Climate Wayfinding with Dr. Katharine Wilkinson & Poet Jane Hirshfield
- Date
- 2026-04-19
- Location
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Host
- Personal
About this event
Climate anxiety, urgency, and determination can all exist in the same room, but they rarely get the kind of thoughtful space they deserve. This gathering brings together Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and poet Jane Hirshfield for an in-person conversation in San Francisco that invites a deeper kind of climate engagement: one rooted not only in information, but also in reflection, language, community, and a clearer sense of direction. If you care about the climate crisis and are looking for something more grounded than a headline cycle and more human than another abstract panel, this event offers exactly that. It is a chance to think seriously, feel honestly, and connect with others who are also trying to find their way through a defining challenge of our time. About the Event This event centers on the idea of wayfinding: how we orient ourselves when the path ahead is complex, uncertain, and deeply consequential. In the context of climate, wayfinding means asking not only what is happening or what should be done, but also how we stay present, purposeful, and connected as we respond. With Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and Jane Hirshfield at the heart of the program, attendees can expect an experience shaped by both intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence. One perspective brings climate leadership and public engagement into focus; the other brings the precision, spaciousness, and moral clarity that poetry can offer when ordinary language falls short. Rather than treating climate as a purely technical issue, this gathering opens room for the full human dimensions of the subject: meaning, responsibility, imagination, grief, courage, and collective possibility. The setting is in person, which matters. It creates space for attention, presence, and conversation that is difficult to replicate online. What to Expect Expect a thoughtfully structured afternoon gathering built around live conversation, reflection, and community connection. While the exact run of show is not listed, the event title and format suggest a program designed to help attendees engage climate questions from multiple angles rather than through a single narrow lens. You can likely expect elements such as: A live conversation featuring Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and Jane Hirshfield Reflections on climate wayfinding, including how people and communities orient themselves in a time of disruption A blend of analytical and creative perspectives, connecting public life, inner life, and civic responsibility Opportunities for in-person connection with others who care about climate, community, and meaningful dialogue This is not framed as a conventional networking event where the main goal is exchanging business cards. The social and community dimensions appear to be in service of something more substantial: meeting others who are also wrestling with climate questions and who want conversation that goes beyond talking points. Because the event is in person in San Francisco on a Sunday afternoon, it also lends itself to a more intentional pace. You can arrive ready to listen, think, and participate in a setting that feels more like a gathering than a transaction. Why Attend There are many climate events that emphasize urgency. Far fewer help people build orientation. That is what makes this one especially compelling. It offers a chance to move beyond information overload and toward a steadier sense of how to live, act, and stay connected in climate work and climate-aware life. You might attend because you want language for what you have been feeling but have not yet been able to articulate. You might come because you are active in climate spaces and want a richer frame for your work. Or you may simply be looking for an honest, serious, and humane public conversation that respects both the scale of the crisis and the depth of human response it requires. Attendees are likely to leave with: A broader lens on climate engagement, one that includes intellect, emotion, ethics, and imagination Fresh perspective from two distinctive voices working across different but complementary disciplines A stronger sense of community with others showing up to think and respond together A more grounded personal orientation to climate questions, whether you are newly engaged or deeply involved already This is especially valuable if you have been craving climate spaces that are not performative, rushed, or flattened by policy shorthand. The combination of conversation and poetry points to an event that takes both ideas and inner life seriously. Practical Details The event takes place in person in San Francisco, USA, which makes it best suited to local attendees or those able to travel into the city for the afternoon. Being physically present will likely be a meaningful part of the experience, especially given the community and conversation-driven nature of the program. It is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 PM PDT. A Sunday afternoon time slot makes this accessible for people who want to engage without the pressure of a workday schedule, and it creates a natural setting for a reflective, well-paced event. A few useful planning notes: Format: In-person gathering Location type: San Francisco venue; check the event page for the exact address and entry details Theme: Climate, community, conversation, and social connection Best approach: Come ready to listen closely, think expansively, and connect with others in a thoughtful way If this topic already feels personally relevant to you, that is enough reason to take a closer look. If you have been waiting for a climate event that makes space for seriousness, humanity, and connection all at once, this is likely the right room to be in.
Who should attend
This is for people who want a more thoughtful, grounded way into climate conversation and community. - You care deeply about the climate crisis and want to engage it in a way that is **emotionally honest as well as intellectually serious**. - You work in, study, organize around, or volunteer in climate-related spaces and are looking for **fresh perspective beyond the usual panel format**. - You are drawn to events where **science, public life, and the arts can speak to each other**, rather than staying in separate lanes. - You have been feeling overwhelmed, urgent, discouraged, or uncertain and want a space that helps you **find language, orientation, and steadier footing**. - You value **in-person community** and would welcome conversation with others in San Francisco who are thinking carefully about climate, meaning, and action. - You do not need to be an expert. If you are curious, engaged, and ready for a more reflective kind of climate gathering, **you will likely feel at home here**.