Hi friends,
It's been a month. Hasn't it?
Climate change and science communication (amongst so many other intersectional issues and important work) are under federal attack on so many levels, literally being swept under the rug and removed from websites and funding streams. [And also, there are ongoing efforts to save all the info.]
I know the overwhelming onslaught is a strategic tactic. Yet it makes me feel like nothing I do is enough, and every single thing is urgent β how about you?
This urgency and "freaking out" has leaked into my own work; I was kicking myself yesterday for sending this newsletter out "late". But then I remembered a quote from Tricia Hersey: "Ease is your birthright." This comes from her incredible resource, The Nap Ministry's Rest Deck. I'm consistently working to retrain my brain to be okay with the ebb and flow of what my limited time requires from me. This month, my body and brain needed time to rest, to unplug, and to finish client projects that were pressing. And the world turns, and this "February" newsletter comes out in early March instead.
Where do you need to give yourself some leeway in your work? Where can we create space, so that we can sustain our work for the long haul? Let's practice this slowness β and shake our fists at consistency and productivity for the sake of consistency and productivity β together.
With gratitude,
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Lauren Boritzke Smith
Founder
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P.S. I've been hard at work creating a free guide for sustaining audience engagement on climate action after events and campaigns β and it's officially launched! Read more below. β
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βWHAT I'M READING & LISTENING TO:
π Morning Star by Pierce Brown [the third in a sci-fi series about terraforming other planets with themes of colonialism and interclass people power]
π΅ Freaking Out by A R I Z O N A
ROOTS OF CHANGE
Climate Comms Resource
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Have y'all heard of Climate Advocacy Lab? I love love love what they do. From weekly newsletters on climate communications, trainings, to their kick*ss online resource library, becoming a part of their community is well worth it. It's been a game-changer.
LINKS ON LINKS
Featured Climate Artist: Erin Sharkey
I've had the pleasure of crossing paths with writer and cultural producer Erin Sharkey a few times in climate work, and I'm a really big fan. Last year, she edited and published an anthology: "A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing From Soil to Stars".
What are the politics of nature? Who owns it, where is it, what role does it play in our lives? Does it need to be tamed? Are we ourselves natural? Each of these essays engages with a single archival object, whether directly or obliquely, exploring stories spanning hundreds of years and thousands of miles, traveling from roots to space and finding rich Blackness everywhere.
I five-star recommend it for your TBR list. You can purchase a copy direct from the publisher.β
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HEARTSEED CREATIVE FEATURE
New! A Free Resource For You, From Me
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Keeping audiences engaged and aware of next steps for action is tough. Especially when they're busy with life, and we're already moving onto the next project or event.
Enter the free guide I've designed specifically for climate changemakers who want to:
π± Keep the connection going
π± Reach the right people (not just more people)
π± Build a strategy that nurtures engagement long-term
If youβve ever felt that post-event drop-off, this is a lil' love for you β and for my past self, let's be honest.
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How We Can Work Together
At Heartseed Creative, we help climate organizations and small businesses scale their impact with communications and design. A few ways we can collaborate:
- π± Quick Win Social Revamp: Yes, social media is evil. And also, we can reach our audiences there who don't want to disengage and succumb to mis- and disinformation. We can harness it as a tool for good. Package includes: profile optimization suggestions, content calendar, and engagement tips; all tailored to align with your values.
- π± Ready, Set, Email! Kickstart: NOW is the time to keep your audiences engaged as they're wondering "what can I do?" Level up your virtual connection with a custom email series or automated drip campaign to keep your work top of mind for your people as soon as they join your list.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS NEXT MONTH:
π¨ Moodboarding out three climate narrative illustrations from Minneapolis storytellers
π Organizing my digital files β the download folder is a scary place *AHH*
π Onboarding a new client in the sustainable public transportation sector
ποΈ Finalizing the cover art for a climate meditation podcast episode β I can't wait to share more!
π Wedding dress shopping with a dear friend as she prepares to marry her person
βWe find ourselves in a time of reckoning, at an inflection point for humanity. What we will inflect toward is not clear. Set aside your resignation and nihilism. There is a wide range of possible futures. Peril and possibility coexist.β
β Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, What if We Get it Right?
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