This was the consensus request from 6 high school students after only 15 minutes with Ms. Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James. It only took milliseconds to process the words and my response, but I paused for an extra moment, amazed at the hunger and inquisitive nature these students demonstrated. They didn’t take a 5 hour drive for a field trip. They committed to a 5 hour transit to be transported into a space of humility and reception. To glean from active bodies and determined voices demonstrating self-determination in the face of discrimination. To defy and detest the disavowal of industrial responsibility to the ongoing climate crisis. These students understood the mission. My response followed, 

“Unfortunately we must stay on our schedule as our next community partners are expecting us at a certain time, so we must do our best to be considerate of their availability.” 

This was a learning moment for me as a facilitator to consider the amount of time needed to adequately satiate the desire to learn among our visiting students. It allowed me the moment to reconvene with fellow facilitators to ideate on how we can plan this time more effectively to be considerate of our long days meeting with partners and still ensure our interactions are enriching.

The students picked up on something important: Ms. Lavigne shared a personal experience met with a personal calling. It wasn’t a lecture. There weren’t 3000 plotted data points. There was the land, the people, Ms. Lavigne and her truth. A truth that venn diagrammed the commonality of land, water, and air pollution within the St. James Parish 5th District. A shared power emerges at the convergence of acknowledging our shared fate and shared opportunity. This power transcends political boundaries. It supersedes generational gaps. It mends miscommunications. It redirects to restoration. This program experience like many other Nobis Project programs reminded me of the potential within awaiting a kinetic push. Oftentimes all that push requires is a voice unashamed and a heart open for understanding.

-VA