Feminist Climate Activist Feature: Maya Penn
FEMINIST sat down with Maya to learn more about her inspiring climate journey:
Maya Penn is a GenZ environmental activist who uses art, storytelling, and education to advocate for the planet. Among her many accomplishments, Maya was featured in Forbes magazine at 10 years old, has given three TEDTalks, has received a commendation from former President Barack Obama for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship, and was commissioned to produce and animate the opening of the first-ever digital report presented to Congress. Now, she is the founder of Maya’s Ideas, an eco-fashion brand, and Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet, a non-profit that gives back to women and girls in Haiti, Senegal, Somalia, and more. Maya is also the director and animator for ASALI: Power Of The Pollinators, an upcoming environmental action adventure short film produced by Viola Davis.
What does being a feminist mean to you?
As a Black woman and a solutions based environmental activist, for me feminism has always been about actionable solutions that will support and liberate marginalized women and girls and the natural world. It’s no secret that our struggles are interlinked, patriarchy does not exist in a vacuum, and it amplifies the impacts of environmental degradation, racism, and more. All of these systems benefit from each other, and work together to hold all of us down as a collective. I also think inclusion tends to get watered down. As women we are half of the population — at this point a seat at the table alone borders on tokenization. Women around the world need the resources possible to become the architects of systems change. Our health, hopes, wellbeing, joy, solutions, and stories can no longer be afterthoughts. To me this is crucial to moving beyond a society of extraction, exploitation, and apathy.
As someone who has been very involved in climate activism since you were 8 years old, what do you think are the biggest challenges that the environmental movement faces today?
I think it’s important to make sure that grassroots leaders get the resources needed to thrive and expand their impact. There is no one singular solution to save our planet – and it’s not just about the mega NGOs. Grassroots activists, frontline communities, the people who are directly impacted need funding and resources distributed to them as well. I think it’s important to remember that marginalized people are not only the most adversely affected by the climate crisis, we are also the solutionists, and we need more opportunity to bring those solutions to scale. Just as ecological biodiversity is important, nothing new can grow in a monoculture movement.
You’ve done a lot of work to advocate for the planet and to empower women and girls through your non-profit, Maya’s Ideas 4 the Planet. How does the climate movement intersect with the fight for social justice in your work?
Women and girls rights have always been a core of my work in environment for over a decade. Per the UN Women and children are 14 times more likely to die in an environmental disaster due to pre-existing inequalities. There are also a number of studies that show us that investing in women and girls' access to education, funding, and resources leads to overall climate resiliency for entire communities of people. I’ve spoken to tens of thousands of amazing young women and girls from around the world and have been supporting girls in the space with workshops, mentorship, and seed grants. In 2012 I also launched an ongoing initiative in period poverty where I designed and created eco-friendly sanitary pads, and over 3000 pad kits have been shipped to healthcare facilities in Haiti, Senegal, Cameroon, and Somalia, with our work even being recognized by the head of Senegal's Red Cross. Women throughout the generations have been stewards to the land, innovators in environmental science, and advocates for Mother Earth, all while still fighting to secure our own rights.
You’ve directed and animated an upcoming short film called ASALI: Power of the Pollinators that comes out this year. Can you tell us more about the film, and what compelled you to create it?
ASALI: Power of The Pollinators is an environmental action adventure short film that follows Asali, a little honey bee who survives the collapse of her bee colony, and meets a colorful group of pollinators and a human environmental scientist. Together they team up to fight a monstrous and deadly force from Asali's past. I drew the first artwork for ASALI when I was 11 years old, and then at 13 I created an animation that I shared during my TEDWomen talk that was translated into over 100 different languages and has been shown around the world. So it’s surreal to see this come to life, especially through my production company Upenndo! Productions, focused on job creation and collaborating with the next generation of creatives. Along with Viola Davis as executive producer, and featuring the voice talents of Whoopi Goldberg, Monique Coleman, Joy Ofodu, Lupita Pineda and more. No matter how big or small, everyone’s voice matters, everyone can make an impact. This is a core theme of the film. ASALI is a story full of heart, rooted in the power of community, creativity, and optimism. I want to add another dimension to what environmental media can look like.
You’ve done a lot of meaningful animation work and even had your animations presented in Congress. What do you think makes animation so impactful as an activism tool?
Our ancestors have used storytelling as the backbone for countless movements. Art shapes how we move through the world, educates us, creates empathy, hope, and spurs us into taking action and building community. Animation is an incredibly powerful and versatile medium of storytelling that is amazing at breaking down complex stories and themes with a level of creative freedom and abstraction that can help great stories and characters shine even brighter. As you mentioned I produced and animated the opening of the first ever digital report presented to congress, to get an American Museum of Women’s History built in Washington, DC. This is just one lived example of the real world positive impact this medium can have. Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to create more access to information, education, and empowerment.
You’re also the founder of an eco-fashion brand called Maya’s Ideas. How do you incorporate sustainable practices into your clothing production?
I founded Maya’s Ideas in 2008 at 8 years old out of a passion for art and design and a drive to tackle the negative impact the fast fashion industry has on the environment, especially at a time when most people weren’t aware of those impacts. I started by creating my items from fabric remnants and vintage clothing I had around the house. Today, Maya's Ideas is an award-winning brand creating artisan crafted accessories and clothing made from organic, recycled, and vintage materials. I am certified in Circular Economies and Sustainable Strategies by Cambridge Business School, and have also been an educator on courses on bio-inspired design and circular fashion.
What advice do you have for people who want to transition to a more sustainable wardrobe?
After 6 years of organizing, the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution that my team and I drafted and advocated for. For the first time in world history, world leaders had to recognize rape as an issue important in and of itself. The resolution passed unanimously and now we are fighting for it to be legally binding through our Universal Jurisdiction treaty campaign.
In your opinion, what are the most effective actions that individuals can take to combat climate change?
Make it personal. Incorporate your passions, interests, and background into your journey. Find community and be open to learning from each other. Let go of the fear – there is no one way to live sustainably. Focus on living slower, on extending the life of what you already own, and getting in touch with your local ecosystems. Start with areas that are most doable for you. Maybe it’s putting native pollinator plants in your window box. Maybe it’s incorporating one plant-based meal a day. Maybe it’s voting for climate champions in your local elections. Everyone’s sustainability journey is completely unique and different, and I think that’s very beautiful.
