SEATTLE – The voices of young people who are passionate about their faith and the environment will be featured in a discussion panel during a March 19 earth justice summit at Seattle University.

“I want to spread awareness from some of the younger generation with the older generation,” said panelist Ava Podany, a senior at Seattle Preparatory School. “People really need to understand that environmental issues can’t wait to be acted on,” she said, adding that she hopes those attending the summit “start caring for creation with their actions.”

The event, “Planting Seeds of Hope, Taking Action for Our Common Home,” will reinvigorate the work already being done by the Creation Care Network and begin tackling the steps laid out in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, said Will Rutt executive director of Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC), one of the summit’s organizers. 

“We need to address the reality of our climate crisis,” Rutt said.

The in-person gathering will feature an opening prayer by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, a keynote from Duwamish Tribe member Ken Workman, workshops on the action platform and interactive small groups. The event is free (register here).

“We’re excited about the archbishop’s presence and show of support,” Rutt said. “We’re thankful for his leadership.”

The event is organized by the Creation Care Network, a collaboration of parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle, Maryknoll, Seattle University Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Washington State Catholic Conference and IPJC. 

It was important to include youth in the presentations for the summit, Rutt said. 

“They are animated and energized with big visions and dreams,” he said. “That’s what we need for addressing this crisis.”

Jalyn Boado, a senior at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, said she is looking forward to meeting likeminded people — people of faith who care about the environment — at the summit.

“I’ve never been in a space where those two identities intersect,” Boado said. 

Anna Robertson, director of youth and young adult mobilization for Catholic Climate Covenant, sees the gathering as an opportunity to make inroads in building intergenerational community. Robertson said she hopes the youth discussion will serve as a model for parishes.

“Really drastic action is needed,” Robertson said. “Young people are enthusiastic about social changes and long for spiritual community.” 

Robertson said parishes often approach young adult ministry by asking, “How can we create programming to help young people?” Instead, she said, the question should be, “How do we help young people create programming that they need and want?” 

“I hope the young people will leave with a sense of their story mattering,” Robertson added.  

As more and more parishes wrestle with the question of how to respond to the climate crisis individually, Rutt said it’s also helpful to think about “a collective action that we can take together.”

The summit, he said, will give people discerning how to respond to climate change an opportunity to network, get ideas and find support. Rutt said he hopes attendees will leave the event thinking about two questions:

“How are we going to care for creation for the next five years?” and “What might be possible?”

 Connect to climate care resources

Find resources for the Laudato Si’ Action Platform at godsplanet.us.

Learn more about the Creation Care Network. Learn how to join the movement by emailing Patrick Barredo.