Beyond the Mic Drop: Stories for Climate Justice & Building a New World

Melissa Jun Rowley is a social, gender, and environmental justice activist, serial media and tech entrepreneur, and filmmaker. Join us for the celebration of her book: Beyond the Mic Drop. She'll engage with storytelling and writing prompts alongside Grist organizer Tory Stephens for a night centering climate justice narratives.

Melissa Jun Rowley is a social, gender, and environmental justice activist, serial media and tech entrepreneur, and filmmaker. She began her career as a  journalist with CNN, AP, and BBC News, and then went on to build ventures and initiatives that bridge culture, media, and narrative equity. In 2025, she founded Climate Mic Drop, a platform convening frontline voices, artists, and policymakers to reimagine how stories about protecting people and our planet are told. Soon-to-be based in Boston, she’s pursuing a mid-career master’s degree in Public Administration at Harvard University, with a focus on leadership, governance, and policy.

Tory Stephens is…