California
Meli Morales
Southern California Organizer
What is the moment that you decided to work towards climate justice?
There isn’t a time in my memory that my heart didn’t pump to the drumbeat of the earth; I’m told I loved to eat dirt as a baby. My tastes have refined since then (chaga latte > dirt), but my connection to nature has only become more important to me over time. If I had to name one real pivotal moment, it would be when I was struggling through some traumatic experiences as a young teen that culminated in participating in a youth diversion program in the Arizona desert. I don’t think the program would consider itself abolition work, but that’s what my experience felt like. I was out in the wilderness with the kids society throws away, forming more functional systems and learning more sustainable practices than existed in the world we were assumed not to be good enough for. Under the guidance of a beloved Totonac elder, the land was really my first teacher. Now I know how important green space is for trauma recovery, and how essential Indigenous food sovereignty and anti-colonial action is for ecological recovery. We heal together!
Where’s your favorite place to be?
Around a campfire with loved ones
What do you enjoy during your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy getting outdoors with my family, making linocut art and zines, and finding new music and food to share with friends.
