Read our latest monthly newsletter, Synthesis.

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Synthesis is a 2-minute read to give you the quick hits of our recent work, to amplify our partners, and to share important environmental stories.

The fight for environmental justice is inextricably linked to the fight for racial justice, economic justice, and LGBTQIA+ justice. At Washington Conservation Action, we are committed to protecting people and nature as one -- and that includes LGBTQIA+ people! Check out our Pride blog highlighting some of the most iconic queer conservationists in the movement. [[link removed]]

June is Orca Action Month in the Pacific Northwest! Our theme this year is Clean Water, Healthy Futures. We're raising awareness about toxic chemicals that threaten orcas, salmon, and people alike. Check out the full calendar to plan your June activities. Join us! [[link removed]]

“Call 4 Climate Action,” our ambitious voter engagement campaign is in full swing! Volunteer to phone bank with us the third Thursday of every month. Help us reach our goal to get 50,000 new or infrequent voters to commit to vote in November and strengthen democracy! Mark your calendars and RSVP for the upcoming Call 4 Climate Action happening on June 20 at 6 p.m. [[link removed]]

Today is the final day before the $100,000 Bullitt Prize application officially closes! Make sure to get yours in before tonight, June 1, 11:59 p.m. to be considered. This prize is awarded annually to an individual or collaborative group. You must be 35 years or younger, and working on a project or issue that addresses conservation and environmental justice in Washington State or the Pacific Northwest region if your work impacts Washington. Learn more and apply here. [[link removed]]

A growing, unprecedented statewide coalition of business and environmental leaders, Tribal nations, labor unions and community organizations dedicated to protecting our air and water are coming together to fight back and reject the dangerous initiative 2117 that seeks to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. Join us and become a part of this historic effort! [[link removed]]

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conducted its review of the Goldendale Pumped Storage project without the comprehensive Tribal consultation required by law. Washington Conservation Action, along with other climate and environmental groups are against this project that would permanently destroy sacred tribal cultural properties. Sign the petition: Tell FERC it's not clean energy if it destroys cultural resources. [[link removed]]

The state Department of Ecology is building a new grant program, funded by the Climate Commitment Act, that will provide millions of dollars for community-led projects to reduce air pollution. These grants will be focused on solutions designed by, and for, the people who are most affected by polluted air. Sign up now for a listening session on June 10 [[link removed]] or June 12 [[link removed]] to make your voice heard and to help ensure that these grants will be equitable, effective, and make a real difference!

As you may know, WCA along with partners and key legislators, secured $83 million of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds to promote carbon sequestration and storage in DNR-managed forestlands by conserving 2,000 acres of mature forests. We’re thrilled to see Gov. Inslee highlighting some of the structurally complex mature forests conserved using funds from the CCA! Read about it here. [[link removed]]

WCA works to elect environmental champions across the state. For every election, we endorse candidates who we expect to be environmental champions as well as ballot measures that will protect people and nature as one. Read our endorsements for your community for the 2024 Primary Election! [[link removed]]

Thanks to you, our annual fundraiser Spark, Powering Transformative Change on May 9 was a glowing success! We exceeded our financial goal, raising $170,000 in support of our work to protect people and nature as one and to gear up for a critical election season. Check out the smiling faces and crowd from the special night here. [[link removed]]

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 2, 12 p.m.: [[link removed]] Human Orca Mural [[link removed]] at Gasworks Park, Seattle

June 8, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. bird watch and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: We’re Coming Out: [[link removed]] World Oceans Day Bird Watch & Beach Clean Up at The Sculpture Park in Seattle.

June 12: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. All Our Relations: Tribute to the Orca [[link removed]] at the Seattle Aquarium.

June 27, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.: Orca Action Month Culminating rally [[link removed]] at Westlake Park, Seattle. Free Event with music, chalk art, speakers, and more.

All month long: Big River, Resilience & Renewal in the Columbia Basin | Book Launch [[link removed]] throughout the region in Olympia, Seattle, Portland, Richland, Spokane, and Nelson, B.C.

All month long: The We Are Puget Sound traveling exhibit [[link removed]] at Harbor Wildwatch at Gig Harbor!

STAFF CORNER: Meryl Ellingson (she/her)

Meryl is WCA's Annual Giving Manager currently based in Bellingham. In March 2023, Meryl and her partner moved from SoCal to Western Washington for new career prospects. Despite being new to Washington State, it has quickly become a place that feels like home to her.

Protecting the environment is important to Meryl because healthy ecosystems are critical for our survival as species.

"We can’t compartmentalize how we treat nature and how we treat each other. Humanity has a lot of collective healing to do and we can’t do that without healing our environment."

Meryl's role in the Development Team focuses on building a membership program of supporters that give $1 - $999 annually. She runs the fundraising campaigns and work closely with the communications team to find creative ways to talk about the work we do to protect people and nature as one.

Outside of work, Meryl enjoys hiking in the mountains with her dog, Mikka, skiing, and running the forest trails in Bellingham!

RACIAL JUSTICE GLOSSARY

Solidarity

The union arising from common responsibilities and interests. Standing in solidarity means embracing the common responsibility and leveraging our privilege to reform inherent racism worldwide.

Washington Conservation Action

1402 Third Avenue, Suite 1400 | Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 631-2600 | [email protected]

EIN: 91-0839385

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