Every September, during Climate Week NYC, Barnard reinforces its dedication to solving climate change challenges by hosting events on campus. Beyond being a leader in creating a circular campus — a strategy to reuse and extend the life of materials to promote sustainability — and urban building electrification, the College also brings change-makers and civil society representatives from all over the world to devise, drive, and champion ways to meet the challenges of climate change.
On September 24, Barnard will lead a panel discussion with Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) — a Nairobi-based, women-led nonprofit formed in 2021. The organization describes its mission as “a sustainable development hub” dedicated to equipping and empowering youth to seize emerging opportunities to activate 30 million green jobs in the African economy by 2033.
Sandra Goldmark — professor of professional practice in theatre, director of campus sustainability and climate action, and senior assistant dean for interdisciplinary engagement at the Columbia Climate School — collaborated virtually with JLA last year on their Climate Ambassadors program, which empowers leaders from across the continent to champion the green transition in their area of expertise, ranging from health to finance to agriculture to the arts. The experience inspired Goldmark to invite JLA to come to campus, given Barnard’s and JLA’s mission alignment toward solving the climate crisis.
Specifically, Goldmark pointed to the Athena Center for Leadership, where students explore the idea of leading change by disrupting limiting narratives and participating in transformational learning experiences. These experiences are designed to unleash individual and collective creativity, foster deep community and exciting collaborations, and encourage risk-taking and forward movement in the face of uncertainty. Goldmark will participate in the panel, as will investor and entrepreneur Eva Yazhari ’06, who serves on the Athena Center’s Leadership Council.
“In the same way that the Athena Center strives to create solutions through empowering approaches, Jacob’s Ladder is about a commitment to solving a problem with an inclusive and holistic approach,” said Goldmark. “That is where I see a match between Jacob’s Ladder and Barnard’s history of leadership in general and Barnard’s leadership on climate in particular.”
The Climate and Leadership: Green Jobs for Africa program will feature case studies from several JLA climate ambassadors on how they approach climate leadership in their industries.
"Jacob’s Ladder and our whole approach at Barnard has been based on the notion that every individual, every discipline, every sector, has a role to play,” said Goldmark. “It’s a question of finding the right action, the right leverage point, depending on your particular expertise and spheres of influence. I can’t wait to hear how the JLA ambassadors are taking action in their fields and share a bit about what we are doing here at Barnard.”
