Varshini Prakash

Climate activist Varshini Prakash first became aware of the effects of a changing planet when her grandparents’ village in India was flooded in a monsoon. A child then, she felt overwhelmed and powerless. In this week’s episode, Varshini shares how she came to find hope and build courage through the large and small communities in her life.Varshini Prakash began her activist career protesting university policies while a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In 2017, she co-founded the Sunrise Movement, which has galvanized youth throughout North America to demand a green economy and hold elected officials accountable. In addition to her position as Sunrise’s executive director, Varshini co-edited the book Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can.Listen to Kristin Windbigler's episode of Meditative Story, "We’re doing this thing together": ​​https://listen.meditativestory.com/KristinWindbiglerPIORead Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Winning-the-Green-New-Deal/Varshini-Prakash/9781982142438Follow Varshini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/varshprakash Learn more about Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.orgJump into a virtual welcome call for people interested in learning more about Sunrise Movement: https://www.mobilize.us/sunrisemovement/event/354486/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Varshini Prakash, co-founder and executive director of the Sunrise Movement, shares her journey in climate activism. She discusses how frustrations over political inaction ignited a youth-led movement and the strategic protests that followed, including a notable action at Nancy Pelosi's office. Varshini emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and addresses criticisms of their approaches, while also linking climate activism to historical civil rights movements. Her inspiring narrative highlights resilience and the need for political engagement among young activists.

Varshini Prakash, the Executive Director and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, passionately discusses climate action and youth activism. She highlights the organization's impact in shaping candidates' platforms, notably around the Green New Deal. Engaging listeners, she encourages support for the movement through grassroots initiatives. The conversation also navigates the current political landscape, reflecting on the competitive dynamics of the 2020 primaries and the vital role of young voters in advocating for transformative climate policies.