Youth Climate Story: Art Activism in Wisconsin

• This video is about Yamile, a young climate activist and artist who uses the power of art to communicate the urgency of climate change.
• Yamile describes how climate change is increasing the prevalence of Lyme disease in Milwaukee, shares about her championing of the Green New Deal, and explains how her artwork communicates about climate change.
• A climate strike and art activism activity is included to accompany the video.
  

Positives

• The video is brief and shows an example of a young person taking action for the climate.
• Yamile points out that climate change is not distant in time or place—it is impacting every single person every day.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• The video mentions the Green New Deal but does not go into detail about what it is. In general, support for a Green New Deal in the United States refers to a joint resolution proposed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey in 2019 that called for immediate climate action and a jobs guarantee.
• It is important for students to know that Lyme disease is just one of many diseases that are spreading into new areas because of climate change. Many diseases that were formerly confined to tropical areas are now making their way to the mid-latitudes, such as West Nile virus.
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Differentiation

• Science teachers can use this video as an introduction in order to bring art into their classes.
• Art teachers can use this video to help students generate ideas about creating artwork related to climate change.
• Social studies and civics teachers could bring in this resource when discussing protests, demonstrations, the legislative process, or activism.
• This video could be tied into a lesson about empathy, as the activity allows students to express their personal feelings or concerns through art.