Reconnecting + Deconstructing the Wildfires in Maui

a letter from me to you + resources to learn more about the wildfires in Maui, the inequitable power structures that have shaped the region's ecosystem, & where to donate.

TL;DR It has been a while. A long, long while. I didn’t realize how much I had to share until I started to schedule this email. SO, to help you navigate my very long letter, I am sharing a quick overview of what to expect: (1) hello — a monologue about what I have been up to, what I do, and what to expect, (2) deconstructing the wildfires in Maui — reflections, resources, and organizations to contribute to.

An ode to the past year.

It’s been a year. A chaotic “where did the last 12 months of my life go?” kind of year. And yet, here I am. Back here with all of you on the other end, exhausted with countless strands of glimmering new white hair.

I miss my community, all of you wonderful people who energize me. And so, I am excited to bring this part of my work back into the mix. Weirdly, I feel like I am starting from scratch. I suppose when a year has gone by without a peep, you can give yourself some grace.

Before writing this sentence, I spent at least 45 minutes trying to have ChatGPT tell me what my newsletter should be about. And it all sounded boring. I am a complex human after all! My brain is scattered, I have opinions about a lot of things, and I love reading and going down the rabbit holes of research. So, I suppose this newsletter is a look into my brain. A look into the scattered thoughts of a full-time entrepreneur working with impact-driven businesses and a part-time master’s student studying the intersection of law, business and development (among other identities…writer, podcaster, dog mom [scroll to the end for a photo of Bobo!], etc.). Clearly, I can’t handle being put into a box. 

So, let me start by reintroducing myself, what you can expect (sort of) and why I hope you will continue to subscribe. 

Weaving Together ESG with DEIA.

Whenever I do a speaking engagement, I secretly hope that I won't be asked to introduce myself or talk about myself (I would rather talk about concepts, my thoughts!). I never know what to say or how to completely describe the multiple parts of my professional life. I’m (lovingly!) jealous of my partner — he can explain what he does in one breath. When people, especially people I don’t know very well, ask me what I do - my answer inevitably changes every time…I work as a social impact and equity advisor, I work with impact-driven businesses, I run a business, I am a speaker, I am an educator. My immigrant roots that strive for stability makes me wonder: What is it that I do? So, here we are. Makes sense for me to explain what I do and articulate “my qualifications” so you know you aren’t just reading the rambles of a random person who claims to know a thing or two.

So, here it is, the story of “what I do.”

In short, I work as a Chief of Impact, an advisor, and a consultant for impact-driven businesses. I help businesses drive “transformative change” (overused? maaaybe) by strategically integrating social and climate considerations into how they operate (for my fellow acronym enthusiasts: ESG [environmental, social and corporate governance] meets DEIA [diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility]). Leveraging my expertise, I guide the development and implementation of initiatives that address pressing societal challenges while also enhancing an organization's reputation and long-term viability. I collaborate with teams, founders, and business leaders to create strategies that are both values-aligned and consistently achievable - combining team goals with sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical practices. 

Too much of how companies and organizations have historically approached impact is through a colonialist lens inevitably tinted with white supremacy. My goal is to decolonize these approaches by weaving together education and strategy. We can’t undo unequal power structures without first creating space to unlearn and relearn. I am an experienced digital marketer and corporate PR professional, which allows me to build strategies that help create and share a greater social impact. In a sense, my work is like behavioral economics for impact. 

I love what I do because it allows me to weave together purpose and conscious decision-making into a business's DNA, nurturing a culture of intention-driven innovation and contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.

So…what is the point of this newsletter?

What is the point of anything really? I love writing.

In addition to running Art of Citizenry, I am currently pursuing a Master of Jurisprudence (legal studies) degree in Sustainable International Development. That means I am writing and researching all the time about important systemic issues - from the history of policing in the United States to the impact of industrialized agriculture on women farmers. I am currently working on my master’s thesis which takes a critical look at corporate accountability within the context of globalization.

So what does any of this have to do with this newsletter? Well, this newsletter will be a place where I continue to share my work, except unfiltered. It will be a bit of everything: conversations with brilliant friends and humans doing amazing things to change the world, books I am currently reading and need to talk to someone about, articles I think you should bookmark, and all else that goes on in my brain. My hope is that, through the rambles, you will leave each newsletter with either a laugh, a nugget of learning, or if nothing else, something that helped you spend a few moments away from your task list (or Instagram, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn…all of the above?). I hope you continue to stick around.

