Hi friends,
Earlier this month, I was part of a 3-week art and community event series that dove into how to sustain ourselves during this time and during winter. It was exactly what I needed to recharge, settle into my rage and fear, and just create. (Thanks Sustain Studio!)
From the news that 2024 was the hottest year on record to misinformation, to rollbacks of federal climate action, there’s an onslaught of “doom” messaging from the world and the Trump administration. It’s overwhelming.
And still, the role that communicators and artists play in this moment is paramount to keeping us going. To invite us to feel, to connect, to act, and to not unplug in our overwhelm.
I keep returning to one of the poems shared during the event series I mentioned, and I’d love to share it with you here.
Summons, Aurora Levins Morales
Last night I dreamed
ten thousand grandmothers
from the twelve hundred corners of the earth
walked out into the gap
one breath deep
between the bullet and the flesh
between the bomb and the family.
They told me we cannot wait for governments.
There are no peacekeepers boarding planes.
There are no leaders who dare to say
every life is precious, so it will have to be us.
They said we will cup our hands around each heart.
We will sing the earth’s song, the song of water,
a song so beautiful that vengeance will turn to weeping,
the mourners will embrace, and grief replace
every impulse toward harm.
Ten thousand is not enough, they said,
so, we have sent this dream, like a flock of doves
into the sleep of the world. Wake up. Put on your shoes.
You who are reading this, I am bringing bandages
and a bag of scented guavas from my trees. I think
I remember the tune. Meet me at the corner.
Let’s go.
What are the poems or pieces of creative work that keep you going? I’d love to know, and share them out so all can feel their salving effect.
With gratitude,
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Lauren Boritzke Smith
Founder
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P.S. Amidst my usual nerdy research on climate change communication best practices, I’ve also been researching “hypernormalisation” – a term coined by Alexei Yurchak who was writing about what it was like to live in the last years of the Soviet Union (when everyone knew society wasn’t working, but everything kept moving and it felt fake and strange.) Have you heard of this? It resonates so hard in America right now.
WHAT I'M READING & LISTENING TO:
📘 What if We Get it Right? edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
🎵 Be Yourself by Wilder Woods
ROOTS OF CHANGE
Climate Comms Resource
The Climate Communications Research Hub, a program from New Zero World, provides world-leading research and insights from the best in science communications, creativity, and cultural influence.
If you haven’t read their 2024 white paper, A New Era in Climate Communications, I recommend sectioning it out over a week or so with your morning coffee time. ☕ Yes, it’s a white paper, but I promise it’s full of really beautiful visuals and approachable language. And it’s spot on and clever and urgent and necessary as we move forward.
LINKS ON LINKS
Featured Climate Artist: Michael Kerbow
Symbolism. Dinosaurs [aka fossil fuels]. Hyper-consumerism. San Francisco-based artist Michael Kerbow envisions a climate apocalyptic, late capitalism future in his paintings. I discovered his work through a recent Colossal newsletter and I'm wowed.
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HEARTSEED CREATIVE CASE STUDY
North American Biochar Conference Visual Identity
This month, we worked with the U.S. Biochar Initiative to create a visual brand for the 2025 North American Biochar Conference. Beginning with a creative brief questionnaire and moodboard process, the look and feel came to life to resonate with their target audiences. The full package included a logo, brand, usage kit, as well as execution of the brand across social media assets, sponsorship packet, and more.
How We Can Work Together
At Heartseed Creative, we help climate organizations share and scale their impact with communications and design. A few ways we can collaborate:
- NEW! 🌱 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.
- NEW! 🌱 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.
- Custom Illustrations: Bring climate narratives or program impact to life with unique, impactful illustrations in an 8-week process.
- [OMG it's still Annual Report Season 😱 ] Impact Reports: We got you. Let’s create visually compelling reports and campaign designs that speak to your audience.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS NEXT MONTH:
📚 Booking clients for early 2025 projects – would you like to fill a spot?
🆕 Finalizing a new free resource for you! Sneak peek: it's called "Sustaining Climate Momentum: A Toolkit for Beyond Your Event or Campaign."
“Better opens the door. Better challenges us to see what's there and begs us to imagine how we could improve on that. Better invites us in and gives us a chance to seek dramatic improvement on behalf of those we seek to serve.”
— Seth Godin
