Our Story

The Birth of Ubuntu

The Ubuntu Climate Initiative emerged from a sacred gathering of Black women visionaries, healers, and artists—all deeply rooted in the fight for climate justice and reparations. At the heart of this movement is Dr. Denise Fairchild, whose vision was made possible through the transformative power of the Climate Breakthrough Award. This prestigious award, which provides $3 million over three years, empowered Denise to dream big and bring forth Ubuntu, a movement grounded in ancestral wisdom and the unbreakable bonds between people, place, and planet.

With this support, Denise convened an intimate retreat—a space of deep connection, healing, and collective imagining. Black women leaders, healing practitioners, and cultural creators came together to reimagine our relationship with the Earth, igniting a spark that would evolve into Ubuntu. Their gathering was not just a meeting but a spiritual reckoning, where the wisdom of our ancestors guided conversations and dreams of a regenerative future took root. Ubuntu was born out of love, resilience, and the knowledge that true climate justice must center wholeness, healing, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Do you like this page?

Our Values

Nyansapo - Wisdom

A symbol of wise leadership, ingenuity and intelligence. It conveys the idea that ‘a wise person has the capacity to choose the best means to attain a goal’ thereby rejecting false solutions to climate change

Sankofa (alt) - Go back and fetch it

Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word and the symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what you forgot that is at risk of being left behind.” It asks us to look back to our ancestral earth-affirming beliefs, values, and practices to learn from it to move forward.

Wawa Aba - Seed of the wawa tree.

A symbol of hardiness, perseverance, and strength. It symbolizes the strength needed for transformative change.

*These are all Adinkra symbols from the Akan tribe in Ghana.

The Official Launch of Ubuntu

Following the powerful advisors' retreat that marked the birth of Ubuntu, the official launch of the Ubuntu Climate Initiative took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Twenty-five visionaries from the fields of energy, education, policy, the arts, and land stewardship gathered—not just to talk about climate resilience, but to live it. This wasn’t merely a meeting; it was a sacred gathering of those deeply committed to healing both the Earth and our communities.

At the heart of the gathering was an ancestral altar, a space to honor those whose legacies guide and inspire this work. With reverence, the participants shared their wisdom, stories, and dreams, weaving them into the fabric of Ubuntu’s future. The room buzzed with a sense of purpose, as ideas flourished and relationships deepened. From this pivotal gathering emerged the Ubuntu Declaration (link), the first Mycelia nodes of the UCI networks, and the Ubuntu framework, all of which lay the groundwork for a regenerative, community-centered future.

The Ubuntu Framework is built on three pillars:

Ubuntu Climate Cultural Arts/Communication – Inspiring a commons culture, this pillar aims to increase the number of credible messengers and community organizations aware of and celebrating Afro-Indigenous values and behaviors.
Ubuntu Climate Education – Focused on enhancing the capacity of communities to build alternative economies rooted in Afro-Indigenous values, this pillar emphasizes education as a key tool for transformation.
Ubuntu Power – Aims to increase the percentage of land converted to climate-oriented commons, emphasizing collective stewardship and regenerative practices.

The Atlanta gathering wasn’t just the beginning of Ubuntu—it was the awakening of a collective spirit, grounded in ancestral wisdom and the understanding that our power lies in unity, love, and the shared vision of a healed world.

Our Advisors

Denise Fairchild, Ph.D

2021 Climate Breakthrough Awardee; Executive Project Lead for Ubuntu Climate Initiative, President Emeritus, Emerald Cities Collaborative

Jacqui Patterson

Founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project Legacy Project

Afia Zakiya, Ph.D

Water Infrastructure, Environment & Climate Justice; WASH & Public Health Expert

Colette Battle

Vision & Initiatives Partner for Taproot Earth, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy

Dayna Cunningham

Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Dean of Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life.

Tara Marchant

Writer, Storyteller, Creative, sound/song alchemist, council holder for healing, grief and meditation. With fifteen years as a Non-profit Director in the Green Economy, Community Resilience and policy forums.

Hunter Jones

Multidisciplinary Creative & Storyteller Eco-Communicator at Emerald Cities Collaborative

Mary Lee

Consultant, Attorney, and Community Advocate

Omar Brownson

LA Community Gardens Director and Full Spectrum, Co-host of the Gratitude Blooming Podcast

Our Team

Denise Fairchild, Ph.D

2021 Climate Breakthrough Awardee; Executive Project Lead for Ubuntu Climate Initiative, President Emeritus, Emerald Cities Collaborative

Elfleda Utiaruk

Project Coordinator for the Ubuntu Climate Initiative Project, Visual Artist & Somatic Wellness Practitioner

Maria Stamas

Power Circle Lead, Climate Justice Attorney and Strategist, Founder and Principal at EnerGaia Consulting LLC

Sterling Cunio

Cultural Arts Circle Lead, Spoken word poet, Arts for Social Justice Fellow and Oregon Literary Arts Fellow

Afia Zakiya, Ph.D

Water Infrastructure, Environment & Climate Justice; WASH & Public Health Expert

Hunter Jones

Multidisciplinary Creative & Storyteller Eco-Communicator at Emerald Cities Collaborative

Our Circles

Cultural Arts Circle

Where Creativity Meets Ancestral Wisdom

The UCI Cultural Arts Circle weaves together the ancient wisdom of our Afro-Indigenous ancestors with the healing power of creative expression. Through storytelling, music, dance, and art, we not only honor our roots but reimagine a future where humanity and the Earth thrive together. From the Ubuntu Arts showcase to powerful collaborations, we spark a resurgence of interdependence, joy, and regeneration—an invitation to all who seek to heal and transform through art.

Power Circle

Reimagining Power for the Collective Good

The UCI Power Circle envisions a future where power is shared, not hoarded—where communities reclaim stewardship of the land, water, air, and energy. Grounded in bioregional living and a commons-based approach, we champion policies and movements that lift up marginalized voices and hold systems accountable. Our vision is bold: a regenerative economy that nurtures people and planet, forging pathways to collective resilience and justice.

Education Circle

Knowledge as a Pathway to Transformation

The UCI Education Circle reclaims ancestral wisdom to empower communities with the tools to reshape our world. Rooted in Afro-Indigenous teachings, we believe education is a pathway to justice, resilience, and personal growth. Through workshops, learning exchanges, and storytelling, we plant the seeds for a future where climate and social justice are intertwined, cultivating leaders who honor the Earth and each other.