered their guidance and their support,” said Prof. Eversley.
Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) and Co-Director of the NYC Climate Justice Hub, also praised the documentaries.
“This Sustainability Matters show encapsulates the heart and spirit of the NYC Climate Justice Hub collaboration between CUNY and NYC-EJA. The thoughtful, analytical perspectives by these student directors brilliantly capture the current climate justice moment in NYC. From extreme heat to coastal resiliency, these student scholars not only break down the particular vulnerabilities of the urban built environment to climate change, but are laser-focused on the impacts to low-income communities of color, who are also championing solutions. I’m thrilled to see what else this collaboration produces,” said Bautista.
Victoria Sanders, Climate and Health Programs Manager at NYC-EJA and one of the interviewees in the “Roots and Resilience” documentary, also highlighted the importance of collaborative projects between community organizations and universities.
“These documentaries demonstrate the power and importance of partnerships like the New York City Climate Justice Hub, bringing together experts and students that may otherwise have never had an opportunity to collaborate. It is wonderful to see bright young advocates emerge with such engaging, thorough, and accessible approaches to what can often feel like complex and difficult-to-explain topics. We need the Hub in order to deepen and expand these partnerships and to help these students reach their boundless, full potential,” she said.
NYC Climate Justice Hub Advocate for GOLES, Shaheeda Smith, was also featured in one of the documentaries (“When It Rains It Pours”) and expressed her gratification in working with the student filmmakers.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with the students before they began filming. We spoke about equity and environment, we spoke about looking beyond what has been normalized in environmental justice communities. The garbage piled up, the housing next to highways, the mold and led in their homes. Where the bacon on their bacon, egg, and cheese comes from. To see it all displayed in their documentaries was both inspiring and fortifying. Young people need to look at the world and connect to it, personally. I was very happy to be a part of this process with them,” Smith said.
About the Documentaries
One of the students behind the short films is Luke Rodríguez, who also is one of the Hub’s 2024 Climate Justice Fellows. The documentary he co-created, “Roots and Resilience,” focuses on unequal tree cover in the city. Rodríguez used music from his band, Thermadora, for his project.
More about Luke Rodriguez’ documentary here
Julianna Lentini and Camila Gonzales’s documentary, “Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich,” shows the environmental harms behind popular NYC meals and the lack of healthy food in some neighborhoods. The project won second place at the 2024 Susan Locke Price for Environmental Sustainability at Baruch College.
More about Lentini and Gonzales’ documentary
The documentary “When It Rains, It Pours” shows how extreme weather is especially challenging for people with housing insecurity.
“Asthma Alley,” by Shania Adams, Zachary Quintero, and Lavasia Sexton, explores students’ experiences living close to polluting power plants in NYC and living with asthma since childhood.
All of the CUNY students’ climate justice documentaries aired on CUNY TV’s Sustainability Matters. Watch the full episode here!
