kier blake
about kier
kier blake's (they/them) work to expand access to interdisciplinary, justice-centered climate education in New York’s K–12 schools may have started while teaching students in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens through the nonprofit they co-founded, Start:Empowerment in 2019.
But the reality is that they were already afflicted by climate-related, public health issues such as high rates of asthma and lack of access to nutritious food like their students. They had also seen the effects on migration, agricultural health, and disaster preparedness abroad in their livelihood and work across 6 countries.
Realizing their own upbringing had been shaped by those same forces, kier’s goal is to prove the critical need for climate change education not only to build awareness on issue at hand but also for the purpose of empowering generations to come in their work to build just, regenerative futures for all.
kier’s current work
kier is currently a Policy Researcher and Writer at a small, non-traditional think tank called the Next100 developing...
𖥸 An original framework called critical climate change education (CCCE) which address gaps in current climate education offerings, enhances environmental literacy, and serve as a policy model for New York State and nationwide.
𖥸 A policy tracker to monitor active climate education legislation across all 50 states and spotlight national climate education champions (coming soon!).
Photo by Bridget Badore
Photo by Bridget Badore
experience in a nutshell
4 Years
Guiding grassroots advisory for Kenyan, Palestinian, and Lebanese Community Based Organizations to improve culturally resonant education infrastructure and materials, empowering youth globally.
𖥸
Advocating for low-income and POC youth in the U.S. on higher education access, equity, and holistic school services.
5 Years
Leading innovative program creation in gradeschool classrooms and public community spaces through co-founding Start:Empowerment in 2019.
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Conducting graduate research at The New School (MSc in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management ’24) with alternative educators, Indigenous knowledge-holders, and earthworkers on decolonial education models that reconnect students with the land.
2 Years
A Steering Committee member and active Policy Committee contributor on the Climate Resilience & Education Task Force dedicated to passing legislation promoting statewide PK-12 climate education.
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Developed a working Critical Climate Change Education (CCCE) framework and US Climate Education Policy Tracker to both foster climate education implementation and monitor its progress nationwide.
For a more in-depth timeline of my professional career experience, head to my LinkedIn page.
