We are excited to welcome Grace Bastidas, Parents Editor-in-Chief, for our inaugural Climate Disruption, Air Pollution, and Young People’s Health event on February 8. Grace will speak with Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, about prioritizing climate advocacy for the sake of children’s health.
Grace is an editor, writer, on-air personality, and parenting expert. A bilingual New Yorker raising two daughters, she also hosts the podcast That New Mom Life. In advance of speaking with Chelsea, she shared with us her perspective on helping parents navigate the challenges of raising kids in a changing climate.
You’ve mentioned that air pollution and climate have become increasingly important to your audience at Parents—when did you first see that shift?
Over the past few years, we’ve seen record temperatures and natural disasters, such as wildfires and flooding, making climate-related concerns top of mind for caregivers. As the number of occurrences increase, we’ve felt a responsibility to address these very real concerns for parents who are seeking guidance on how to navigate eco-anxiety while keeping their children healthy.
When did you become attuned to the need to step into the climate arena? Was it professionally, or do you have a personal connection to environmental issues?
As the founding editor of Parents Latina, I’ve always been attuned to the needs of my community. Knowing that Latinx people are the group most disproportionately affected by poor air quality spurred me to bring awareness to this issue. Additionally, I grew up in an urban area and have suffered from asthma since I was a child, so I know firsthand what it’s like to think twice before going outside for fear of getting sick. It doesn’t just affect your physical health, but your mental health too. I want all kids to enjoy their childhoods, and that includes playing outdoors and getting fresh air.
At Parents, you’re storytellers. What can we all do to uplift the stories of families most impacted by air pollution and the climate crisis?
We feature a lot of first-person articles on our website because we want to give parents and caregivers a platform to tell their own stories. It also helps readers feel seen and heard when an article resonates with their own experience. The more we share, the more we know that we’re not alone. That’s why it’s important to keep talking about climate change, so that we empower others to speak up.
Who are your environmental heroes past or present—and why?
My environmental heroes are all the youth activists sharing their perspectives and speaking up for the planet. Our children have to live with the consequences of climate change decisions, so it’s inspiring to see young people pushing through climate anxiety and not only advocating for change, but holding policymakers accountable.
Are there stories Parents is working on regarding children’s health and the climate crisis in 2024 that you’re excited to publish?
As we enter an election year and storm season approaches, we will continue to cover the climate crisis. We know caregivers and kids are particularly vulnerable to climate anxiety. At Parents, we strive to give our audience hope for the future while inspiring them to create actionable change. We know the time is now. That’s why we’re mindful of the reality of the situation in our reporting as we remind readers to stay resilient.
REGISTER FOR CLIMATE DISRUPTION, AIR POLLUTION, AND YOUNG PEOPLES HEALTH