Climate Curve

Primary Project Category:

Secondary Project Category:

Name of Project:

Year Project Originated:

Project Summary / Description:

We Will Not Go Silent is an interdisciplinary, community-rooted performance project that addresses the climate crisis through the lived experiences of Guåhan (Guam) and other frontline island communities. Blending theatre, music, movement, and ancestral storytelling, the project explores the intersections of climate change, colonization, militarization, and environmental justice.

The initiative engages audiences through live performances, facilitated discussions, and workshops designed to increase climate literacy, emotional connection, and civic agency. By centering Indigenous knowledge and community voices often excluded from dominant climate narratives, We Will Not Go Silent catalyzes measurable behavior change related to transportation, consumption, and environmental stewardship.

Developed and produced by Breaking Wave Theatre Company, the project has been publicly presented since 2024 and continues to expand through touring and partnerships, positioning cultural practice as a scalable and essential pathway for climate action.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

We Will Not Go Silent centers and empowers groups historically underrepresented in the climate movement, including Indigenous peoples, women, youth, and climate-vulnerable island communities. Rooted in Guåhan (Guam), the project elevates Indigenous Chamoru perspectives and lived experiences shaped by colonization, militarization, and environmental harm—contexts often marginalized in global climate discourse.

The project’s leadership and creative team are composed primarily of women, Indigenous artists, and young cultural leaders, ensuring that those most impacted by climate change are also shaping the narratives and solutions presented. Through accessible performances, workshops, and facilitated dialogue, the initiative creates entry points for youth and community members who may not otherwise engage with climate policy or scientific spaces.

By valuing cultural knowledge and storytelling as climate expertise, We Will Not Go Silent shifts power toward frontline communities and supports more inclusive, equitable approaches to climate action.