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Rock to Rock launch party highlights community activism The Earth Day Ride launch party featured speeches from youth activists, professional organizers and city leaders passionate about climate justice. Words and photos by Rachel Shin.

On Saturday afternoon, a party of activists, organizers and cyclists populated the usually empty Koffee? outback. Their chatter and laughter thickened as their shadows lengthened across the grass-freckled soil.

Rock to Rock, an environmental activism organization, held the launch party for its 14th annual Earth Day Ride fundraiser at Koffee?. The Earth Day Ride is a group cycle and hike at East Rock and West Rock, with proceeds going to local environmental justice groups such as CitySeed, Gather New Haven and Solar Youth. The ride will occur on Saturday, April 30. The launch party featured speeches from activists and organizers, food and voting on t-shirt designs. Rock to Rock advertised its upcoming event, garnered public excitement and brought together a community of environmentalists.

“The Earth Day Ride is such a great community event, combining exercise outdoors with supporting all the small not for profit environmental groups in the greater New Haven area,” said Rick Mayer ’82, founder of partnering sponsor The MFund. “What I like about it so much is that there's a ride for every ability, so both families and hardcore riders can get out and enjoy it.”

Youth activists from the New Haven Climate Movement, a grassroots environmental action group, gave speeches highlighting the importance of community movements and organizations like Rock to Rock in the climate justice movement.

They emphasized that change starts locally, and spoke about their own initiatives for improved climate education in New Haven Public Schools.

“We must make the climate dialogue first accessible to students, and school should be at the forefront of that, equipped with the resources and structures to facilitate the dialogue on climate change,” activist Patricia Joseph said.

Claps and encouraging shouts snapped through the chilly air, punctuating the muted music trickling out of Koffee?.

Aaron Good of the Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association spoke next, detailing the association’s current project of extending the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail — a trail in the East Coast Greenway — from its current terminus on Hillhouse Avenue to the Canal Dock Boathouse on New Haven Harbor.

Following Good, city engineer Giovanni Zinn discussed New Haven’s specific climate issues and urged divestment from fossil fuels. The Elm City needs to prioritize sustainable transportation and limit use of single occupancy vehicles, he said.

“New Haven is a community that experiences a lot of trouble now because of how we've treated our climate and our addiction to fossil fuels,” Zinn said. “And that isn't something that we just see in the port, or along the shore, but really in every neighborhood in New Haven. We're a coastal community — we have to bear the brunt of the world's choices.”

The city must strive for a carbon free future by creating programs that make sustainable energy and heating options accessible to residents, Zinn added. He thanked the community in attendance for pushing such issues into the public’s view.

The launch party also honored former Ward 7 Alder Abby Roth with an award for her contributions to the environmentalist community and her fundraising efforts for Rock to Rock.

The event was an opportunity for city residents to engage with the climate justice movement, attendee Denise Richburg said.

“I’m here because I believe something has to be done [regarding the climate emergency] immediately,” Richburg said. “This organization has gone out of their way to make a difference, so I want to support them in any way that I can.”

Koffee? is located on 104 Audubon St.