Comedy is a way to laugh, but it’s also a way to learn. Climate Cultura comedian Lisandra Vazquez learned this lesson at a young age while growing up in Puerto Rico, teaching herself English by watching SaturdayNight Live and I Love Lucy. Those shows served as both humor and education, helping a young Lisandra navigate life in a new environment and modeling the kind of impact she hoped to have when she grew up.

Lisandra had always been funny and creatively-minded. She began taking acting classes right out of high school, though she wasn’t sure at first whether comedy could become a full-time career. Over time, as she started to see more success, her confidence grew. Comedy became not just a passion, but a profession. That’s why, when Lisandra applied to be part of the very first Climate Cultura cohort, she was a shoe-in.

Lisandra’s Climate Cultura experience

Climate Cultura is one of Generation180’s flagship programs, focused on providing Latino creatives with training and support they need to become trusted climate messengers for their audiences. Lisandra joined the inaugural cohort and quickly realized she had some familiarity with issues based on her lived experience—growing up immersed in Latino culture and living in Los Angeles where conversations about climate issues felt normal, and electric vehicles and solar energy were commonplace.

That experience stood in stark contrast to visits with family in Florida, where she was struck by the absence of climate conversations and clean energy examples. Even something as simple as grocery stores using plastic bags felt unusual. Many sustainability practices, like reducing waste and preserving food, felt second nature to her because of her cultural upbringing. Lisandra’s geography and culture gave her valuable tools, and Climate Cultura gave her the push she needed to use them.

“Climate Cultura gave me permission to bring my full skillset into the conversation, even in comedy where certain topics are often discouraged. Climate should be unifying, and the support of the program helped me trust my experience and voice,” she observed.

Lisandra went on to create material centered on clean energy and climate issues, without ever losing sight of a core principle: comedy should be funny first. She produced climate content tailored to Latino audiences and found that narrowing her focus actually gave her more creative freedom. As she explained, “When speaking to a Latino audience, there are certain cultural touchstones and a shared understanding that I’m able to tap into, which is freeing compared to trying to make content that’s as broadly understood as possible.” Since completing the program, she has continued to partner with Generation180 and other climate-focused organizations.

Expanding her impact: Capitol Hill

This work brought her further into the political space. Lisandra was invited to attend a Capitol Hill meeting for digital influencers, where she shared her perspective on issue-focused content creation. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “The meeting was a chance to learn from inside the room, but as a comic I’m always slightly on the outside, translating it through the lens of a regular person.” The experience underscored how comedians and creators are becoming increasingly influential messengers for nonprofits and advocacy organizations that want to connect authentically with audiences online. Lisandra emphasized the importance of investing in long-term partnerships that support creators while strengthening an organization’s impact.

That approach is exactly what Generation180 strives to do through programs like Climate Cultura, Amplifiers, and the Climate Comedy Cohort. We’re excited to bring the next edition of Climate Cultura—the program Lisandra was part of—to Phoenix, AZ this January. 

Looking ahead, Lisandra is focused on continuing to create authentic, meaningful work. She offers this advice to creatives in the advocacy space: “You don’t need to be an expert; tell your story from your own point of view and use your voice. Stay authentic to your voice, and people will resonate with it.”

We’re proud to have played a small role in Lisandra’s journey and can’t wait to see what she does next.