Citizens' Climate Lobby

Danielle Watson | February 2025 Monthly Meeting | Citizens Climate Lobby

Danielle Watson manages American Forests’ climate policy portfolio, focusing on programs, policies, and funding that empowers those who steward state, private, and Tribal lands. She also supports policy and government relations needs for American Forests' Tree Equity and Resilient Forests programs. Prior to joining American Forests, Watson worked for over a decade in the forest policy arena with the Society of American Foresters. On CCL's February call, she discussed American Forests' work and their support of the new bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act.

Action Hour | November 2024 Monthly Meeting | Citizens Climate Lobby

Led by different CCL staffers, this hour of action will provide real-time opportunities to make a collective difference. Whether we're writing to Congress, spreading the word online, or using a number of other vehicles to make our voice heard, we'll come together and continue to make climate action a priority no matter the election outcome.

Akshat Rathi, Sr. Reporter for Bloomberg News | October 24 Monthly Speaker | Citizens' Climate Lobby

Akshat Rathi is a London-based senior reporter for Bloomberg News and author of the new book Climate Capitalism, which is the subject of his 2024 TED Talk. He also hosts Bloomberg Green's weekly Zero podcast and writes a weekly Zero newsletter, focused on climate change. Previously, Akshat was a senior reporter at Quartz and a science editor at The Conversation. His work has been cited widely, including in New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and The Guardian.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Introduction & National Updates
(10:40) Interview w/ Akshat Rathi
(24:16) Q&A Discussion
(40:05) October Actions

October Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/action-sheet 
Take Action Make A Voting Plan: https://cclusa.org/vote 
Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/1018718136 
More About Akshat: https://akshatrathi.com/ 

Ben Pendergrass, CCL VP of Government Affairs | July 2024 Monthly Speaker | Citizens Climate Lobby

Ben Pendergrass, CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs, celebrates our national summer conference and our 442 June 11th lobby meetings, gives us a legislative update, and reviews the impact of your June phone calls about the PROVE IT Act.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Highlights
(6:32) Conversation with CCL Alum Hill Staffers Morgan and Kesten
(18:53) Q&A Discussion
(36:10) CCL's July Actions Review

July Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Pre-Call Video:  https://vimeo.com/983273670?share=copy 

Sara Eyassu, CCL Mountain West Climate Advocacy Fellow | May 2024 Monthly Speaker

Sara Eyassu is CCL's Mountain West Fellow and is currently a sophomore at the University of Southern California majoring in environmental studies as a pre-law student. Last summer, she completed a teaching fellowship with Generation Teach where she taught environmental justice to rising sixth graders. This drive encouraged climate advocacy within higher education through membership on the Student Sustainability Committee of the Presidential Working Group on Sustainability in Education, Research, and Operations. She hopes to continue learning through collaborative efforts and equitable sustainability work. Sara will lead a "Youth Takeover" showcasing the work of CCL youth on our May call.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Highlights
(4:51) Featured Campus Chapter at Pepperdine
(7:54) CCL Youth Great Electrification Challenge
(11:42) Youth Lobby Day at Washington
(15:13) Climate GOAT campaign
(18:48) Student Summit
(21:50) Q&A Discussion
(26:24)  CCL's May Actions

May Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Register for the Summer Conference (June 8-11): https://cclusa.org/summer   
Pre-Call Video:  https://vimeo.com/944917487 
CCL Youth Website and Great Electrification Challenge: https://youth.citizensclimatelobby.org/school-electrification/ 
CCL Higher Education Website: https://citizensclimatehighered.org/ 

Ernesto Alcantar, Potential Energy Coalition | April 2024 Monthly Speakers | Citizens' Climate Lobby

Join CCL for our April monthly meeting to hear more from our campaign partners Potential Energy about our focus for Earth Month on talking about climate change. For such a big challenge, we don’t talk much about climate change. All that silence means that climate change can feel less important to pay attention to than it really is. After all, if we’re not talking about it, how big can the problem be? For Earth Month, CCL volunteers are having climate conversations across the country with their friends, family, and communities. Our goal? 25,000 climate conversations that have a ripple effect, leading to more conversations in families, communities, and with elected leaders.  We'll be joined by Ernesto Alcantar, who leads Potential Energy's messaging, research and strategy across several topic areas, including extreme weather, electric vehicles, and nuclear energy. Before joining the team, Ernesto was a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group, where he led strategy and transformation work across sustainability, healthcare, and commercial banking. We'll also hear from Dr. Katharine Hayhoe about her best tips for having a successful conversation about climate change, learn more about how you can participate in the campaign and log your conversations.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Highlights
(7:48) Ernesto's Presentation
(30:20) Q&A Discussion
(32:51) Dr. Katharine Hayhoe's Invite
(43:00)  CCL's April Actions

March Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Register for the Summer Conference (June 8-11): https://cclusa.org/summer   
Pre-Call Video:  https://vimeo.com/933859918 
Climate Conversations Campaign: https://cclusa.org/presentations 
Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/potential-energy-slides 
Potential Energy: https://potentialenergycoalition.org/ 
Science Moms: https://sciencemoms.com/ 

Karina Ramirez and Drew Eyerly | March 2024 Monthly Speakers | Citizens' Climate Lobby

Citizens' Climate Lobby's Karina Ramirez and Drew Eyerly will present on "Understanding What You Don't Understand," which outlines the importance of working together while embracing differences. Andrew (Drew) Eyerly serves as CCL’s Conservative Outreach Director, where he lends a conservative voice and perspective to the organization’s mission while working to recruit, engage, and retain right-of-center volunteers. Prior to joining CCL, Drew served in the United States Army for 12 years as a Preventive Medicine Specialist and as a Medic completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Karina Ramirez (She/Her/Ella) joined CCL as a volunteer in 2017 and has served as CCL’s Diversity & Inclusion Director since 2018. In this role, she supports volunteers and staff working toward inclusion and belonging efforts. Karina is originally from Ecuador and lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Welcome and March Highlights
(5:13) Karina and Drew's Presentation
(17:42) Q&A Discussion
(23:34)  CCL's March Actions

March Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Register for the Summer Conference (June 8-11): https://cclusa.org/summer   
Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/921303029 
Join CCL's Diversity & Inclusion Action Team: https://community.citizensclimate.org/groups/home/2946  
Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/march-2024-slides 

Flannery Winchester + Brett Cease | Jan. 24 Monthly Speakers | CCL Policy Roadmap & Chapter Planning

To start off 2024, Join Communications Senior Director Flannery Winchester to find out about CCL's Legislative Roadmap and Chapter Planning Action! Flannery trains and supports volunteers to publish written pieces in local media, appear on TV and radio. She also pitches national media, manages and edits the CCL blog, and keeps our volunteers informed and inspired through social media and regular newsletters. Flannery came to CCL after content and marketing roles at an email marketing agency, an international software company, and a local women’s magazine in Atlanta. Flannery will be providing an update on CCL's 2024 strategic policy-based initiatives and plans followed by chapter action planning, presented by CCL Vice President of Programs Brett Cease.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Welcome & Celebrating 2023!
(8:15) CCL's 2024 Policy Roadmap
(22:01) Q&A Discussion
(27:12) CCL's Action Planning Template and January Actions
(40:33) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Closing Reflection

January Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/902285679   
CCL 2024 Policy Roadmap: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/556 
Chapter Action Plan: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/384 
Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/Jan-2024-Slides 

Amanda Ripley | December 2023 Monthly Speaker | Author and Investigative Journalist

Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, a Washington Post contributing columnist, an investigative journalist and the co-founder of Good Conflict, LLC. Her books include High Conflict, The Smartest Kids in the World and The Unthinkable. To discuss her writing, Amanda has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX News and NPR. She has spoken at the Pentagon, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Amanda was a keynote speaker at CCL's June 2022 conference. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdWewHSuvaw)

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Mark's Intro & Updates
(4:25) Chapter Highlights From The Field
(7:59) Discussion w/ Amanda Ripley
(20:40) Q&A From Volunteers
(30:15) CCL's 2023 Highlights
(39:01) Ending w/ CCL TV 

December Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/892766733 
Amanda Ripley’s website: https://www.amandaripley.com/  
Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/2023-ccl-highlights 
Help Support CCL: https://cclusa.org/donate 

Ben Pendergrass | October 2023 Monthly Speaker | CCL VP of Gov’t Affairs

Ben is the head of the CCL government relations team in Washington D.C. and in his role, he works to the advance the policy goals of CCL in Congress. Ben has worked for over 20 years in Washington both as Congressional staff and as a government relations professional. For several years, Ben served on the legislative staff of Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs for a national trade association. Ben has worked in a wide range of policy areas including taxes, natural resources, agriculture and national security. He has successfully advanced standalone legislation as well as provisions in annual appropriations bills, tax extender legislation, and farm bills. He has also worked extensively with federal agencies and worked on numerous federal regulations.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Updates
(6:33) Volunteer Forums Q&A w/ Debbie Chang
(12:34) October CCL Actions
(16:06) Ben Pendergrass Speaker
(23:44) Q&A Discussion
(42:49) Conclusion & Wrap-up 

October Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Preparing for Lobby Day Training: https://cclusa.org/preparing-for-lobby-day 
Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/873841799