Hey neighbors 😎!
This past DC Climate Week, we linked up with founders, artists and visionaries who are reimagining how we move, grow, create, and care for our world. We talked, biked, toured rooftops, and reflected on how far we’ve come—and where we’re headed next. This issue is a preview of what’s bubbling beneath the surface of the DMV’s solarpunk movement.
Let’s dive into four incredible conversations we had with folks building the future, one platform at a time…
🚲 Rob McPherson – Micro-Mobility for the Masses
Founder, King Micro-Mobility
kingmicromobility.com
We partnered with Rob to host a free e-bike ride that reimagined DC’s streets as hubs of multi-modal joy—not car-choked stress zones. Our journey wound through neighborhoods and highways, with Rob breaking down the barriers built into our urban design. The ride ended with a pop-up presentation exploring tangible solutions to our mobility crisis—from bike highways to decentralized transit hubs.
King Micro-Mobility is on a mission to turn short trips into safe, fun, low-carbon adventures. This is Future-Ready Transit in action—and Rob’s vision? A DC where your grandma, your nephew, and your gig worker neighbor can all share the road in peace.
🌱 Kristof Grina – Rooftops That Feed the City
Founder, Up Top Acres
uptopacres.com
High above the city streets, we toured Up Top Acres’ rooftop farm and asked Kristof about our newsletter’s favorite fantasy: a city where food grows on trees. He Confirmed that it’s already happening :).
Up Top Acres operates over 15 rooftop farms across the DC area, producing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. These farms not only supply fresh produce to local communities but also serve as green oases that mitigate urban heat and manage stormwater runoff.
Their work exemplifies the potential of urban agriculture to address some of the pressing challenges of our time, from climate change to food insecurity. It's a testament to how innovative thinking and community collaboration can lead to meaningful change.
By transforming underused rooftops into thriving ecosystems, Kristof and his team are proving that local, regenerative farming doesn’t have to be far from home—or the future. Rooftop kale today, public fig trees tomorrow baby. Let’s gooo!
🎨 Ali Syverson – Art as Climate Technology
Artist
Ali Syverson is a DMV-based visual storyteller whose immersive, nature-forward artwork blends environmental science, community healing, and public space reclamation. Earlier this year, one of her climate-inspired installations went viral on LinkedIn, catching the eye of local organizers—and landing her an invitation to showcase her work during DC Climate Week.
We caught up with Ali between live painting to talk about the role of artists in a warming world. Her immersive, multi-sensory works don’t just reflect climate anxieties—they spark climate solutions by rooting people back into their environments.
Ali’s practice Community-Driven Governance with her work. She’s creating public art that is of the community, powered by collective storytelling, and anchored in joy and transformation.
🌍 Vid Micevic – The Evolution of a Movement
Founder, Climate DC
climatedc.substack.com
As we both transition from the Climate DC platform, Vid and I got real about legacy. What started as a friend’s gathering after the IRA bill pass became a space for organizing, educating, and activating. Now, as we pass the mic to new voices, Vid reflects on what part of him will always live in the DNA of Climate DC.
This conversation reminded me about the power of Community Governance. It’s about people. People like Vid who built platforms, invited others in, and created containers for change.
🛸 What’s Next?
This isn’t the full story—it’s the trailer. In the coming months, we’ll release the full interviews. You’ll hear directly from Rob, Kristof, Ali, and Vid—and meet more local leaders building the solarpunk city in the DMV.
Want to see your block in the next episode? Got a solarpunk dream to share? Hit reply or tag us on IG @solarpunkdc.
Till then,
Stay punk, stay rooted 🌱
– Lavala
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