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SEMG Monthly Meeting & Presentation – Everyone Welcome!

Thursday, June 6th, 2024

7pm Zoom Presentation

Guest Speaker:

Denise Kelle

Director: Michigan Climate Action Network

Topic:

From Earth Day to Election Day: A Climate Voter Campaign 

Synopsis:

A just transformation of society to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change requires durable, effective, responsive, and accountable democratic institutions.

This talk will explore the underlying systemic issues of structural injustice as the root cause of both the climate and democracy crises, and provide strategies to strengthen civic engagement and mobilize lifelong climate voters.

Specifically, we will discuss opportunities to get involved with the Michigan Climate Action Network’s upcoming Climate Summit and voter guide initiative targeted to all candidates on the 2024 ballot for the Michigan House of Representatives candidates.

About: Denise Keele:

Denise Keele received her doctorate in Environmental Politics from Syracuse University and was an Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

Her research and teaching focused on environmental policy and law, in particular the use of the courts and interest groups to influence public policy. At WMU, she chaired the interdisciplinary Climate Change Working Group from 2014-2022, bringing over one hundred faculty, students, and staff together to create and implement several academic and outreach programs, including a minor in climate change studies.

She served on the Kalamazoo Township Climate Committee, the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability committee, and as a Board of Trustee with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Keele led the development of a climate action plan with a carbon neutrality goal of 2035.

From 2019-2022, she founded and led the grassroots Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition coordinating over 2000 members and 40 affiliate organizations to take collective action and address climate change.

Keele was honored with an inaugural Climate Champion award from the Michigan Climate Action Network in 2021, and now serves as the Director of the organization.

With almost two decades of experience in educating others and encouraging action, Dr. Keele brings a collaborative and positive approach to addressing the climate crisis.

SCT