Apr 10, 2025

 If humans are to come home to this planet, we need to become a welcome species, a gift-giver to the places we inhabit. Janine Benyus, the world-renowned “Godmother

Apr 10, 2025

 If humans are to come home to this planet, we need to become a welcome species, a gift-giver to the places we inhabit. Janine Benyus, the world-renowned “Godmother of Biomimicry,” and her colleagues at Biomimicry 3.8 have been demonstrating what it takes to design human settlements—cities, village, homes, and businesses—that create the same ecological gifts as the wildland next door. 

In this presentation, she helps us imagine a city that functions like a forest—storing the same amount of water, cleaning and cooling the same amount of air, cycling as many nutrients, and nurturing as much biodiversity. She also shares inspiring news about some of Biomimicry 3.8’s “Project Positive” initiatives that reveal that this regenerative vision is indeed achievable and within our reach, if we are able to quiet our human cleverness sufficiently to be able to ask: What would Nature do here?

Learn more about Janine Benyus' work here. 

As global leaders gathered for the UN Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday, September 20, WECAN hosted an event, right across the street from the UN, bringing together women leaders to call on

As global leaders gathered for the UN Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday, September 20, WECAN hosted an event, right across the street from the UN, bringing together women leaders to call on governments to reckon with their role in fueling climate chaos, and harm against communities and the planet by continuing the extraction of fossil fuels. Governments must invest in and deploy a Just Transition that is grounded in a climate justice framework and uplifts care economies, community-led solutions, Indigenous rights, and a different vision than business as usual. During the event, we hosted two panels detailed below.

In the first panel, “Women Ending the Era of Fossil Fuels," speakers shared expertise and frameworks for transitioning away from extraction and ongoing policy advocacy and campaigns that seek to phase out fossil fuels and other harmful extractive practices.

Speakers included: Sharon Lavigne, Founder and President of RISE St. James, Turtle Island/USA; Farhana Yamin, Coordinator, Climate Justice & Just Transition Donor Collaborative, United Kingdom; Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Canada; Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Canada; moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, WECAN.

In the second panel, "Women-led Climate Solutions Are Central to a Just Transition and Thriving Future," leaders shared how to implement and support solutions that are advancing a Just Transition, and recent successes and victories for community-led climate just solutions!

Speakers included: Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member, Turtle Island, USA; Helena Gualinga (Kichwa from Sarayaku), Indigenous Youth Climate Leader, Ecuador; Ozawa Bineshi Albert (Yuchi and Anishinaabe), Climate Justice Alliance Co-Executive Director, Turtle Island/USA; Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE, Turtle Island/USA; Zukiswa White, Coordinator, Women and Gender Constituency, South Africa; moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, WECAN.

Soul Sanctuary is the story of Beit T'Shuvah a Jewish faith-based long term addiction treatment center.  From the safety of this place residence find dignity, honor, and respect through

Soul Sanctuary is the story of Beit T'Shuvah a Jewish faith-based long term addiction treatment center.  From the safety of this place residence find dignity, honor, and respect through t'shuvah a Jewish practice of accountability and right action.  Addiction is a mental, physical, and spiritual malady. This documentary is infused with joy and hope as it invites participants to realize that they could have a life without alcohol or drugs and that they would be ok without it.  Otherwise why would anyone want to be sober if life was going to be dreary.  This trailer features Harriet Rossetto, founder of this valuable and successful program.

This film is infused with joy as we watch people reconnect with their lives through therapy, spiritual counseling, dance, choir, and internships.

Welcome to Recovery Cafe is a refuge of hope and healing where transformation and healing is always on the menu.  It's a place where people who have been ignored and not valued are given loving attention and valued. Good nutrition, connection, and community are the antidotes to isolation, loneliness, and recidivism.  Recovery Cafe is not a drop in center or a crisis clinic.  It is a membership organization where people are valued and come back to life!  After viewing the trailer visit their website.