Hey there Sunshine!
I’m Lindsay Nunez, Climate Activist, Crisis Counselor, and Founder of Save Our Happy Place.
“Saving our planet is the work of our lifetime. Our mindful actions, thoughts, and visualizations drive change.”
-Lindsay Nunez
A Bit About Me
I’m a climate activist and crisis counselor living in New York City with the POV that consistent sustainable activism comes from a place of hope, optimism, and gratitude for the planet we live on.
I was born and raised in New Orleans where my love for nature and sustainability began. I spent my free time enjoying the great outdoors and getting to intimately know the local flora and fauna with my mother who is a retired biology teacher.
While NYC might not seem like a haven for nature lovers, it has fast-tracked my progression into activism. The passion, resources, community, and accessibility in NYC cannot be beaten. Pre-Pandemic during my lunch breaks, I’d walk across midtown to whichever protests were igniting in front of the BlackRock, NY Times, UN, or Citi Bank Buildings.
The scale and reach needed to save our planet are massive, so I know finding a place within the climate movement that resonates with you can be challenging. We try to create an inclusive and approachable environment that lends itself to growing the climate movement by bringing on people that might otherwise have found activism out of reach.
My Motivation
A recent Yale Climate Communications report found that while Americans are aware of climate change at a ratio of 6 to 1, only 1 to 6 Americans feel comfortable discussing the subject. Simply put, there is a large dissonance between Americans who feel ready to talk about climate change and those who do not. This pervasive hesitancy to participate in this crucial dialogue is exacerbated by a cognitive barrier to entry to the climate movement. The spectrum of expertise required to engage in climate-based discourse largely requires an academic level of understanding of policymaking and climate science (barriers that I too had to overcome).
As a Hurricane Katrina survivor, I approach activism and writing with empathy for the manner in which climate change can impact people on a personal level. Helping people from all walks of life find their voice within this movement in a way that is compassionate and empowering is a crucial step towards altering the trajectory of the climate crisis. That is why I founded Save Our Happy Place, an environmental organization dedicated to empowering people to take action on climate change through positive narratives and a growing appreciation for the planet we aim to protect.
I foster an understanding of the potential catastrophe that awaits if we do not collectively act now as a society without foregoing a sense of hope and optimism around the beautiful future we could all be building together. Providing people with a safe space rooted in an appreciation for the natural world (as opposed to its impending doom) can help shake us from the paralysis of growing climate anxiety and move us towards a place where we are all ready, willing, and able to comfortably talk about climate change regardless of our background.
My Happy Place
New Orleans, LA, USA
Where is your happy place?
In New Orleans, under the shade of a stately oak or broad magnolia. Whether that is in my childhood backyard or a local park, I am always at home beneath one of my two favorite trees.
What is one thing you recommend someone visiting to do?
Get off of Bourbon Street and into some of the beautiful nature in the city. Audubon and City parks are filled with beautiful gigantic oak trees. Two see both a swamp, a marsh, and potentially a gator all in one go, cross the Crescent City Connection to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
What is one-way people in or visiting Louisiana can do to be more mindful of their environmental impact?
If you feel up to volunteering, there are many coastal restoration volunteer opportunities. You get to help make an impact while experiencing the unique Louisiana landscape. If not, be sure to just keep it local. The food and hospitality industry in New Orleans is world-class, so be sure to get your food and rest your head somewhere that participates in the local economy.