Visionary Climate Leadership with Molly Kawahata: Harnessing Hope

Climate is not only the crisis of our time but also a pivotal opportunity for transformative change. Two in-person morning sessions explore how to inspire action by combining effective communication strategies with the science of hope and the power of imagination.

Hosted by futurist initiative Visions2030, these sessions are specifically designed for cultural leaders and changemakers in the nonprofit arts and culture sector committed to making a social impact. Tickets are available for the entire workshop or individual sessions.

WORKSHOP 1 (Thursday, September 19th)

A Hopeful Horizon for Climate: Bridging Communications, Cognition, Imagination, and the Science of Hope

This session is led jointly by , former White House climate advisor and the subject of the acclaimed Patagonia film (2022), and Carey Lovelace, founder of Visions2030, which harnesses creative imagination to craft new models of society. It explores how to inspire climate action by using effective communication strategies and the science of hope to craft a vision of the world we want to see.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Utilize insights from the science of hope to ignite motivation for change
• Inspire public support for climate solutions through impactful communication
• Draw from their own creative resources to spark new directions
• Develop practical tools for vision-building
• Contemplate a range of unique positive futures
• Empower individuals and organizations to become agents of hope and progress in the fight against climate change

WORKSHOP 2 (Friday, September 20th)

Hope-Driven Leadership and Organizational Growth

Hope is a powerful and research-backed tool for motivating teams, aligning visions, and creating systemic change. This session will provide leaders with practical tools to foster hope within their organizations, enhancing impact. Join us for a morning workshop where participants will learn evidence-based strategies to leverage the science of hope in asset-based messaging, team alignment, productivity, and engagement. The experience is designed for leaders who are passionate about making a social impact. This session teaches proven methods to catalyze action, enhance organizational effectiveness, and drive social impact.

Attendees will learn strategies to:

• Utilize findings from the science of hope to drive transformative leadership and organizational change
• Build high-performing teams by integrating hope into leadership practices
• Create hope-based organizational cultures that promote collective hope and a shared vision for the future

By uniting communications, cognition, and the science of hope, attendees will learn to build momentum for the systemic change needed to address the greatest issues of our time.

Molly Kawahata is an award-winning speaker, strategist, advocate, ice climber, and former Climate Advisor to the Obama White House. Her unique expertise in climate communications combines rigorous scientific knowledge with astute psychological insights, enabling her to craft messages that resonate deeply and drive action. Whether it's engaging with policymakers, businesses, or the public, Molly focuses on how to transform complex climate issues into compelling narratives that motivate change within broader audiences. She is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy specializing in organizational development, climate strategy, communications, and the science of hope. Her life story, depicted in Patagonia's film, THE SCALE OF HOPE (2022) (can be watched here: https://bit.ly/3pEcm6n), intimately explores her pursuit of climbing steep ice faces in Alaska, her personal journey with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment. The film has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views on YouTube, streaming on Delta Airlines, and being inducted into the permanent collection at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Molly has been asked to speak at institutions such as Google, Nike, Harvard, the U.S. Congress, global IMAX audiences, and the Kennedy Center presidential monument. She is an Advisory Board Member to the Environmental Voter Project. In her free time, Molly is an avid ice climber, with a particular passion for scaling technical ice routes in Montana and the Central Alaska Range. An introduction to Molly can be viewed here through her speaker reel here.

Visions2030, founded in 2019, is a collaborative that seeks to inspire people around the world to envision and forge more equitable, sustainable, and innovative futures by exploring and mobilizing the power of imagination and collaborating across disciplines and cultures. We believe that by cultivating bold and transformative visions for the year 2030 and beyond, we can help shape a more enlightened world.

Special thanks to Union Theological Seminary, generous co-host of this event.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Union Theological Seminary, 3041 Broadway, New York, United States