Photo Captured by Ali Campbell

Deconstructing the Wildfires in Maui

The wildfires unfolding in Maui emphasize the interconnectedness of the climate crisis, exploitative land practices, and the systemic forces of empire and capitalism - extractive practices designed to exploit people and the land for private wealth.

With over 100 people dead, many more missing, and over 11,000 people estimated to be displaced, the wildfires are one of the most destructive in history. Hospitals are overflowing with patients, further exacerbated by the scarcity of essential supplies reaching those in desperate need. The dire consequences have left countless individuals, including Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) and those from other marginalized communities in the Lāhainā area, in a state of upheaval. And yet, developers and realtors are already capitalizing on the tragedy that has left so many displaced.

What is Disaster Capitalism? Disaster capitalism refers to the opportunistic and profit-driven economic approach that takes advantage of natural or human-caused crisis, such as natural disasters or political upheavals, to implement policies and practices that benefit wealthy elites and corporations while disregarding the well-being of marginalized and often vulnerable populations. Privatization and deregulation is often pushed forward under the guise of necessity, further concentrating wealth and power. Disaster capitalism at its core is the notion of exploiting emergencies and crises, further exacerbating inequality.

What is Plantation Disaster Capitalism? “It’s a name that speaks to contemporary forms of neocolonialism and climate profiteering, like the real estate agents who have been cold-calling Lahaina residents who have lost everything to the fire and prodding them to sell their ancestral lands rather than wait for compensation. But it also places these moves inside the long and ongoing history of settler colonial resource theft and trickery, making clear that while disaster capitalism might have some modern disguises, it’s a very old tactic. A tactic that Native Hawaiians have a great deal of experience resisting.” Why was there no water to fight the fire in Maui? - Naomi Klein and Kapuaʻala Sproat, The Guardian.

The conditions for the Maui wildfire were compounded by poor land and water management practices — major water diversions, initially for plantation agriculture and later for tourism and personal estates, have altered the island’s ecosystem dramatically. This has led to a highly combustible landscape, further put at risk by the presence of invasive fire-prone vegetation introduced in the 18th century.*

To learn more about the wildfires unfolding in Maui, the layers of power influencing the tragedy, and mutual aid organizations you should consider donating to, explore these resources:

• [Read] *Empire and Capital Set Maui Ablaze - Andrea Brower, Common Dreams

• [Read] Why was there no water to fight the fire in Maui? - Naomi Klein and Kapuaʻala Sproat, The Guardian

• [Listen] Plantation Disaster Capitalism: Native Hawaiians Organize to Stop Land & Water Grabs After Maui Fire - powerful conversation with Hawaiian law professor Kapuaʻala Sproat, DemocracyNow

• [Donate] Maui Aloha: The Peopleʻs Response

• [Donate] Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund

• [Mutual Aid Resources] Support Maui - Help & Resources

Read Along with Me

My hope with this newsletter is to create space for critical conversations that help us be a more informed global citizenry of leaders and impact-minded individuals trying to do good in an unequal world.

Join me in reading “How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States” by historian, Daniel Immerwahr.

This book delves into the often overlooked history of the United States' territorial acquisitions and its global influence. Immerwahr challenges conventional narratives by highlighting the extensive reach of the American empire beyond its mainland borders. He examines how the United States came to possess and administer various territories, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and others.

The book exposes how these territories have been marginalized in historical accounts, revealing the complex dynamics of power, colonialism, and exploitation. Immerwahr also explores the cultural and economic impact of the United States' overseas territories, shedding light on how these regions have contributed to America's growth and influence on the world stage.

If you’d like, you can post your response in the comments section, or feel free to email me your thoughts directly. Oh, and if you found this newsletter insightful, please share it forward! Thanks for reading.

Interested in working together? I believe true impact does not scale like a business, and requires an intersectional systems approach. I work with organizations, brands, and social enterprises around the world navigate equity and inclusion across their initiatives. Together we co-create and design effective solutions to both approach and communicate impact with an emphasis on cultural humility.

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As promised, a photo of Bobo’s most recent water adventure 🐶