GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY — Green-Wood Cemetery will host four free workshops, panel discussions and interactive gatherings to provide participants with the opportunity to mourn environmental losses, grapple with the emotional toll of the climate crisis and transform the feelings into collective action. 

“Green-Wood’s Climate Week programming is a vital part of our commitment to addressing the pressing issue of climate change,” said Gabrielle R. Gatto, Green-Wood death educator. 

The programming kicks off on Sept. 14 and continues through Climate Week, which is Sept. 22-29. Established in 1838, Green-Wood is a historic Brooklyn landmark and green space, which makes the space a unique site for exploring themes of sustainability, grief, loss and action concerning climate change.  

“We believe that as a cemetery, Green-Wood has a role to play in fostering dialogue around ecological grief and sustainability,” said Gatto. “Our beautiful grounds offer a space for reflection, and our events encourage participants to process their feelings, collaborate on solutions, and ultimately leave empowered to take meaningful action for our planet.”

The first event, “Mourning for Nature,” is an interactive workshop led by death literacy advocates, Your Morbid Friends. Participants will explore and express the complex emotions associated with the changing environment from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Group activities such as writing letters to extinct species aim to help people foster a deeper connection to nature and transform feelings into action. The event takes place outdoors in the reflective and peaceful cemetery space.

On Sept. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., “Grieving and Weaving” offers an evening of creativity and contemplation through crafting. Green-Wood hopes to communicate crafting’s role in sustainability by educating and discussing the environmental value of repurposing materials, crafting durable handmade items and mending damaged garments. The cemetery invites participants to bring their own yarn, needles, hooks and other crafting materials as well as their ideas on coping with climate through craft. Gatto and craftsperson Mary Pat Klein will lead the evening.

“Memorializing Ecological Loss” is a panel discussion in the Modern Chapel on how cemeteries can provide a platform to process grief and loss surrounding the environmental crisis. The event includes an interactive activity where participants can envision creative and ecological memorials. Panel leaders Ari Simon of Grief at Work, Johanna Lovecchio from Columbia University’s Climate School and Partners in Public Design, Dr. Maya Livio of American University and Green-Wood Director of Living Collections and Curator Sara Evans will discuss how cemeteries offer a unique opportunity to memorialize environmental transformations. The event takes place on Sept. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Death Cafe presents a Climate Week-themed gathering to discuss death from an ecological perspective over tea and pastries. Death Cafe has thousands of chapters around the world and functions as an informal gathering to help people cope with and process the concept of death. Attendees can share their thoughts, feelings and fears in a safe space on Sept. 25 from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Registration is required for all of Green-Wood’s Climate Week programming, though it is free. The full list of programming and registration information is on Green-Wood’s website, and the cemetery asks that patrons consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so it can continue to provide accessible programs.