from Root to sky

A Collective Healing Space for BIPOC Youth

About the program

From Root to Sky (FRTS) is a climate-centered program that was created to foster a sense of kinship and community among racialized and marginalized communities by promoting wellness and healing through art, storytelling, and other spiritual and land-based practices. The goal of this program is to create a safe space for young Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) youth be free to express themselves while also building capacity for collective anti-racist climate action, through dialogue, networking, and learning opportunities.

YCL created this program because we recognize how climate change is a symptom of historical and intersecting systemic forces at play, such as colonialism, racial capitalism, and patriarchy—the same issues that cause and perpetuate violence against the BIPOC community.

Rooted in Rest Retreat

A Gathering for BIPOC Climate Organizers

Asitu'lisk
Wentzells Lake, NS

In 2024, YCL hosted the first Rooted in Rest retreat. Rooted in Rest centered the experiences and wellbeing of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) climate organizers, providing participants with a closed space to connect, mobilize, and build solidarity with each other. By taking some time to connect with each other and with the land and waters, participants were able to refill their cups and slow down, breathe, and rest.

Learn more

our Pilot Year

Click the headings below to preview our seasonal programming.

SESSION 1: Exploring Climate Joy
SESSION 2: Spirituality, Land Connection and Anti-Oppression
SESSION 3: Engaging with Eco-Grief and Climate Anxiety
SESSION 4: Arts-Based Approaches to Climate Justice
SESSION 5: Writing as an Act of Care
SESSION 1: Cultural Story Telling
SESSION 2: Art Therapy and Climate Justice
SESSION 3: Collective Healing and Justice
SESSION 4: Climate Justice and Anti-Racist Action Panel
SESSION 5: Indigenous and Black Solidarity in Climate Spaces
SESSION 1: Environmental Inequity Workshop (In-Person)
SESSION 2: Climate Emotions Meditation and Climate Circle
SESSION 1: Perspectives on Land and Art
SESSION 2: Anti-Oppression, Climate Justice, and Food Systems
SESSION 3: Climate Emotions Short Film Screening
SESSION 4: Environmental Racism and Demystifying Bill C-226
SESSION 5: End of Year Wellness Practice

by the numbers

In our pilot year, we…

Hosted 17 sessions, broken down into 4 seasons
Engaged over 125 unique youth
Collaborated with and paid 17 BIPOC thought-leaders, artists, activists and wellness practitioners

Of all participants who gave feedback…

75% experienced increased access to rest
49% learned new coping strategies or techniques
62% increased their understanding of climate justice and anti-racist climate work
43% felt an increased sense of compassion and community with other youth