Colgate University hosted Kenyan-American climate activist and founder of Black Girl Environmentalists Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru to speak about her work and the imperative mission of climate action for the opening and keynote address of the annual MLK Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 23. The Africana, Latin, Asian and Native American (ALANA) Cultural Center will lead a series of these events from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 in honor of the legacy and life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., with a 2025 theme of “Shaping Equitable Communities and a Sustainable, Just Environment.” An interfaith dinner and dialogue, an MLK Sunday service and a discussion led by the Student Government Association are next on the itinerary.
A Rhodes Scholar and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist (BGE), Gatheru opened her talk by underlining the urgent need to reimagine climate leadership. She emphasized that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue but a leadership crisis exacerbated by the historical exclusion of marginalized communities from decision-making in environmental spaces.
Senior Abygail Metellus spoke on the importance of running this event through Colgate.
“I think that for a while, people have been talking about climate change, but it has always since remained in the back of people’s minds and they don’t know what to do with the issue. Like [Gatheru] said, I think the most important thing to know is that hope has not been lost, and we cannot act like it has been as we strive toward progress. Having a Black girl talk about what she can do is especially inspiring for those in minority demographics because it shows there really is no barrier to helping,” Metellus said.
The event began with senior Clementina Aboagye singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black National Anthem, before Director of the ALANA Cultural Center Esther Rosbrook introduced Gatheru. Gatheru began her talk by addressing the urgency of the climate crisis, highlighting how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities. She also mentioned the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
“In Los Angeles, dozens of communities are dropping, with the blazes scorching more than 37,000 acres. Black and Latinx communities will be affected to a greater magnitude due to their higher likelihood to be working class and thus suffer lasting exposure to the poor air quality,” Gatheru said.
Gatheru also cited systemic barriers.
“Limited health insurance coverage and gaps in emergency preparedness leave these communities even more vulnerable because of a higher likelihood of pre-existing conditions,” Gatheru said.
She criticized online sources for often offering the same volunteer options: donate and reduce your carbon footprint. She encouraged the audience to instead think critically about their roles in addressing climate change, introducing what she called the “Climate Venn Diagram.” This framework asks individuals to reflect on three overlapping circles: what brings them joy, what they are good at and what work needs to be done. At the center of these circles lies the individual’s unique contribution to climate justice. Gatheru spoke of the lack of diversity in climate action leadership and how finding what skills you have to contribute can help lessen the gap.
This sentiment struck a chord with first-year student David Aaron.
“[Her] talk was deeply inspiring, offering a sense of optimism and making climate change feel personal and achievable. Gatheru’s success is a testament to the power of finding your strengths and channeling them toward meaningful change,” Aaron said.“Her passion and ability to communicate her vision have made her a standout leader in the climate space, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who attended.”
Faculty attendees, such as Director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives Lyosha Gorshkov, found the talk insightful as well.
“I always come to these [events] to show support, especially with what is going on socially, culturally and politically. They create a community, and our offices do a lot of work together,” Gorshkov said.
During a live Q&A, the Sustainability Office mentioned Colgate’s efforts to aid the environmental crisis, like going fully carbon neutral in 2019 and investing in projects like the Finger Lakes Climate Fund, which aids lower-income families.
To conclude the night, in homage to King and other Black Americans, a Colgate faculty trio performed three jazz pieces written or made famous by Black artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
The weekend continued with the keynote speech on Friday, Jan. 24. Gatheru’s presentation focused on systemic racism and environmental challenges, urging her audience to recognize that equity and sustainability are deeply connected.
Gatheru referenced issues such as redlining, the disproportionate effects of natural disasters on Black communities and the lack of representation in the green workforce.
“The roots of the environmental movement were deeply embedded in exclusion,” Gatheru said.
Through BGE, Gatheru has created a community that fosters inclusion and representation in the environmental movement. The organization tackles barriers faced by Black women and girls in the field, such as the lack of leadership pathways and challenges with retention. One of BGE’s key initiatives, the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship, connects young environmentalists to mentorship opportunities in community development and beyond traditional policy roles.
“Green jobs don’t have to be confined to policy,” Gatheru said. “We really want to make sure that we’re breaking down those barriers.”
Gatheru also emphasized the need to reframe how climate issues are communicated. While people of color are deeply concerned about environmental matters, they are often portrayed as disengaged. This, she argued, stems from structural racism and the absence of inclusive narratives in climate discourse.
“Climate communication needs a facelift,” Gatheru said. “The real question is: are we communicating in ways that show people the urgency of the matter, especially informing about issues close to their lives?”
Her insights resonated with attendees, including first-year Carolina Hommen, who appreciated the focus on retention.
“I liked how she acknowledged why people sometimes don’t always get involved,” Hommen said. “It’s hard to talk about climate change when you’re struggling to put food on the table.”
First-year Lael Spalter reflected on Gatheru’s message as well.
“It made me realize how much more accessible the climate movement could be if we address the specific challenges different communities face […]. I also think social media has the potential to help with this,” Spalter said.