Meet Tania Roa

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tania Roa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tania below.

Hi Tania, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

As a climate justice advocate, I often feel exhausted from speaking out against harmful systems and practices, such as capitalism, colonialism, and racism. While I am grateful to be part of a community made up of thousands of people taking action, the climate crisis and social inequalities can feel overwhelming. However, this very community of advocates, activists, artists, policymakers, and more has taught me that optimism arises from unity. When we come together in pursuit of a brighter future and justice, we are already changing the world. The act of joining together and discussing solutions, as well as showing solidarity, fosters the optimism needed to envision an equitable and regenerative world.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My parents immigrated to California from Bogotá, Colombia. Growing up, I faced discrimination due to my non-English-speaking household and xenophobia. My advocacy for social justice stems from a desire for a world where people can migrate freely, enjoy the outdoors freely, and live full lives without encountering hate the way my family did. My passion for social justice, combined with my love for wildlife, shaped me into the climate justice advocate I am today. I speak up for all life on Earth, recognizing that certain communities need more of my support. Marginalized communities are systematically neglected compared to privileged groups. Environmental exploitation harms us all but deliberately targets underprivileged groups and animals. Through my work, I highlight the connections between animal, human, and planetary health. We cannot have one without the others.

Learn more and contact me via my website: www.taniaroa.com

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The quality that drives my work for justice and environmental restoration is empathy. Holding empathy close to my heart means recognizing that we are all connected. We share the same Earth cycles and universal energy that sustain life. We all aspire to live lives filled with joy. Understanding these core principles of life on Earth motivates me to create spaces where love shines. When I feel pain for those experiencing tragedy, I use empathy to relate to them and wish for them what I desire for myself: a life worth living.

The skill that propels me to engage in various campaigns, projects, and initiatives for a better future is curiosity. Curiosity drives me to speak in front of hundreds, write articles that reveal my deepest fears, and meet incredible changemakers who leave a legacy of love and care. By pursuing my passions and interests, I’ve been fortunate to find a path that fills my soul and reassures me that the future we are building will be worth it.

The area of knowledge that transformed my journey is climate justice, which emphasizes the links between the climate crisis and social injustices embedded in Western society. Climate justice does not separate environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and rising greenhouse gases from our daily lives. Instead, it highlights how environmental conditions perpetuate existing social inequalities, such as gender inequality, wage gaps, and declining mental health. Learning how climate justice intertwines with everything we do gave me a purpose: to help create a more equal world.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

My favorite book on environmental justice is “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. As an Indigenous scholar, Dr. Kimmerer offers an invaluable perspective on environmentalism and justice. She acknowledges the suffering her family and other Indigenous peoples have endured due to anti-Native policies. However, she focuses on ways to heal that apply to everyone, such as reconnecting with the Earth and combining Indigenous wisdom with Western science. Dr. Kimmerer serves as a bridge between ancient, irreplaceable knowledge and modern thought. She shows us a path forward that includes everyone, as well as every plant and animal relative, which is essential to overcoming the climate crisis.

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