Recently, I attended the first ever Richmond Community Climate House at Sanctuary Cafe in Steveston, organized by For Our Kids Richmond, Richmond Sue Big Oil volunteers, and Climafide.

What I appreciated most was the spirit of conversation. Many of us did not know one another, so we began with icebreaking activities and then moved into group discussions. We did not solve climate change that evening, but we got to know one another. We discovered that we are not alone, that there are others in Richmond who care about climate change and want to talk about our shared future.

I was particularly encouraged by the multigenerational nature of the gathering. Several moms brought their children. Seeing children in the room was a powerful reminder that when we talk about climate change, we are talking about the world they will inherit.

For Richmond, this is especially relevant. As a low lying island community, questions such as sea level rise, flood protection, sustainability, and the environment are part of our local future.

This is also a public education issue. Our responsibility is not simply to give young people answers, but to prepare them for a changing and increasingly complex world. They need scientific literacy and critical thinking, but they also need to know how to ask good questions, listen to different perspectives, work with others, and participate responsibly in their community.

As a candidate for Richmond School Trustee, I believe education should prepare our children not only for their next exam, but for the world beyond school and for the challenges their generation will inherit.

I also believe leadership begins with listening. That evening reminded me that meaningful change does not always begin with a big solution. Sometimes it begins when people come together, listen, learn from one another, and discover that they are not alone.

Change begins with conversation. Education prepares the next generation to continue it.

最近，我參加了在 Steveston Sanctuary Cafe 舉行的首屆 Richmond Community Climate House。活動由 For Our Kids Richmond、Richmond Sue Big Oil 義工和 Climafide 合辦。

我最欣賞的，是這個聚會所營造的對話空間。當晚很多人原本互不相識，所以我們先從破冰活動開始，然後進行小組討論。我們當然沒有在一個晚上解決氣候變化，但我們彼此多認識了一點，也發現原來自己並不孤單。在列治文，還有其他人同樣關心氣候變化，也希望一起談談我們共同的未來。

我也特別欣賞這是一個跨世代的聚會。有幾位媽媽帶着孩子一起參加。當孩子們也在我們當中，這是一個很有力的提醒：當我們討論氣候變化，其實也是在討論他們將要承繼一個怎樣的世界。

對列治文來說，這個課題尤其切身。我們生活在一個地勢低窪的島嶼城市，海平面上升、防洪、可持續發展和環境等問題，都與列治文的未來息息相關。

這也是一個公共教育的課題。我們的責任，不只是把答案告訴下一代，而是裝備他們面對一個不斷轉變、愈來愈複雜的世界。他們需要科學素養和批判思考，也需要學習如何提出好的問題、聆聽不同觀點、與別人合作，並負責任地參與自己的社區。

作為列治文教育局學務委員候選人，我相信教育不應只是幫助孩子準備下一次考試，更要裝備他們走出校園，面對未來，以及他們這一代將要承擔的各種挑戰。

我也一直相信，領導始於聆聽。那一晚再次提醒我，有意義的改變未必從一個宏大的方案開始。有時候，它只是從一群人願意坐在一起，彼此聆聽、彼此學習，並發現自己並不孤單開始。

改變始於對話。教育，則裝備下一代把這場對話繼續下去。