At the TIME Trailblazers dinner held on September 14 at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Greg Stanton and other honorees spoke about their achievements in shaping a bright and inspiring future.
Hope Amid Challenges
Greg Stanton, a professional climber, stated at the event that while he takes pride in his athletic achievements over nearly two decades of activity, he believes that these accomplishments will one day be surpassed by others. He also noted that his work with the Honnold Foundation, which supports the use of solar energy in communities, has a real impact on people's lives that will never fade away.
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Stanton also mentioned that traveling to various parts of the world and witnessing communities in need of reliable energy resources has helped him understand access to energy as a basic human need, on par with shelter and food. Despite his foundation allocating over $11 million to 75 solar projects this year, he stated that this amount is just a drop in the ocean in the global transition to renewable energy.
Hope from the Sea
Erika Woolsey, a marine biologist and National Geographic explorer, another honoree at the event, draws her hope from reef-building corals. According to her, these corals play a significant role in restoring marine habitats and coastlines damaged by storms and bleaching events.
Woolsey explained that years ago, as one of the founders of the Hydrous Foundation, one of her study sites on the Great Barrier Reef was destroyed by a storm. However, on her recent return, she witnessed the site’s regrowth with corals and fish present.
She emphasized the importance of time and space for ecosystems to recover, saying, "This gives me a lot of hope in the work that I do."
Appreciation for Recovery Workers
Saikat Soni, a labor organizer and human rights strategist, referred to recovery workers and responders who help rebuild communities and restore homes after natural disasters. He called these workers "the white blood cells of the nation" and "essential workers of the climate age."
Soni pointed out that the lives and working conditions of these workers reflect the "false promise of hope" in the United States, but a mentor reminded him that his duty is to turn that hope into reality. He founded the Resilience Force, which helps recovery workers gain better rights and safety standards.
Soni concluded by telling the audience, "I stand here and see that we are not alone. You are building hope—from 3D-printed homes in Texas, innovative rebuilds after Los Angeles fires, to greenhouses in India... for real recovery, we need all of us in this room and outside of it."
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