ROSEN: What first inspired you to start focusing on sustainability and developing work around it?
LAUREN: My introduction to sustainability + environmentalism was in high school Geography classes in grand Bahama. We delved into social issues as well as climate change and environmental degradation. I immediately knew solving these problems was what I wanted to dedicate my life to.
I joined Keep Grand Bahama Clean in my junior year + participated in beach clean-ups, environmental protests + educational programs to spread awareness about environmental protection on my island. I moved to NYC in 2018 to attend Columbia University + further my passion for creating a better planet. Last summer, I created The Eco Justice Project, an educational platform to spread awareness about social justice + intersectional climate action.
R: Tell us about The Eco Justice Project!
L: I started The Eco Justice Project as an Instagram + website platform to educate young Bahamians + my peers about sustainability in a more accessible, inclusive and relatable way. It was a place for me to share zero-waste tips, to spread awareness about fast fashion, and to encourage conscious consumerism in a more exciting format for younger audiences. The Eco Justice Project has since expanded into an online community, mainly on Instagram, poromoting intersectional climate activism by highlighting the experiences of marginalized groups in the climate conversation, as well as educating on the racist, xenophobic, classist + ableist systems that oppress certain communities.