Name: Jacob Klein
Position: Regional Coal Organizer
Areas of Environmental Interest: Coal, Air Quality, Just Transitions
Residence: Oakland, Alameda County
Hometown: La Mesa, CA
Q: How and when did you first become involved with Sierra Club?
A: Although I’d been aware of Sierra Club for most of my life, I only became involved when I started this position in February of this year. I had been looking to shift into an organizer role that focused on environmental justice. Thanks to a fellowship I’d undertaken in the past, I found out about this position that filled those requirements precisely. I’m grateful to be doing this work on an issue that I care deeply about.
Describe your position:
A: As the Regional Coal Organizer, I’m shared between three chapters—Redwood, Mother Lode and San Francisco Bay. The broad aim of my role is to get coal out of the Bay Area and Delta regions, which occupies most of my work in the SF Bay and Stockton areas. However, since the Redwood Chapter was part of the successful prevention of developing a coal terminal in Vallejo, coal is not as pressing of an issue.
The main areas within this chapter I’m focusing on are Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties. For now, my position is more of a classic organizer—bridging connections, building up a base of support, working for environmental justice, and supporting campaigns like SR-37, Mare Island, and others.
One project that crosscuts all three of the chapter areas is the SF Bay to Stockton Navigation project which intends to dredge the Carquinez Strait to deepen it allowing for greater oil exportation from the refineries on the corridor, including the one in Vallejo.
Q: How has your involvement with Sierra Club changed your life?
A: Something that’s very inspiring to see is the lifelong commitment of many members to these issues. It gives me a lot of hope for the resilience and necessity of this work.
Q: What is one of your fondest memories participating in a Sierra Club event or activity?
A: This is a tough question to answer because nearly one month to the day after I started, shelter-in-place was instituted making most events and activities impossible. For me, getting a chance to meet with individuals, learn about their work, and hear why they’re so impassioned about their causes is always an enriching experience.
Q: What do you see as Sierra Club’s fundamental role in your community?
A: I think that Sierra Club holds a powerful place in being grassroots and membership-led while still holding many relationships with governments and agencies. Sierra Club has a particular privilege in the ways that we can leverage access and connections to resource campaigns and push community goals forward.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Northern California?
A: Despite being born and raised in Southern California, I never enjoyed the heat much. Northern California’s cooler temperatures and lusher environments are a joy for me. I love being able to walk down my street and see California poppies and gingko trees turning yellow. On top of that, there’s a beautiful nature spot only 15 minutes away and only a couple hours to some deserted areas for trips.
Q: Where in the outdoors would we most likely find you?
A: I live in Oakland so when I need to experience nature as quickly as possible, I usually head to Albany Bulb where I wander through the circuitous paths and crawl over some rocks.