Harita Kalvai, a middle-schooler, was not harmed by the 2017 Northern California firestorm’s Atlas Fire. It was one the largest fires of the Northern California firestorm. She and her family in San Rafael were unaffected, but she knew people who were. She was amazed at how it affected people with different living circumstances.
It was a wakeup call that climate change isn’t an issue to be pushed off for later, but instead needs to be dealt with now. This led the junior at the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MarinSEL) and Terra Linda High School into environmental and social justice activism, working with such organizations as Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Beyond Differences and SLAM! (Student Leaders Antiracist Movement).
Last year, the 16-year-old was named Marin Poetry Center’s teen inaugural poet her term is up in a few weeks and during her time, shared her poetry and helped plan poetry events.
Piper Egan
Terra Linda High School junior Piper Egan’s work will be featured in an art exhibit at Earth 2050.
Youth Action Through Art was established by Sheri in April 2021. It focuses on youth using art to drive social change. It will showcase an art exhibit that explores what youth think the world will look like in the future as part of Mill Valley’s Earth 2050 celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. April 24 at the Mill Valley Community Center at 180 Camino Alto. Register now to receive the free event Eventbrite.
QWhy did you choose to be part of MarinSEL?
AI wanted to learn more about the environment. I am passionate about social justice, and realized that they are interconnected. Climate change has different impacts on different communities, so I wanted information about these connections.
QAre you optimistic for the future, with Earth Day fast approaching?
AI honestly am. I believe that a lot people my age want to make a difference and educate themselves about climate change. I have worked with conservative youth from all walks of the spectrum and they agree that climate change exists and that it is something that must be discussed. It’s slowly becoming a non-partisan issue, which is a good thing. It’s affecting communities right away and, as the climate crisis gets worse and more people are affected by it, marginalized communities will also be more affected. It is crucial that we take action now to stop further damage. Every teenager in Marin County should have the opportunity to get involved, if they wish. There are many organizations. Find something that interests and then look for something that is connected to the environment justice that surrounds it.
QWhat inspired you to use art to promote social change?
AI write and do music. Both of these things are great, especially when it is poetry. It gives you the chance to share your art with others and to express yourself. I learned to play the piano when I was young and realized how music can impact people. Now, I have the chance to see how it can impact me. I remember seeing people play and being so moved by their work. I feel the same way about writing, like a good piece of poetry or a good speech, so that made me realize that art is underrated in the sense that people didn’t talk about how much change it can make. When you think of the word innovator, I dont think the word “artist” comes to mind. I want to use art as a way to show people that change can be made and that environmental change can be achieved. Youth Action Through Art was an avenue for me to express my feelings about activism in ways that I knew how.
QWhat topics do you write about in poetry?
AI write mostly about activism and climate change. I have written a lot about racism and how it has affected me personally last year, as well as other things related to social justice.
QWhat drives you to continue your activism?
ATalking to people from many different places and groups, meeting people with different experiences than mine, talking to people with unusual experiences, and learning how certain issues affect people. It’s what keeps me going.