OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF HIGHLY DIVERSE, CREATIVE, TALENTED, AND ENERGETIC INDIVIDUALS, LIKE EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LAURIE GOLDMAN.
Laurie is a veteran public policy professional who has held positions in government, industry, and academia. She most recently served as Deputy Director of UC Berkeley’s Global Engagement Office overseeing the development of partnerships with international universities and advising the campus on best practices for global engagement in a higher education context. As head of Global Trade Policy for Levi Strauss & Co., she advised on global trade and development issues. Laurie has always been passionate about working with institutions committed to a greater good and has sought out opportunities to engage on global concerns. She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Tufts University.
What is your role on The ClimateMusic Project?
Well, we are a small organization so we each do a little bit of everything to keep the lights on. However, as Director of Public Engagement my primary role is to contribute to activities that broaden our reach with audiences and connect people to our work. That can involve liaising with media, engaging on social media platforms, developing ideas for stories that will resonate, or working with our solutions partners to connect them to our audiences so folks can find a pathway to action that matches their interests.
You have a distinguished career in public policy, including senior positions at Levi’s, Gap, and UC Berkeley. Why are you involved in CMP?
I have always been involved with advocacy and communications related to public policy issues. Climate Change is the ultimate public policy issue and not much else matters if we don’t make progress to change our current trajectory. I find myself called to use my skills to find a way to motivate people to act at sufficient scale to make a difference. I like finding ways to translate issues for people so that they understand why it matters and what they can do about it. That’s what The ClimateMusic Project is all about.
What do you think that this collaboration between scientists and artists can achieve?
People are motivated to take action when they understand an issue and feel inspired to act. Music has historically been a strong motivator and leaves an indelible impression — how many of us remember the first concert we attended? Science can be harder to digest and understand, so combining the accepted science with compelling music and visuals has an emotional power that provides a unique way to reach people and helps them to understand the issue as well as what they can do to help.
What’s your favorite kind of music, and with whom would you like to see The ClimateMusic Project collaborate?
I like a lot of different styles of music including blues, classic rock, classical guitar, folk, jazz, reggae, hip hop, and so on. I have an interest too in the social history of music and how it has been used effectively to drive change. I would love to see some of the legends from past social movements get involved with ClimateMusic. It would be great to also leverage more recent artists — wouldn’t it be amazing to utilize an activist like Bono’s platform to deliver a powerful message to save the planet? But, it would also be fun to work with an even younger set of well known musicians who are environmental activists — some of them might not yet be aware of the power that their platforms can deliver. And we need to remember that climate change is a global problem so working with musicians across the planet could have a significant and inspiring impact.
What advice would you give someone who is looking to get involved in the fight against climate change?
Sometimes people feel overwhelmed about what they can do. My advice would be: if you are not doing anything, just start; if you are doing a bit, do more; and if you are doing all that you can, get others on board too. Of course, if you are just starting, there are lots of places to learn about the issue including some great websites like skepticalscience.com, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Project Drawdown, etc. Or check out our partners at The ClimateMusic Project or your own favorite environmental organizations — there are so many reputable groups out there. We are also continuing to build our website at The ClimateMusic Project and will have additional information to help people engage. Check it out.