How to Rebuild Cities After Disaster – Majora Carter, Urban Revitalization Strategist & Author, Reclaiming Your Community
Release Date: 02/17/2025
Climate Is A Security Emergency – From A Top Climate Scientist & A Geopolitical Expert
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
"The climate crisis has roots in fossil fuels, but at the same time, fossil fuels fund this Russian invasion to Ukraine. So it means this is a fossil fuel war. If we will actually fight against our overall actually dependency on fossil fuels in the same way we will fight against climate change." Svitlana Krakovska on Electric Ladies Podcast The climate emergency is a security threat, and a “threat multiplier,” as former Defense Undersecretary Sherri Goodman has written. Looking at security in the same way as it has been is no longer working. The old view leaves us very vulnerable....
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Food, Fashion & Ag vs. Climate Change – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Food systems have to do with everything from production to processing, distribution, and the utilization. Then of course, end of life for food systems which includes food waste. In the United States, 40% of the food that we produce goes to waste. This means with distribution challenges that not everybody has equitable access to the kinds of foods that they need and want, at the times that they need them." Robin Currey on Electric Ladies Podcast Climate change is disrupting our food and agriculture systems, including the critical supply chains that feed and clothe us. Yet,...
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Business Leaders Bridging The Climate Gap – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Most things when it comes to corporate sustainability do not happen in a vacuum. I am part of an environmental sustainability team, but we would not be able to accomplish anything without our energy teams, our network teams, and more. The ability to take what can be a complex idea and translate that into a compelling business case often comes down to dollars and cents. While it takes time, that's how we've been able to drive change.” Rosie Austin on Electric Ladies Podcast In a poll at The Earth Day Women’s Summit in Dallas, Texas, 100% of respondents said that business is...
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Green Cement Is Changing How We Build – Marci Jenks, Eco Material Technologies
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Our core business is harvesting and collecting the by-product from coal combustion plants historically, called fly ash. We introduce it into supplementary cementitious materials to create a Portland cement replacement. We are pushing for 20% and even 30% [replacement of traditional cement] and hopefully reaching 100% one day with our technologies that are still in development.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast We need infrastructure that’s safe, strong, durable and climate resilient. To build our cities, roads, bridges and more, 30 billion tonnes of concrete is poured around the...
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Leading In Times Of Great Change – Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Change is a constant. This is the world that we live in. And so how do you decide what needs to change and transform? The best leaders have certain traits about them when it comes to leading an organisation through change. Great leaders have an ability to communicate and inspire and they never get tired of doing it. Or if they get tired, they keep doing it anyway because constant communication is essential when you're going through change.” Deborah Lee James on Electric Ladies podcast (previously Green Connections Radio) Many companies are scaling back their climate,...
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The Politics Of Progress On Climate And Energy – U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“While the word ‘climate’ may be politically charged for some, the need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy is something we can all agree on. Americans are calling for action, and as Members of Congress it’s our responsibility to deliver. If we want long-term solutions that address both our constituents' concerns and growing climate risks, we must work together to strengthen our energy and climate security with urgency.” This week, Congress is set to debate legislation that could reshape the United States’ energy landscape. At stake is more than $700...
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Women Rewriting The Climate Conversation – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“How do we get people in the tent to even hear the story? With ‘Living with Ed’ and other projects, we were a family they could identify with. We were yelling, laughing, loving each other while talking about real issues. I represented the average person’s perspective on issues like taking the subway. There’s the funny, and there’s the conflict. If it’s not entertaining, it’s not going to connect.” Rachelle Begley on Electric Ladies Podcast Culture wars around climate change do more harm than good. As climate-driven extreme weather events become more frequent,...
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How Michigan Turns IRA Tax Credits Into Growth – Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer, Michigan
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“We did lots of infrastructure investments over the last handful of years to make sure our communities are in the best possible place they can be. And we complemented federal investment with workforce investment to ensure Michiganders are getting access to those kinds of roles, some of which didn't even exist previously. [This ensures] that Michigan communities could benefit from learning to be solar installers and get access to new economic income streams.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast The Justice Department is suing Michigan over its climate initiatives under the Clean Air...
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Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Blue state pension funds are doubling down on sustainability while red state pension funds are firing you. Companies are challenged because for some constituencies, they have to demonstrate their sustainability credentials, and for others, they have to hide them. So it's a really challenging time. But if you can demonstrate the business case, then maybe you can navigate being more proactive with those constituencies that really want this, and alleviating the risks with those constituencies that don't understand why it matters.” Tensie Whelan on Electric Ladies Podcast Mother Nature...
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Female Farmers Are Transforming Cotton – Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“I've been particularly passionate about working with women in those communities to teach them about new techniques so they can understand how to run their farm more effectively, but also understand their rights as women in those communities so they have a stronger voice…. And because they were called an ‘ambassador,’ their status in the village rose.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast Have you ever wondered where your shirt really comes from, or where the cotton in your jeans was grown? While the tag might tell you where they were made, it won't tell you where the cotton...
info_outline“Thinking about an opportunity to rebuild... So now what are we going to do? And, how do you rebuild in a way that actually does involve equity and equality and sustainability in ways that impact people of all different kinds. And that's, I think, the opportunity that we should be looking toward."
Majora Carter on Electric Ladies Podcast
After devastating wildfires reduced entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles to ashes, the city faces the challenge of rebuilding - not just its infrastructure, but its communities. This is an opportunity to integrate climate resilience, especially for marginalized communities, while reshaping the heart and soul of urban spaces in the process.
Listen to this episode of Electric Ladies Podcast, where Joan Michelson speaks with urban revitalization expert Majora Carter about transforming cities into more equitable, sustainable, and vibrant communities. Majora discusses the challenges of preventing displacement in post-disaster recovery and shares her innovative approach to community development that encourages residents to invest in and remain in their own neighborhoods. These lessons apply not just to Los Angeles, but to communities everywhere.
You’ll hear about:
- How urban design shapes socioeconomic opportunities and why it matters.
- The power of Third Spaces - shared community spaces that foster resilience and connection.
- Why “low-status” neighborhoods struggle to retain talent and how strategic investment can change that.
- How cities can integrate climate resilience measures without worsening inequality.
- The unique role of women in revitalizing communities.
- Plus, career advice on owning your expertise.
“I think there need to be more women stepping up and realizing that they proudly should play the game…I hear a lot of women second guessing themselves before they step out on their own. And that is what we have to recognize. We have so much to offer, and half this battle is just us opening our mouths and letting it out.”
Majora Carter on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.
You’ll also like:
- Lauren Sorkin, Co-founder and Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network, on about how cities can evolve into thriving ecosystems that withstand the shocks and stressors of climate change
- Bethia Burke, President, The Fund For Our Economic Future, on the community impact of green manufacturing
- Rachel McCleery, former Senior Advisor, Treasury Dept. Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how to leverage the IRA to save money reducing a building or business’s energy use and carbon footprint.
- Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson Controls, on the power of building.
- Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative, on how working with communities and organizations is key to making a difference.
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