Brendon Samuels: Powering Grassroots Movements Through Creativity and Empathy
source: Western Gazette
Show notes
In today’s conversation I sit down on campus with Brendon Samuels, a passionate grassroots conservationist, PhD student, and empathetic thinker. Brendon has been making grassroots changes in the city of London, Ontario by garnering support from a variety a groups, transcending boundaries through an empathetic and creative approach.
Our conversation covers how his backyard project has expanded to a global scale, how to approach people and spark change, how change is made not only through grassroots approaches, but from a top-down approach and the overall importance of positive community engagement and small-scale actions in driving larger environmental conservation efforts.
Brendon’s approach to promoting change in the local community is a refreshing perspective in today’s media climate. His ability to promote cooperation through critically thinking and empathizing among groups holding different perspectives is tactful and genuine.
I was very happy to sit down with Brendan and discuss all that he had to say. I'm still thinking about it. I hope that you are able to take something away from this conversation as well. I think there's a lot of meaning within it.
A bird hit my Window, What should I do?
01:23 The Backyard Project: A Global Conservation Initiative
03:28 Innovative Solutions for Local Wildlife Conservation
08:43 Expanding the Impact: From Personal Project to Global Movement
10:41 Navigating the Complexities of Environmental Conservation
17:40 Empathy and Engagement: Keys to Effective Conservation
22:40 Challenging Tribalism and Promoting Unity in Conservation Efforts
27:59 Rethinking Our Relationship with Nature
28:21 Exploring Alternative Terms for 'Natural Resources'
28:40 The Economic Implications of Natural Wealth
29:37 Political and Social Dimensions of Biodiversity
31:26 Urban Biodiversity: Challenges and Strategies
36:02 The Importance of Green Spaces in Urban Areas
39:21 Engaging Communities in Environmental Conservation
45:34 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations
51:03 Concluding Thoughts and Resources