In the face of the climate crisis, immigrant women in New York City are not only survivors. They are storytellers, advocates, and leaders.
Climate Chronicles: Immigrant Women’s Voices in NYC is a storytelling project that centers the lived experiences of immigrant women navigating the interconnected challenges of climate change, migration, and everyday resilience. Through personal stories of environmental change, identity, community, and hope, the project amplifies voices and perspectives that are too often missing from conversations about climate justice.
Launched in 2025 by New Women New Yorkers (NWNY), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing immigrant women’s economic mobility, leadership, and community connections, Climate Chronicles creates a welcoming and inclusive space for women to reflect on their experiences, develop their storytelling skills, and share their voices with a wider audience.
In Season 2, Climate Chronicles brings together a new collection of powerful and deeply personal stories, amplifying the voices of immigrant women as they reflect on climate change, identity, community, and resilience.
Through storytelling workshops, writing exercises, story circles, and mentoring, participants explore the ways climate change intersects with their personal journeys, cultural identities, and communities. Each woman develops her own audio story, transforming individual experiences into narratives that inspire reflection, connection, and action.
Together, these stories offer diverse perspectives on environmental challenges and resilience, revealing how climate change shapes immigrant lives in New York City and beyond. They remind us that climate justice is not only about policies and solutions, but also about the people, memories, and communities at the heart of our changing world.
Listen to the Season 2 podcast episodes below and discover the voices behind Climate Chronicles.
Missed our first season? Explore the Climate Chronicles 2025 podcast series.
Climate Chronicles is made possible with the generous support of Con Edison. Their investment helps ensure that immigrant women’s voices are heard, celebrated, and recognized as an essential part of the conversation about climate justice and our collective future.
Episode One – I Love Tomatoes
Can a single tomato plant teach us how to protect our future?
In this episode of Climate Chronicles, Kele, originally from Lesotho, takes us from her childhood garden in Southern Africa to Success Garden in East New York, Brooklyn. Through her experiences caring for the land across two continents, she reflects on the impact of climate change on our food systems, the importance of community gardens, and how growing food can become an act of resilience and hope.
Listen to Kele’s story and discover how even the smallest garden can inspire change.
Read the edited transcript of the episode here.
Episode Two – Small Efforts, Big Changes
Have you ever looked at the waste on a New York City sidewalk and wondered where it all goes?
In this episode of Climate Chronicles, Ekaterina, originally from Russia, takes us from the forest trails she helped clean back home to the streets of New York City, where she confronts the challenges of plastic waste and single-use consumption. Through her personal journey, she reflects on the environmental impact of our everyday choices and the power of individual action to create meaningful change.
Listen to Ekaterina’s story and discover why no effort is too small when it comes to protecting our planet.
Read the edited transcript of this episode here.
Episode Three – Tea: The Lifeblood
What is the true cost of a simple cup of tea?
In this episode of Climate Chronicles, Dharshani, originally from Sri Lanka, takes us from a cozy New York City café to the misty tea plantations of her homeland, where women work tirelessly to harvest the leaves behind one of the world’s most beloved beverages. Through her reflections, she explores the human stories behind our everyday comforts, the challenges faced by tea workers in a changing climate, and the connections between our consumption habits and communities across the globe.
Listen to Dharshani’s story and discover how a simple cup of tea can reveal the interconnectedness of climate change, labor, and our daily lives.
Read the edited transcript of this episode here.
Episode Four – Snowless in New York
Can a snowstorm remind us of the beauty of winter and what we stand to lose as our planet warms?
In this episode of Climate Chronicles, Marlen, originally from Mexico, takes us on a memorable journey through a New York City blizzard. Having grown up in a place without snow, what could have been a difficult three-hour trek becomes an experience filled with wonder and discovery. Through her reflections, she explores the beauty of winter, the impact of climate change on our seasons, and why preserving the cold matters for both our planet and our sense of connection to nature.
Listen to Marlen’s story and discover how an unexpected encounter with snow can inspire a deeper appreciation for our changing world.
Read the edited transcript of this episode here.