Sabina Sethi Unni: community-centered disaster preparedness

Jul 19

Sabina, a 2024 Street Work Earth participant, is a public theater artist, organizer, and urban planner who tells silly stories about our changing climate. She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Fresh Lime Soda, a contemporary South Asian political theater ensemble and incubator. Born and raised in Long Island, she is deeply involved in organizing in Nassau, east Queens, and Rockaway.

Raising awareness about disaster preparedness.

“I see public theater as a strategy for environmental justice.” Utilizing a comedic public theater process helps the audience and community discuss disaster preparedness, designed as public education with and for brown aunties. All of my public art projects are designed for and in the public. The goal is to compensate for a lack of culturally competent disaster prevention resources and information across the South Asian diaspora in Queens.

Photo: Pistachio and the Worms

Comedic children’s play about climate change and composting was performed multiple times on Astoria’s 31st Avenue Open Streets.

Performed by: Sabina Sethi Unni, Anita Ganesan, Anabel Lugones, Luis Feliciano, and Danielle Brisset. Date: April 20th, 2023.

Climate Art Festival

Check out a clip from “A Fun Play About How Scary Climate Change Is” at the Queens Botanical Garden on April 27, 2024.

Disaster Preparedness Resources

Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere! Create a plan for you, your loved ones, and your community. Check out these resources to learn more, and let us know if you have ideas for other resources we should share.

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Preparing for disaster

Disasters don’t befall all communities equally, and public infrastructure for disaster relief doesn't either: BIPOC communities are more likely to be hit harder on both fronts. We hope some of these tips help us take steps and build community along the way.