
Climate Justice: Local Stories, Community Solutions
How is climate change impacting Arkansans? How can we respond effectively and with compassion to this local and global threat?
A big thank you to our amazing speakers Sharon Chapman, Paulette Meikle, Svetla Dimitrov, and Fernando Lopez for tackling these questions in their informative, insightful, and galvanizing presentations!
About Panelists & Reference Material:

Sharon Chapman is the Executive Director for Next Step Homeless Services, where she had served as board president. She has a masters in counseling.
While living in Fort Smith for the last 25+ years, Sharon has served on several non-profit boards and has volunteered in the community ranging from work with children to work with the homeless. In her previous work life, she worked as a case manager in area agencies on aging and a case manager supervisor.

Paulette Meikle is an Associate Dean, Professor of Sociology and, and Interim Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. She has a Ph.D. in sociology, a masters of philosophy in geography and bachelors in geography.
She is also a board member of the Arkansas Citizens' Climate League. References:

Svetla Dimitrova is the Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. She has a PhD in Sociology. Her research interests include Human Migration, Gender Studies, Volunteerism, Social Change and Development.
References:
IDMC 2018. “No Matter of Choice: Displacement in a Changing Climate"
IDMC 2020. “Global Report on Internal Displacement”
UNHCR. 2020. “Climate Change and Disaster Displacement”
UN Climate Summit Poem "Dear Matafele Peinem"

Fernando Lopez is a member Citizens' Climate Lobby. He is a senior biochemistry student at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. I will be graduating in the fall 2021. After graduating I plan on pursuing my PhD in chemistry. I wish to pursue research in nano-chemistry, catalysis, reusable biofuels, sustainable energy, and green chemistry.
References: