By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
As Florida grapples with rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and extreme heat, the state’s vulnerability to climate change is impossible to ignore.
Against this backdrop, a conference opening today in Orlando is turning to art to inspire action. At the heart of the Climate Correction Conference is a massive mural by artist Allison Dayca, spanning 1,000 square feet at the Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence. The vibrant piece, featuring the message “Love Your Planet,” is a collaboration with local students.
Dayka said they contributed ideas, including their school mascot, a lion.
“I hope it brings happiness, because it’s bright and colorful and I hope it makes people want to just make a little change,” Dayca explained. “Because if we all collectively make one little small change, it ends up being something really large. I think the health of our environment is, ultimately, the health of ourselves.”
The mural is more than just art, it is a call to action. Dayka’s characters, including Vita, the sponsoring VoLo Foundation’s mascot, and Future, a figure living in a climate-altered world, aim to spark conversations and drive community engagement. Today’s free events include an art exhibition and hands-on workshops. Thursday’s sessions focus on “Leaders in Action.”
The conference will highlight the role of local leaders and communities in driving change in the areas of clean energy, resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions.
Thais Lopez Vogel, cofounder of the VoLo Foundation, organized the event.
“I feel like some people think that the government has to interfere to solve it, and they don’t act,” Vogel observed. “What we’re telling them is, don’t wait for someone else to fix it. We come together as a family, as a community and we take action, so the leaders are us.”
Florida’s climate crisis is a microcosm of global challenges. The state’s low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise, while its agriculture and tourism industries face increasing threats from extreme weather.
Florida News Connection is a bureau of the Public News Service. Volo Foundation contributes to its fund for reporting on climate change/air quality, environment and environmental justice, and is a financial supporter of The Invading Sea. Banner photo: A close-up of the mural (Photo courtesy of VoLo Foundation).
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