Excerpts from ClimateCraft Student Reporting Contest

A big thanks to everyone who submitted to our 2022 ClimateCraft Student Reporting contest! None of the submissions fully addressed all four of our criteria. 

However, we’re grateful to see young writers engage deeply with environmental science and community activism. We awarded $150 Honorable Mention prizes to the following three entrants:

• Royvi Hernandez, San Jose State University (alum) -center
  
• Xion Abiodun, Laney College – left
  
• Carolina Raciti, City College of San Francisco – right

 Read excerpts from each of their submissions below.

Honorable Mention: Best interviewing skills

SJSU Garden Transcends Barriers by Royvi Hernandez

Excerpt: The San Jose State Black Women’s Collective (BWC) and Campus Community Garden hosted an event Monday night about the importance of nature and the influence it has on the community.

The Campus Community Garden was created to provide students a space to gain access to healthy food, learn about sustainable organic garden practices and earn service learning hours, according to its webpage.   

Aisha Williams, environmental studies senior and president of BWC, said the purpose of the collaboration was to create a program centered around “Black culture and connect it with nature.” 

“I want to be able to cultivate that atmosphere for others and myself,” Williams said. “This is my first time doing something like this and as a Black student at SJSU we don’t get a lot of programs like this, so being able to actually do it myself is different from being able to attend it.”

Honorable Mention: Most specific

Thousands of Fish Pop Up Dead in Oakland’s Lake Merritt by Xion Abiodun

Excerpt: The algae Heterosigma akashiwo is a natural occurrence that will happen once every few years. This particular type of algae has to be in the right conditions to grow and spread. It blooms when nutrients from human feces and warm water mix with it in its beginning stages. This happens when we flush the toilet, and that water is sent to the sewage systems. It eventually ends up in the San Francisco Bay, which spreads to the lake over time. Additionally, Heterosigma akashiwo will also turn waters into a soupy brown-reddish color as it spreads, coining it the nickname “red tide.”

Honorable Mention: Most personal

POV: Wishing Climate Change Wasn’t Trendy by Carolina Raciti

Excerpt: Personally, I am trying to reduce my consumption. I think twice or more about a purchase, to see if it’s something I really need. I often skip the purchase if I have time to do this conscious reflection. I also try to repair my stuff. If something can be mended or fixed I will try to re-use it. I find the Buy Nothing groups quite useful, not only for the free stuff you can score, but because sometimes you need items for what is most likely a one time use, and you can borrow from the community, tools or equipment. Most people are nice and want to help!

Other Ways to Share Stories

If you missed your chance to submit to ClimateCraft, we’ve got some good news: the editors are interested in working with professors and teachers to shape class storytelling projects covering climate resilience, social and biological sciences, and other topics. If you are an interested educator feel free to contact [email protected] and follow our monthly story releases.

KneeDeep Times is also accepting personal stories, photo essays, video, and more for our California Climate Quilt. We want to know all the little ways you and your community adapt to climate change — and this time, we’re inviting non-students to participate as well.