Gricelides Saex

"We're working on the petition for the City to adopt 100% clean energy sources. I hope that that's in the near future. I hope that comes true because all these systems that are in place are monopolies that are racking up money and only there for the profits. Our community deserves energy that's not going to harm them more than it already has. The energy that comes from sources that are not making us sick or that are causing major disasters in our area. So I hope that whatever goals we have, we can bring the people in city hall and all the community to move along with us. Even if we don't agree on everything, we can make some compromise for the wellbeing of the community because it's not just our wellbeing, but everybody’s."

What advice would you give to others who want to start getting involved? 

"I like to use many ways of bringing whatever people's dreams are to the forefront. Sort of accessing what their strengths are. That could be art, something they want to do, or something they never thought of doing. I believe in using the arts, listening to people, and letting them know that they matter. There are bigger forces that might be in their way. It's not just about individual faults. Like if it's your fault. There are ways that we can do things, for the good of everybody. We have many options. We have many strengths. Sometimes people don't know or realize that they do, but you just need to find them. It's really about finding the individual strength of others and rallying them around the community's needs and fighting together."

What issues concern you the most? 

"Climate change is one of my main concerns. It's about the overall health and well-being of our community and it affects every aspect of our lives. That includes equity; it's about undoing racism and being anti-racist. It's about everything that surrounds our lives, where we live, where we go to school, where we play, what we eat, where it comes from like farms, or commercial supermarkets we need but can't access because of redlining in our neighborhoods.  Our community doesn't deserve to get energy from the dirty sources that are making us sick or that are causing major climate disasters in our area."



How do you stay involved in advocating even when life is already full of challenges? 

"I do a lot of things that I find joy in, and I hope that I'm an example for other people, because joy is part of what keeps you, at least me, sane and involved. I like getting to know myself better and working on poetry or art and sharing that with people. We must not give up! Find our joys and our strengths and keep on going, but don't think of just yourself. We all need to give back so do something for your community, anything."