Leslie King: “EHC is an opportunity to learn, share, and expand influence across borders”

What is your current role and focus areas?

Leslie King: I am an organizational and community change consultant and coach, running my own consulting firm. My work primarily revolves around education, climate and environmental issues. I focus on participatory design, community-based systems change, and equity-centered approaches to influence structural and institutional change.

Can you provide some examples of the projects you’re involved in?

L. K.: One project I am working on is creating energy hubs for communities in Virginia that experience electricity blackouts. These hubs serve as substitutes for energy during outages, ensuring essential services aren’t disrupted. My work spans interdisciplinary research, bridging environmental justice, public health, and organizational transformation. I also work with communities facing issues like heat islands and flooding, helping them build capacity to advocate for policy changes while raising awareness about these challenges.

How do you make academic research accessible to communities?

L. K.: Bridging the gap between academic research and everyday communities is a key part of my work. Research findings are usually locked away in journals, inaccessible to the people who could benefit from them. I focus on making this information culturally understandable and usable, helping communities engage with it to foster resilience against climate impacts and promote climate justice.

How did you become interested in the Earth-Humanity Coalition and its goals?

L. K.: I was drawn to EHC because I wanted to connect with others globally who are engaged in similar work. The coalition’s goals align with my focus on climate, environmental, and health issues. It is an opportunity to learn, share, and expand influence across borders. I believe the challenges we face in the U.S. are connected to those in other parts of the world, and collaboration is key to sustainable development.

What do you hope to gain from your participation in EHC activities?

L. K.: Beyond sharing knowledge, I aim to bring a unique perspective to the coalition, especially in bridging cultural gaps and fostering social practice alongside scientific approaches. I hope to contribute to creating accountability structures within EHC, ensuring that its stated values become actionable practices. I am particularly excited about the potential to develop transdisciplinary hubs, which could serve as platforms for collaboration and innovation.

How do you envision these transdisciplinary hubs functioning?

L. K.: These hubs would be spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from different fields to address complex issues. They would focus on designing strategies and solutions that embody the coalition’s values, fostering a culture of accountability and practice. I’m eager to facilitate the creation of such hubs in the U.S. and beyond, to drive meaningful change.

Interview by Luc Allemand