Roots & Resilience

Program & Host Organization

Roots & Resilience is a self-organized initiative created and facilitated by Maya Adams. The program offers a dedicated climate café space for BIPOC participants to share and reflect on their experiences of climate and eco-anxiety in a supportive, non-directive environment.

Location & Scope

The initiative operates virtually and is accessible to participants in Canada and internationally. Sessions are hosted online, allowing individuals from different regions to join.

Who It Serves

Roots & Resilience serves BIPOC individuals, including those working in the climate sector and those personally navigating climate-related emotional stress. The program focuses on creating culturally grounded and identity-affirming spaces for collective reflection.

Climate & Mental Health Focus

The initiative addresses climate and eco-anxiety arising from global ecological loss and social inequities. It recognizes that BIPOC communities often face compounded stress due to climate impacts and systemic marginalization, and it seeks to foster emotional resilience and collective understanding.

Activities & Format

Sessions occur approximately every other month and last one hour. Each gathering involves facilitated group dialogue, mindfulness elements, and inspiration drawn from contemplative teachings such as those of Thich Nhat Hanh, while remaining non-religious. The format is open and flexible, allowing participants to attend as they wish. Regular meetings are set to resume in 2026.

Inclusion & Accessibility

The program is designed to be globally accessible through online delivery. However, participation depends on access to technology, stable internet, and English-language proficiency. The facilitator aims to create a culturally safe environment for BIPOC participants from diverse backgrounds.

Outcomes & Evidence

Short-term goals include increasing participation, expanding outreach, and securing resources for facilitation. Medium-term aims involve establishing a regular community of practice. Long-term goals focus on improving mental health and resilience among BIPOC climate practitioners. Evaluation is informal and based on feasibility assessments once resources are secured. Evidence sources were not described.

Guiding Principles

Roots & Resilience reflects principles of emotional processing, social connection, optimism, emotional resilience, and collective responsibility. Sessions emphasize shared experience, deep listening, and community-building without pressure to act.

Resources & Sustainability

The initiative currently operates without funding. Estimated annual costs include facilitator fees and Zoom hosting, totaling approximately 4,950 euros. Additional support and a co-facilitator are needed for sustainability.

Team & Partners

The initiative is primarily facilitated by Maya Adams, who is trained through the Climate Psychology Alliance. No additional team members or partners were identified.

Challenges & Context

Key challenges include lack of funding, limited facilitation capacity, and barriers related to technology access and global inequities.