by Caitlin Ferrante and Shay O'Reilly
As the Sierra Club’s Executive Director Ben Jealous gets to work in his new role at the head of the organization, he has embarked on his official listening tour across the country, visiting Chapters and listening to what they - the staff, the volunteers - need most. He visited the Atlantic Chapter earlier this year for a two-day stay. Upon his arrival, he spent an evening in Albany with volunteers and staff (both Chapter and National) from around the state. The gathering also included the current National Board of Directors President, Ramón Cruz, as well as the current BoD (and former BoD President), Aaron Mair. Chapter Conservation Director Roger Downs served as the emcee for the evening and provided background on where we are as a Chapter and where we would like to see ourselves going forward.
Ben was able to visit one-on-one with our many volunteer leaders and staff throughout the evening, while also listening to the concerns and hopes for the future of the Sierra Club. Some of the main themes reiterated throughout the evening were the need for investment in the grassroots as well as providing adequate training in areas like digital strategies, member outreach, and ways to highlight the great work being done at the local levels. Roger, along with Conservation Associate Elizabeth Ahearn, detailed several key victories the Chapter has been a part of over the years - banning fracking, passing the groundbreaking Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), and campaigning successfully to protect NY’s freshwater wetlands. Chapter Conservation & Development Program Manager Caitlin Ferrante outlined toxic chemical policy the Chapter has helped get across the finish line, but also recognized that there are areas where more National support and focus is needed, including the work to address toxics - like PFAS - in our communities, and policies aimed at protecting our pollinators.
Ben Jealous's next stop on his listening tour was New York City. There, his afternoon visit began with a roundtable with various staff who live and work in the city, including people from the National Outings Program; the People, Culture & Equity Department; Brand Partnerships; and local Beyond Coal Campaign. He spoke about his agenda for the organization as a workplace and asked about bottlenecks and inefficiencies that hinder our ability to work as one Sierra Club. Afterward, he took time with leaders from the New York City Group to hear their perspective and needs, as Sierrans fighting for our planet in the largest city in the country. Following that, Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer Shay O'Reilly and Campaign Representative Allison Considine hosted a guided tour of fossil fuel energy infrastructure on the East River, with more active members. Participants saw dramatic smokestacks in the midst of public housing projects, large substations proposed to serve as offshore wind interconnection points, and discussed the organizing and policies we need to transition the dirtiest grid in the state.
His evening ended with a meet-and-greet at an Astoria, Queens, bar and event space. Twenty Sierra Club volunteers attended, including representatives from the NYC, Long Island, and Lower Hudson Group leadership; volunteers with the Beyond Coal Campaign; and Food and Agriculture committee members. Not only was it a great space for everyone to meet Ben and hear about his vision for the Club, but it also provided fruitful cross-pollination across different Sierra Club teams and activities. As he had stressed in his Albany visit, Ben highlighted the need for a reinvestment in the grassroots work of the Sierra Club, and the expertise he brings from his work with the NAACP.
Photo Credit: Heather Wilson