Why We Need To Unleash Parent Power
Why We Need To Unleash Parent Power is now live on the Hope. Act. Thrive podcast with our special guest, Rowan Ryrie.
Why you’ll want to listen to this episode.
“There is a lot of power that we haven't really unleashed yet as parents,” says Rowan Ryrie, a founding member of grassroots parents movements in the UK and globally called Parents for Future.
In this conversation we’ll talk about how parents can engage in climate action, the importance for our kids of doing so, and looking after ourselves and our families as we take action.
This episode is supported by Parents for Future UK, which inspires and empowers parents to use their voice and advocate for climate and biodiversity, and be part of the solution to help protect their children’s future. Get involved at parentsforfuture.org.uk
Why we were thrilled to chat with Rowan.
Rowan is a mother of two young girls and a founding member of grassroots parents movements in the UK and globally called Parents for Future. Since 2019 this movement has become one of the biggest networks of parent organising around the world.
Rowan is a trained lawyer and believes passionately in the potential power of parents - and intergenerational movements - to create change. She works to create and support communities of emerging climate leaders with a focus on female leadership. Parents for Future's work incorporates emotional support and Rowan's activism is inspired by and rooted in love.
Words from Rowan you won’t want to miss.
“There is a lot of power that we haven't really unleashed yet as parents.”
“I decided that if the kids can do this, if they can take to the streets and protest about climate action, then we should be doing the same. If they can step outside their comfort zone and go and organize a bunch of other teenagers and stand up and do a speech, which is something that terrifies me as an adult, so that's probably pretty terrifying to teenagers as well, then we should be brave enough to do that as well.”
“Each individual parent has actually got a really unique network of power around them. I have access to spaces that nobody else probably does in terms of the actual networks around me, my local community, national and other spaces. So enabling people to recognize that and then use that . . . is important.”
“I think we all need to do this. It shouldn't be on any one age group to try and resolve this or work out what we can do. “
“One of the big things I've learnt as I've done this work is that being part of a community of people who are also wanting to take action can really help to strengthen your own work and your own commitment and help you to do more.”
“If we find our voice and find that we can start to speak up on some of these big picture issues like climate, then I think parents really do have an important voice in taking that to decision makers and asking them to make decisions that are going to give our kids a longterm future.“
How can you listen?
Listen to this conversation on Apple, Google, or Spotify.
And if you just can’t get enough of us, do come hang out with us on on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. We share real tips for real parents, and help you to turn eco-anxiety and gloom into fun and playful action. Plus you’ll regularly see us make fools of ourselves on Instagram reels.
