I would like to extend my immense gratitude for the guidance from each of my committee members. With unwavering faith and support in my passion to make a difference, Dr. Gene Myers gave me the nudge to dream big and the encouragement to dive into the Masters experience. Thank you to Dr. Nicole Brown, through her wisdom in rhetoric and social change, she provided me the curiosity, inspiration, and understanding that there are avenues to apply my activism with my learning. With clarity of vision and steps towards obtaining this degree, Dr. Steve Woods provided me with a great deal of inspiration, backing and insight for the need of contributing to the discourse on increasing climate activism.
It is with a great deal of gratitude that I thank my advisor and committee chair, Dr. Grace Wang for giving me the direction, strength and courage to do a Masters project while tackling the other parts of my life including parenting, teaching and organizing. I am thankful for her wisdom and acceptance of my passion to continue my other life’s endeavors and for her suggestions to keep my project simple and succinct, while embracing my additions and creative design elements for the manual.
I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Steve Hollenhorst, Dr. Thomas Webler, Ed Weber, Kathy Patrick, Linda Lovell, Kara Franklin, Jen VanderWeyden, Marli Williams, Blanche Bybee and Jessica Reading for their integral roles and support with the 2015 October Climatefest. This event helped formulate my Masters area of study and their support, guidance and faith in me was deeply felt. I also would like to acknowledge Dr. Gigi Berardi because if it were not for her continual nudging to get my Masters and her belief in my capabilities, I would not have pursued this degree. She has taught me the power that anything is possible when I put my mind to it. Thanks to my cohort for their unwavering support throughout the program and Dr. Nabil Kamel for stretching my mind to the moon and giving me whiplash on the way back.
I would like to acknowledge the global climate activists I met in Paris for participating in the survey research, along with the Climate Reality Project for connecting Climate Reality Leaders attending the Climate Summit in Paris, of which many participated in my survey. Thanks to all my climate activist friends that participated in my test survey. I can’t possibly list them all but they know who they are. A huge thank you to photographer and dear friend, Paul Anderson, for capturing the climate justice movement on film.
Special thanks to several Climate Reality Leaders who aided in the creation of my manual: Frederick Stoss for his expert research help, Donna Thompson for her tireless and elaborate work on manual design along with her sense of humor and sheer determination for excellence, Doug Grant and Laura Betts for their belief in my work and their financial support, Seth Fleetwood for countless discussions in helping me understand the impact that government can have to bring about change through public insistence which led to the focus of this manual, Harriet Sugarman for her inspiring example of dedication to this work and continued support in assuring me that this project will be a valuable contribution, Michael Foster for his unwavering commitment to the movement that has inspired me to elevate the conversation to lead others to direct action and lastly Kat Haber for her gentle nudges to explore further. I am thankful for our ah-ha moment together at the COP 21 Summit in Paris, where we walked away saying that “we need everyone, everywhere doing everything, all the time, as quickly as possible.” This mantra has given me the daily fuel to power through this project. Thanks too, to 350.org and Bill McKibben for helping me believe in the value of contributing to building the climate justice movement in this capacity and their support along the way. Through being a climate change educator with Climate Reality Project and an organizer for 350.org, both organizations have helped me realize that there is a gap between climate change education and action along with a deep sense of urgency to address the crisis.
Most importantly, I would like to thank my family. First, Dennis and Sherry Witt and Jack and Eileen MacIntyre, for their continual support over the years for both my activism and academic work, along with tuition help. I owe the biggest debt of thanks to my life’s partner and best friend, Craig Witt, for being my sounding board, encourager, and supporter through all of the challenges, along with his never-ending editing tips, suggestions, cooking and dish washing. I also want to thank my two daughters, Olivia and Gloria for giving me the inspiration to do all I can to help move people to take climate action. It is for their future and the future generations that feeds my passion to do this work.
Lastly, special thanks to those who continue doing all
they can to help solve the climate crisis. I am grateful to have received lessons from Indigenous leaders and elders on this journey which have provided immense inspiration and guidance for shaping this manual. One of the teachings I am grateful for receiving is, “we have the answers, if only they would listen to us.” With that, please seek their guidance as you move forth, while using this manual. All close-up photos were taken with permission from the subjects. Thanks in advance to all who find inspiration and utilize any bits from this manual to move people to act on climate. This manual is for you! Thank you for making a difference.