Sometimes, the solutions to the climate crisis aren’t complex technological innovations. They can be as personal as your auntie’s renegade community kitchen that she built after a natural disaster, or cooking with your dad, who grew up poor, and taught you how to be resourceful in the kitchen. It can be choosing to share moments of laughter with your loved ones in a time of hardship, or sitting on the porch with your elders and learning from their stories of the past. Too often, climate conversations ignore these narratives of community resourcefulness and creativity in times of adversity.

The Future Is With Our People brings together work from 10+ UM students who live, work, play, love, and hope in the face of uncertainties and injustices. Through these pieces, the artists tell stories about the customs, communities, relationships, and experiences that bring them joy and a drive to demand a better future. As the climate crisis intensifies, we must recognize that solutions often lie within us, our communities, and our cultures. This art exhibit attempts to express just how vital our stories can be in building a sustainable and just future for present and future generations to thrive in.

Join the Student Life Sustainabilty Cultural Organizers and the Center for Campus Involvement for an art exhibition on the first floor of the Union from Feb 13-Feb 24.