Earth Month: Academia to Activism – An Evening with Leah Thomas
The USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and USC Office of Inclusion and Diversity, in collaboration with USC’s Environmental Student Assembly (ESA) and USC’s Undergraduate Student Government, are honored to host activist and author Leah Thomas to share her insights with the USC Community during Earth Month. This event will center on Thomas’s journey from academia to activism.
Agenda
5:30 PM – Opening Reception & Book Distribution
6:00 PM – 6:05 PM – Welcome by Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies Director Dr. Joe Árvai
6:05 PM – 6:10 PM – Leah Thomas Introduction by USC Student Leaders
6:10 PM – 6:30 PM – Remarks by Leah Thomas
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Facilitated Student Q&A Session by Dr. Shannon Gibson
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM – Closing Reception & Book Signing
Leah Thomas, Founder of Intersectional Environmentalist & Author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet
Leah Thomas is a celebrated environmentalist based in Los Angeles, CA. Coining the term ‘eco-communicator’ to describe her style of environmental activism, Leah uses her passion for writing and creativity to explore and advocate for the critical yet often overlooked relationship between social justice and environmentalism. With this intersection in mind, Leah founded and launched the non-profit Intersectional Environmentalist, a platform and resource hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice, provide educational resources surrounding intersectional environmentalism, and promote inclusivity and accessibility within environmental education and movements.
Building on her work in the field, Leah penned The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet. Published in March 2022, the book serves as an introduction to the intersection between environmentalism, racism, and privilege, and as an acknowledgment of the fundamental truth that we cannot save the planet without protecting all of its people.
Leah is also the founder of the eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah, where she uses her multiple years of eco-focused educational and work experience to inform her ever-expanding list of projects, and connect with her audience of more than 400k followers across channels. Leah has been named to several notable lists—including TIME100 NEXT, INSIDER’s Climate Action 30, Marie Claire’s Creators to Watch, EBONY Power 100, and InStyle’s The Badass 50—and is an established public speaker who has presented at Google, 1% for the Planet’s Global Summit, Dreamforce, and more. Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, The Washington Post, and Highsnobiety. She has also been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, and CNN as well as Good Morning America, ABC News, NBC, The Weather Channel, and numerous podcasts.
Leah is a graduate of Chapman University with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy and a cluster in Comparative World Religions. She has interned with the National Park Service and has worked at leading green companies, including eco-friendly soap company Ecos and outdoor retailer Patagonia.