From Venezuela Oil to US Climate Justice—Solemi Hernandez

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APEconomics, Civics, Geography

Provided by Citizens' Climate Education

What it is

In this podcast, Florida resident Solemi Hernandez, an environmental justice advocate, shares her personal experiences with climate change and how she got involved in climate solutions in her community.
The podcast includes references to Hurricane Irma.

Positives

The podcast features the relatable and inspiring story of an everyday person that is involved in environmental justice.
The speaker explains why climate change is important to all communities, but especially the most vulnerable communities.

Additional Prerequisites

Before listening to the podcast, teachers may want to discuss Hurricane Irma and the devastating effects it had on the community, as this is an important part of Solemi Hernandez's story.

Differentiation

This podcast can be used as a catalyst for getting students thinking about ways in which they can become involved in environmental justice for their respective communities.
Students can discuss which communities are most vulnerable to climate change in their area and brainstorm ways to support these communities.
Students can identify and research a climate activist in their community and present their findings to the class.

The podcast is recommended for educators to prepare students for environmental and social justice advocacy.

Hosted on soundcloud.com

Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Economics, Civics, Geography
Language: English
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > Florida, South America
Provider: Citizens' Climate Education
Authors: Citizens' Climate Education
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D4.6.9-12 + 7 more

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D4.6.9-12Use disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to understand the characteristics and causes of local, regional, and global problems; instances of such problems in multiple contexts; and challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address these problems over time and place.
D4.7.9-12Assess options for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.2Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

English Language Arts

SL.ES.9-10.3Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any false reasoning or distorted evidence.
SL.ES.11-12.3Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Science

HS-ESS3-1.Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
HS-ESS3-5.Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth’s systems.