We’re looking for someone who is passionate about environmental justice to join our team as a Philanthropy Officer!
This part time position will be critical to helping our Chapter with its long-term sustainability. They will coordinate the Chapter’s fundraising efforts, work with major gift donors and foundations, and support volunteers in fundraising activities. |
Maine Supreme Court Sides With
Sierra Club Maine & Our Power
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Now Hiring Rural Maine Youth Fellows!
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We are partnering with JustMe for JustUs (JMJU) to hire two rural Maine youth fellows this summer
who are living in Aroostook, Piscataquis, Somerset, Washington, Hancock, Penobscot, Franklin, and/or Kennebec Counties in Maine. These organizers will
lead projects in their communities that encourage youth participation in climate justice work. They will attend weekly JMJU and Sierra Club Maine team meetings in addition to monthly Local Leads the Way meetings to connect with other local organizers. They’ll be responsible for building out JMJU and Sierra Club Maine’s network in their county and identifying areas for collaboration with other organizations, town officials, and individuals with shared goals. Interested? Apply online here - no experience required!
Want to financially support more internships and fellowships like this? Make a donation online here today!
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Earth Day Was a Big Success!
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| Sierra Club Maine celebrated Earth Day with two days of local events to celebrate nature and give back to our communities. On April 21st, volunteers picked up trash along the Eastern Promenade in Portland. Locals also picked up trash at a recently abandoned encampment under Tukey’s Bridge near the East End Water Treatment Plant. In less than two hours, the small group had collected enough trash to fill a dump truck. City park employees were thrilled by the effort and expressed amazement that the area was cleaned so quickly by such a small group. |
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| A local grandmother, Leslie Kaynor, with her grandchildren, Lydia, Thea, and Jack also came out to help. This power team collected trash all morning and had fun while doing it. Another group of volunteers cleaned up the encampment behind Portland’s Trader Joe’s. Together, the group collected an estimated forty-one bags of trash and filled four needle-sharp boxes. |
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They also passed out 100 bags filled with water, snacks, and Narcan (a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose). Sierra Club Maine staff members Ania Wright and Nyalat Biliew received a great amount of gratitude from the City of Portland, Preble Street, and some folks living in the encampment. Continue reading here.
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Sierra Club Maine's 30x30 Progress
By Philip Mathieu, Intern & Volunteer Co-Lead
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The 30x30 team has been very busy this spring working to further our goal of conserving 30% of Maine's lands and waters by 2030.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present Sierra Club Maine's testimony in support of LD 993: An Act to Facilitate Stakeholder Input Regarding Forest Policy in Maine. This was my first time actually inside the Capitol building in Augusta. (I was born in Maine but grew up mostly in New Hampshire, and my involvement with Sierra Club started during the pandemic when nobody was allowed in the building.)
Supporting the Forest Advisory Board is a perfect example of Sierra Club's grassroots ethos in action. As you may know, Maine is roughly 90% forested, and approximately 90% of that forest is controlled by private landowners. This means that achieving our conservation and climate goals depends not only on voluntary conservation but also on building relationships and working creatively with the forest products industry to find ways to better manage the health of our forests and of our rural communities. Continue reading here.
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The Sierra Club Maine (SCM) Legislative Team continues to advocate for our priorities this Legislative Session! From opposing bad bills aimed at eroding our democracy, to supporting solutions to Maine’s housing crisis
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the Team has been hard at work to promote climate justice in Augusta. In April, that included:
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Supporting LD 1246: An Act to Include Endangered and Threatened Species Habitat in the Definition of "Significant Wildlife Habitat" Under the Natural Resources Protection Act, which would preserve biodiversity by minimizing development impacts to endangered and threatened species habitat in Maine. Read SCM testimony here, and
fact sheet here.
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Supporting LD 1170: Resolve, to Promote Passenger Rail for Commuters, which is one of many bills being evaluated by the Transportation Committee this session that would encourage more public transportation infrastructure, a vital climate justice solution. Read SCM testimony here.
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Weighing in on the various mining related bills before the Environment & Natural Resources committee to ensure that we maintain our strong mining laws in Maine. Read SCM testimony here.
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And many more!
Check out our testimony on other important bills here, and keep up to date with the bills we are following here!
Looking ahead, the Legislative Team will continue to meet weekly on Mondays at 4:30pm on Zoom to discuss our priorities and advocacy. Join us by signing up for a meeting, or reach out to ania.wright@sierraclub.org for more information.
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Calling All Photographers!
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Calling all photographers! Sierra Club Maine is seeking photos from across the state to feature in our marketing materials. From social media posts to our annual impact report and more—your photo could be featured! Professionals and amateurs alike are encouraged to submit images of Maine landscapes, nature, and wildlife. |
Come to the ClimateWork Maine Summit on Maine’s Economy and Climate Change on May 19th at the Augusta Civic Center. RSVP Here. There will be over 50 presenters on practical steps that your business can take to reduce carbon and save money. A focus of that work will be on the need for more electric vehicles in Maine, and there will be an electric vehicle showcase at the event!
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Donate Stock for the Environment
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Did you know you can donate stock to support Maine’s environment? Donating stock shares is a win-win-win situation because your gift is tax deductible and you avoid paying capital gains while helping us to continue our mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the environment.
Want to support our legislative work? You may also make a non-tax deductible donation of stock to support us in championing pro-environment laws and policies in Augusta.
For more information on making either tax or non-tax deductible donations of stock, please email Sarah at sarah.leighton@sierraclub.org.
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Green Tip of the Month:
Keep Your Old Stuff Out of the Landfill
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It’s easy to dump your items into a donation bin in a parking lot or thrift store and assume they will find a happy new home. But they may just be taking a rest stop before heading to the landfill… Don’t panic. Donating is still a good option if you do it the right way, and there are other ways to keep your former treasures out of the present trash.
The first step to getting that pile out of the house is determining which items are usable as-is. For clothing, this means clean and free of stains, rips, broken zippers, missing buttons, etc. Furniture with some wear and tear is fine, but a table that’s missing a leg or a couch with ripped upholstery isn’t going to be in high demand.
Not sure how to rate the status of an item? Ask yourself, “if I needed this item, would I buy it in this condition?” If the answer is yes, donation is an option, but you need to do some homework before heading out the door. Continue reading here.
Do you have a green tip that you would like to have included in a future newsletter? Please share it with us here!
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Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
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Mondays at 4:30pm: Legislative Team Meetings
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May 4th at 4pm: Volunteer Orientation
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Interested in volunteering? Join us to learn how!
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May 4th & 18th at 4pm: Events Team Meeting
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Help us organize events to educate and engage Mainers across the state.
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May 9th at 11:30am: Transportation Team Meeting
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Join our Team and ensure a clean and just transportation future for Maine!
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May 16th at 12pm: Clean Energy Team Meeting
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Join our Team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!
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May 17th at 5pm: Equity, Inclusion and Justice Team Meeting
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Help incorporate equity, inclusion and justice principles into the chapter's work.
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May 20th, 10am: Community Educational Event: A Wind Port for Searsport?
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Learn about how a proposed new port will affect the midcoast region and beyond. This public event will be held at the Searsport Community Center: 42 Prospect St., Searsport. Doors open at 9:30am and presentations start at 10am. This event is presented by Friends of Sears Island with support from Islesboro Islands Trust, Sierra Club Maine, and other interested individuals.
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May 23rd at 5pm: Conservation/30x30 Team Meeting
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Learn how you can protect Maine's woods, water, and wildlife.
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