Young Change Makers Promoting Climate Action: Why and How Adam Roberti Of Xavier Cortada Foundation Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Monica Sanders
Understand that you will be sacrificing time, energy, and money to go down this path, but also understand that it is 100% worth it. There will likely be moments when you question if what you’re doing really matters, if you’re wasting your time on a seemingly unsolvable problem, if you should be prioritizing other things in your life, etc. Despite these thoughts, you’ll find that doing this work fills you with incredible meaning and purpose, surrounds you with like-minded, passionate people, and ultimately gives you a life that you’ll be proud to look back on.
We are standing at a critical juncture in our fight against climate change, and it is heartening to see young leaders rising to this enormous challenge. Across the globe, they are initiating change, voicing their concerns, and catalyzing action toward sustainable solutions for our planet. These young change-makers are not just the future; they are the driving force of the present. As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Adam Roberti.
Adam Roberti serves as executive director of the Xavier Cortada Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use socially engaged art to create meaningful and transformative experiences that educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to take collective action against our climate and ecological crises. In this role, Roberti works alongside Miami-Dade County’s inaugural artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada to implement large-scale, interactive eco-art projects such as the Reclamation Project and The Underwater — two initiatives featured in Cortada’s 2022 TED Talk. Through these ongoing public art interventions, Roberti leads the foundation in partnering with local schools, universities, museums, businesses, and Miami-Dade County’s Office of Resilience, Parks Department and Public Library System to help thousands of residents discover their vulnerability to, and plan for a future with, rising seas, extreme heat, and intensifying hurricanes.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was raised as a vegan in a middle-class, conservative Christian household and went to public school in Hollywood, Florida. As you can imagine, I quickly learned how to be patient with people who didn’t understand or accept the fact that I didn’t eat meat or dairy, especially in a community so heavily influenced by Latin American cultures. I was often questioned and mocked for not consuming animal products, but that really just strengthened my resolve and determination. Growing up within a church, I discovered the value that lies in having a community to lean on. I also gained invaluable perspectives that currently help inform my communication strategies with Christians, many of whom are also politically conservative and oftentimes climate change skeptics. I feel as though my upbringing allows me to focus on finding common ground.
How do you define “Making A Difference”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
To me, “Making a Difference” means taking actions that create a positive impact in the world. This could be on a small scale, such as helping improve the life of a single person in some tangible way, or it could be on a massive scale, such as helping pass laws that benefit millions of people. In either case, it’s important to understand that the immediate results of our actions aren’t the only factor in how we make a difference. We have to remember that what we do, more often than not, is seen by others. Our actions can inspire other people to act, and in this way, we can create a ripple effect of positive change.
Ok super. Let’s now jump to the main part of our interview. You are currently working on promoting climate action. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?
Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that we, humans, are actively destabilizing our climate, destroying critical ecosystems, and raising sea levels, concern and urgency are deeply lacking. We only have a small window of time to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid catastrophic consequences for all future generations. Through my work with the Xavier Cortada Foundation, we’re addressing both apathy and misinformation by engaging communities around these overlapping crises and empowering them to find equitable solutions. We are harnessing the power of art as a force for social change one community at a time, and creatively working together in building a more just, loving, and beautiful world.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause? How old were you when you made this decision?
My fire for environmental conservation started with a passion for the ocean and protecting the incredible diversity of life within it. The backstory starts in 4th grade when my dad took me on a Caribbean cruise, one of the stops being Belize. We went “Snuba” diving (a cross between SCUBA and snorkeling where you can dive down with a 20-foot-long regulator attached to a surface tank) on the Belize Barrier Reef and my mind was blown. I remember thinking, “Do people know about this??” From that moment on, I knew my career was going to involve the sea in some way, but it wasn’t until my time as a student at the University of Miami that I truly understood the trouble our oceans, and we humans, were in.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. We don’t always get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
There really wasn’t an “Aha Moment” for me, but rather I kept putting one foot in front of the other on my educational journey and I jumped at various opportunities as they arose. For instance, I started working as a naturalist for the Biscayne Nature Center, a surveyor for the Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, and a Communications Coordinator for the University of Miami’s Office of Sustainability; all positions that I felt moved me closer to my goal of motivating people to help protect the environment.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I’ve been blessed to have a number of mentors throughout my life including my parents, school teachers, volleyball coaches, and university professors. The two who have been most important in helping me develop into who I am today and be as successful as I’ve been are without a doubt, my mom and dad. Outside of being my biggest supporters, they’ve always instilled values of kindness, compassion, and dedication, forever pushing me to be the best version of myself. I consider myself particularly lucky because they modeled what it means to love and trust one another, two things I find to be severely lacking in society today.
Without saying specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Our projects are often countywide, aimed at engaging thousands of people across schools, libraries, and public spaces, but the most impacted individuals are usually our interns who help bring everything to life. One student in particular fully embraced his role on our team by participating in dozens of community outreach events, advocating for youth representation on Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee, and even using his talents as a rapper to inspire fellow students during a mangrove reforestation ceremony. His time and involvement with us not only prepared him for a paid position as a community organizer with another local nonprofit, but it allowed him to grow personal and professional relationships with students, professors, and local leaders.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
At a time when we desperately need systemic changes in our society to avert a climate and ecological catastrophe, and we need huge numbers of the public to mobilize around this transformation, how do we motivate action? In my research and work, the focus is on large-scale immersive art projects as a means to building community, developing leaders, and catalyzing the policy change that will protect our families and future generations. People can help expedite this process by:
- Getting involved with local organizations who are fighting for social and environmental justice.
- Having conversations about the climate crisis with friends and family.
- Voting for elected officials who understand climate and will prioritize the long-term health, safety, and education of their constituents.
Fantastic. What are the five things you wish someone told you before you started your efforts?
Understand that you will be sacrificing time, energy, and money to go down this path, but also understand that it is 100% worth it. There will likely be moments when you question if what you’re doing really matters, if you’re wasting your time on a seemingly unsolvable problem, if you should be prioritizing other things in your life, etc. Despite these thoughts, you’ll find that doing this work fills you with incredible meaning and purpose, surrounds you with like-minded, passionate people, and ultimately gives you a life that you’ll be proud to look back on.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
I’d tell them that there has never been a greater opportunity to make such a massive difference in the world as there is today. We are the first generation to really see the consequences of the climate crisis and the last that can meaningfully do something about it. According to scientists, our collective action or inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions this decade will determine the trajectory of all life on Earth. The pages of history will either record us as legendary defenders of human rights and guardians of generations to come, or as those who couldn’t step up when they needed to most. Which story ends up being told is up to us.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
One person I’ve always admired, be it for his profound understanding of the way our universe works or his ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging, is Neil deGrasse Tyson. As someone who studied science communication and is on the frontlines of sea level rise here in South Florida, I’d love to brainstorm strategies and tactics for mobilizing communities around our climate and ecological crises. I would be especially excited to talk to him about the intersection of science and art, as that combination seems to be an underutilized but really promising approach for effectuating social change. Needless to say, it would be an honor to share a meal with a man whose reputation extends into the cosmos.
How can our readers follow you online?
They can follow me on Instagram at @adamroberti and they can check out what we’re doing at the Xavier Cortada Foundation at @cortadafoundation or at www.cortadafoundation.org.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org
Young Change Makers Promoting Climate Action: Why and How Adam Roberti Of Xavier Cortada Foundation… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.