Public Power and the Grid: Community, Culture, and Energy Justice

About this event

In Public Power and the Grid: Community, Culture, and Energy Justice, three powerful members of the DC Community reflect on the interwoven legacies of community, culture, and environmental justice, specifically as it pertains to our current energy crisis. This event is produced by Counterstream Media in partnership with Frontline Resource Institute and Environmental Defense Fund.

Elizabeth Booker Houston is a Lawyer and Political Commentator from Memphis, TN. Xavier Boatright is a Deputy Legislative Director for the Sierra Club from Manning, South Carolina. Asia Bryann Guest is a Relationship Manager at Frontline Resource Institute from Oxford, MS. These three storytellers are gathering at Busboys and Poets to share the stories of their communities, their work, and the critical role of public power amid the energy crisis and the ongoing environmental injustices our communities face.

Hosted by Chess Jakobs, Environmental Sociologist and Head of Partnerships at Counterstream Media, and with poetry by Charity Blackwell,  this salon uplifts millennial movement-makers who are enabling public power across sectors, industries, and platforms.

What to Expect:

Inspiring stories of environmental justice and reclaiming public powerDelicious appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages provided. Alcoholic beverages and full meals will be available for purchase. There will be an invite-only community connection after.

Storyteller bios:

Elizabeth Booker Houston is a lawyer, social scientist, professor, standup comedienne, and political commentator who hails from Memphis, Tennessee, and now calls the Washington, DC metro area home. Elizabeth obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2013 from Christian Brothers University and her Juris Doctor and Master of Public Health degrees in 2017 from the University of Memphis. Her professional work centers around public health law, privacy law related to health systems, administrative law, food and drug law, and various public health topics, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and tobacco research.

Xavier Boatright is a Deputy Legislative Director at Sierra Club, where he works on electrification, energy efficiency, housing, and clean energy affordability. His work focuses on advancing federal policies that lower household energy costs, expand access to healthier and more efficient homes, and support equitable climate and housing outcomes. He engages with congressional offices, coalition partners, and advocates on issues including tax credits, weatherization, home energy programs, and broader clean energy policy. Xavier brings a strong focus on affordability, environmental justice, and practical policy solutions that improve people’s everyday lives. Xavier has also been a public school teacher, community organizer, and professional athlete in previous years.

Asia Bryann Guest is the Relationship Manager for The Frontline Resource Institute and the Global Partnership Manager for Justice and Equity at the Environmental Defense Fund. She implements Community Engagement, DEI, and Justice and Equity practices in communities across the globe, with elected officials and global partners, to impact and create solutions for those on the frontlines. She has been doing this work for five years. Asia holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing and Communications with a General Business Minor and a Specialization in Public Relations.

Charity Blackwell (Poet) is an award-winning spoken word artist, poet, and educator known for her commanding presence and magnetic storytelling. Her work has been featured by BBC News, TEDxTysons, the NBA, WNBA, MLS, The Kennedy Center, and The Hirshhorn Museum. A proud Trinity University graduate with both a B.A. and M.A. in Communications, Charity uses poetry to spark connection, challenge perspectives, and inspire bold self-expression. Whether on stage or in community spaces, her work centers truth, impact, and transformation.

Host and Managing Producer of Public Power and the Grid:

Chess Jakobs. Chess Jakobs is an environmental sociologist, writer, and creative producer. They are the Head of Partnerships at Counterstream Media and one of the organizers of DC Climate Week. Their research focuses on the societal impacts of greenwashing, the health outcomes of human-environment interaction, and the relationship between masculinity and the climate crisis. @chessjakobs on social.

About Counterstream: Counterstream Media (formerly People over Plastic) centers the stories and perspectives the mainstream media often misses. We are a nonprofit media organization that uses journalism and storytelling to challenge harmful narratives and work towards climate & environmental justice. Through our podcasts, publications, and live storytelling events, we cover frontline voices and influence how culture and policy take shape. Learn more at counterstream.org.

About Frontline Resources Institute (FRI): FRI envisions a just, sustainable, and joyful future where frontline advocates are leaders, delivering environmental and climate justice for all. FRI is committed to building a collective network of frontline groups through shared learning and movement-wide capacity-building. We invite you to join our community-guided network for access to resources, including external grant opportunities, job postings, and more.

About Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): By leveraging our deep expertise in science and economics, EDF delivers bold, game-changing solutions to address the biggest challenge of our time — climate change. We work to stabilize the climate, strengthen people's and nature's ability to thrive, and support people's health. Working in more than 30 countries, we focus on the areas where we can make the biggest impact. From slashing pollution from transportation around the world, to slowing the warming we're experiencing now by cutting methane pollution, to bolstering nature's own capacity to stabilize the climate.

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