Last weekend, Phoenix came alive with creativity, culture, and clean energy inspiration as 11 Latino storytellers gathered for Climate Cultura Arizona. This in-person training brought together artists and community voices to learn from clean energy experts (and each other) and begin to create new positive, climate stories rooted in local experience.

What is Climate Cultura Arizona?

Climate Cultura Arizona is a paid, content-creation program from Generation180 and partner Climate Power En Acción. The program amplifies Latino storytelling about clean energy by bringing together filmmakers, performers, influencers, visual artists, and creative producers. Over two days in Phoenix Jan 31-Feb 1, fellows heard from climate leaders, collaborated in “writers’ room” workshops, and developed plans to activate their communities through digital and live storytelling.

Meet the 2026 Arizona Cohort

The 2026 Climate Cultura Arizona cohort brought together a diverse mix of creative voices from across the region (bios can be found here):

• Jay Alexaa: Content creator and radio personality
• Tony Arias: Radio broadcaster and storyteller
• Fabiola Miranda Bedoya: Storyteller and climate advocate
• Elyssa Bustamante: Event producer and festival curator
• Kathy Cano-Murillo: Artist and CraftyChica® founder
• Yeux Castellanos: Multidisciplinary artist
• Ayling Dominguez: Poet and educator
• Luis Galilei: Content creator and comedian
• Joel Farias Godinez Jr.: Image and video maker
• Keila Gonzalez: Content creator and community connector
• Vanessa Santos:  Business and cultural architect

DAY 1

Opening, local leadership and shared vision

The weekend kicked off with a warm welcome and mission framing from Generation180’s Comedian-in-Residence, Esteban Gast, emphasizing how storytelling can shift the climate narrative from fear and uncertainty to hope, agency, and community power. Dennis Granados and Diali Avila of Climate Power described Arizona’s frontline climate impacts—from rising heat to rising electricity costs—and gave examples of how Latino and indigenous communities from Tucson to the Gila River are using solar to mitigate climate impacts and lower electricity costs.

Guest speaker Yara Marin of Vote Solar, described how many people she knew growing up had asthma and that living close to highways exposed her community to air pollution. She  encouraged fellows to think about solar and storage as a “people issue,” describing the benefits solar brings to Latino communities, as well as how to address challenges in expanding access—including utility resistance to solar and “bad actors” that sow mistrust.

Participants ended the day with a field trip to a clean energy mural and Q&A session with muralist and local artist Shela Yu. Shela and other partners then joined participants in a happy hour for community building at a local favorite Phoenix restaurant.

DAY 2

Creative brainstorming

Day two transformed ideas into momentum. Participants split into small creative circles—to brainstorm ideas, “punch up” their ideas with feedback, and shape original concepts for storytelling content that center real-life experiences and clean energy solutions. 

Participants heard from DJ Portugal of Chispa Arizona, a Phoenix-based Latino environmental justice group, about why electricity prices are rising and the role of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which is responsible for regulating Arizona utility companies. DJ helped participants understand what needs to be done to lower costs and protect our climate, including encouraging Latinos to attend and share their personal stories at upcoming public hearings where decisions are made allowing utilities to raise electricity rates.

Community connections and local partnerships

An essential part of Climate Cultura Arizona’s training involved connecting participants to local organizations for long-term community impact. In the afternoon, an “in the field” panel of climate leaders discussed the vital role of storytellers in communicating how clean energy is linked to affordability and shared about their work with Latino Arizonans to expand clean energy locally. Panelists included:

• Luis Avila, Iconico 
• Jose Flores, Poder Latinx
• Pita Juarez, Samayoa Communications
• Monica Sandschafer, Mi Familia Vota

Phoenix-based storyteller Pita Juarez talked with participants about the importance of talking about relatable topics, what’s happening with your family and your daily life, to help engage audiences, and emphasized how everything can be connected back to climate.

What’s next?

We’ll be rolling out new videos and storytelling projects from the Arizona creatives in the coming weeks; look for updates in Gen180’s Flip the Script newsletter. And, we’re already planning the next one: Climate Cultura is coming to Philadelphia this spring!

We are so proud of this wonderful community we’re building together and hope to replicate Climate Cultura in other cities across the country. We all benefit from closer ties to our neighbors and communities, and it’s our hope that Climate Cultura helps to elevate trusted, Latino voices and adds to the existing efforts to inspire collective action to make clean energy more accessible to everyone.