Hey neighbors,
You’ve probably heard us talk about Climate DC before at events, in conversations, or maybe from someone you met at a community garden, or a policy mixer (we be all over the place lol). But with so many new folks joining the DMV’s climate scene, it’s time to make the story official: the origin of DC Climate Week starts with a friend group, a little spark...and Vid Mićević.
When the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed, Vid gathered a few friends to celebrate. That gathering became ongoing. The vibe? Optimistic, a little scrappy, very low lift, but hungry for connection. DC can be a tough place to say the word Climate out loud (that’s why solarpunk dc focuses on sustainability by nurturing the symbiotic relationship between tech and nature), especially outside of institutional spaces. But our circle of organizers said it anyway.
And then we kept showing up...
What started as casual meetups soon became Climate DC: a hub for climate professionals new to the city, a space for job-seekers and community builders. Flagship events offered that “first contact” moment for people hungry to be part of something bigger.
Fast-forward to April 28–May 2: there were 152+ events and 4,731 attendees for one epic, now-annual DC Climate Week that’s become a staple of the DMV climate calendar.
And yeah, this all came from volunteers.
At solarpunk dc, we believe the future grows out of the past. The culture of community-led action, joy, curiosity, and connection that made Climate DC so powerful? That’s our blueprint. As I transition from the Climate DC crew to focus full-time on solarpunk dc, I just want to make sure y’all get your flowers.
Shoutout to all of you who made this real. Vid Mićević, Mercedes I. Marquez (Mercy), Dylan Mibu, Jamie Lee, Cedric Craig, and Christina Cilento.
If you’re not already on the Climate DC newsletter, please fix that 🤣. It’s one of our top recommendations for anyone in the DMV who cares about climate, jobs, and networking. You’ll get updates on events, opportunities, and the people behind the movement.
That’s all for now, guys.
Stay punk
—Lavala 🤘🏾🌿
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