This month, we interviewed SanDiego350 volunteer, Tanisha-Jean Martin to share about their climate activism. Tanisha-Jean is part of the SD350’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Team.
How did you first get involved with SD350, and when was that?
I was invited by a member to attend a meeting in 2022, and was a featured Climate Leadership speaker in 2023.
What drives your activism?
Being an Afrolatina born and raised in Southeast San Diego, I am familiar with the inequities and negligence Communities of Concern are faced with. It wasn’t until I became an adult in college when I realized the difference between equality and equity, in particular lack of inequities in my community. Being given the opportunity to be a research advocate and realizing the power of my presence and voice at a legislative level was actually making changes in legislation and policies, further motivated me to be an activist for Communities of Concern and Woman of Color. I have minority children, so I must stand up and fight for their rights, I must care about the future of the planet. I believe we borrow this planet from future generations.
What do you recommend to people who want to have a larger impact through the environmental movement? What do you prioritize in your own activism?
I prioritize listening and being present. Oftentimes, people have a desire to assist communities that they have never stepped foot in and enter the space with ideas already formulated; rather than embrace the environment and come with an open heart, mind and ears to hear what the community has to say. LIstening and being present builds trust, built trust leads to collaborations, collaborations lead to movements, movements lead to the success of needed change.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about you? Any fun facts?
I triple majored at San Diego State University in Geography, Sociology, and Political Science; I care deeply about the well being of the planet, increasing equity between people, and being able to change policies for positive impacts.
I then received my Master Degree from University of San Diego in Leadership Studies, with a certificate in Life and Organizational Coaching.
My hope is to receive my Doctorate from University of San Diego, and be able to claim degrees from every major university in San Diego: SDSU, USD, & UCSD