Putting Climate Advocacy into Words: Leela Marie Hidier
At age 17, Leela Marie Hidier of Yarmouth published her first book, Changes in the Weather, and her life began taking a whole new trajectory that has included a new love of social justice, climate action, and an honor by First Lady Jill Biden at the White House. Her novel follows four teenagers displaced by climate change in the U.S. coming of age in a world and time of uncertainty, learning to use their voices to impact change. But the story behind what led her to write the book was a culmination of her family’s lived experience, a deep love of nature, and a desire to inspire others.
Six years ago, when she was just 13, Hidier moved to Maine, completing the final piece of a decades-long family journey that spanned from South Africa, India, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, where she was born and raised. The move reunited her with 3 generations of family under one roof in Yarmouth- and then the pandemic hit. Inspired by the stories her multigenerational family shared around the dinner table, Hider began to put pen to proverbial paper.
“The pandemic gave me so much precious time with my family. The conversations all three generations shared around the dining table are ones that I will forever treasure. We talked about the past, the present, and the future. About current issues in our world and compared them with those of previous eras,” she said. “Listening to my grandparents’ stories and all they had lived through made me really think about perspective which is something so central to both my writing and advocacy. This time spent together also made me reflect on how the story of these climate/social justice issues is one where everybody—all ages and generations—should have a voice in. Because we need all these perspectives and experiences from both the past and the present to move towards a happier healthier future for both our planet and people.”
Those conversations shaped how she faced her reality.
“It’s definitely changed my perspective of how I see the world,” said Hidier, reflecting on those COVID-era discussions. “I try to put myself in many different sets of shoes, and it was interesting to listen to all the things my grandparents lived through. Living in a three-generation household made me realize we need to have more of these multigenerational conversations and perspectives.”
That led to her being selected as one of four Young Emerging Authors fellows with the Telling Room, a literary arts organization for young writers in Portland, Maine. That paid 15-month fellowship allowed her to write and edit her book. The book and her social justice advocacy earned her recognition by First Lady Jill Biden in 2023 at the White House as one of the first-ever ‘Girls Leading Change.’
“I did not think it would carry me all the way to the White House, but it did," she said of her experience."It was such a surreal and special experience to be recognized for the change that I’m leading in my community. And I was so proud to represent Maine.”
The recognition that Changes in the Weather has earned her also turned into newly forged friendships with like-minded young women across the country, whom she continues to collaborate with. Together they’ve created an Instagram account @girlschangingtheworld23, to keep raising awareness on climate issues and related interests.
Hidier hopes readers will be inspired to find a way to turn their talents into real, tangible action
“In these overwhelming conversations I want people to feel hopeful, too—that’s really important to me,” she said. “As a child, writing was a way to dream up a better world. Ultimately, I hope my words help us see a happier healthier future for our planet and our people too.”