Happy December—it's the Friday of months! However, y
ou can look forward to O2 Punchlist the first Thursday of each month. This gives us an opportunity to keep you in the know with both our work and our community. None of this would be possible without your support, so we want to give you the inside scoop every month.
If December is the Friday of months, then call ours Freaky Friday because we're really shaking things up.If you know o2 Utah, you know what incredible team we have—small but mighty! As we grow and change as an organization, we're saying hello to new faces and goodbye to some familiar ones.
Last month, you said hello to our brand new Policy Director, Eliza Cowie! Already, Eliza has proven to be an invaluable member of our crew. She is dedicating her time and expertise to Prosperity 2030, our landmark air quality legislation that aims to cut Utah air pollution in half by 2030. You can look forward to monthly updates on o2 Utah policy with Eliza!
You may also remember our awesome Policy Fellow, Alexa Swanstrom. Alexa is an incredible addition to all things o2—she makes us laugh, she's a quick learner, and she's just about everyone's right hand. We're so lucky to have her!
We're giving a HUGE congratulations to our Chief Operations Officer, Marcus Stevenson, who was recently elected as Mayor of Midvale City. Marcus and his political savvy have been the glue that holds the team together since the beginning, and while we're going to miss having him in the office full-time, we look forward to keeping him onboard in a part-time role as he serves his community.
We'll miss seeing another face in the office everyday—our Communications Director, Isabella Gentile, is relocating to Chicago this month. Though you will no longer see her at our monthly events, she will stay on remotely in the big city and is looking forward to virtual chats with you all! Her move makes way for an exciting internship opportunity! If you or someone you know is interested in communications, social media, web design, copywriting, digital marketing, etc., reach out to Bella here!
Lastly, we're saying goodbye to our world-famous Development Director, Corey Cronin. Corey joined the o2 Utah team just a year ago, and in that short time he made some big waves. With Corey's expertise, our organization has gone places we didn't think we could go. He is jumping from one existential threat (climate change) to another—protecting American democracy. He'll be working with federal candidates and elected officials across the political spectrum who all believe in upholding our system of government, accepting the results of elections, and working to strengthen our democracy. We're sad to see him go, but excited for his next steps and the impact he'll be making!
This means we're in the market for a dedicated and experienced Development Director! This individual would be responsible for the organization's financial health and its ability to pursue the mission of acting on environmental issues in the state through electoral involvement. If this sounds like you or someone you know, click below to learn more about the position and apply.
So as you can see, our team is growing and changing, and there’s always room for more. If you or someone you know would be interested in interning with us or volunteering, don't hesitate—come join us!
We’re so happy to share the impact our incredible volunteers made at last month’s Giving Back event with Utah AIDS Foundation Food Bank. To those of you who joined, thank you.
Thanks to your efforts, they were able to deliver over 100 Thanksgiving meal baskets to families in need.
If you weren't able to make it, no sweat! Keep scrolling for this month's event.
For those of you who are new here, we do a biweekly interview series/podcast called O2 & You! Our Executive Director and host, David Garbett, meets with voices from both environmental and political spaces. We've had on some pretty incredible guests over this past year, and we invite you to get caught up! Each episode is presented as a Facebook Live event, but if you're unable to join you can access all episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
UPCOMING GUESTS
12/8 | O2 & You! The Emi-sode. In this extra special father-daughter interview, David and Emi will be having an open discussion on air quality, bringing you the unique perspective of a little Utahn.
12/14 | O2 & You! feat. the o2 Utah Team. With all of the changes taking place, we figured we'd get the whole gang together for a year-end wrap up. Get to know our incredible staff as we reminisce on the past year and look forward to the next. We're taking questions beforehand, so ask away and we'll answer!
LAST MONTH GUEST RECAP
For November, we wrapped up an eventful election season and looked to a future of air quality action. If you weren't able to tune in, here's what you missed:
11/10 | O2 & You! feat. Election Recap feat. the o2 Utah Team. David, Corey, Marcus and Travis recapped this year's municipal election. You have to check out this fun episode!
11/17 | O2 & You! feat. Bryson C. Garbett, the CEO of Garbett Homes. Bryson is a signatory of Prosperity 2030. Together, he and David discussed what the future of air quality action looks like with the provisions of Prosperity 2030.
Each month, you're invited to come hang with the the o2 Utah team! We see this as an opportunity to get to know this community we've only known behind a screen, and what better way than by getting out and enjoying the spaces we work to protect.
This month, we're taking a hike!
Grab your snowshoes and join us for our last event of 2021! On Thursday, 12/16 at 6 p.m. we're heading up to Donut Falls for a Twilight Snowshoe Hike. We'll meet up at the Donut Falls Hiking Trail: 10005 E Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, SLC, 84121 at 6 p.m.
If you want to join and are in need of snowshoes, we recommend reaching out to Ski 'N See. They have plenty of locations and are reasonably priced! Once you register, we'll reach out to you with more details. We look forward to wrapping up the year with you all in the best way we know how—out in the fresh air!
It's time you got to know our incredible supporters. This month, we're spotlighting James and Donna Poulton. These two have gifted us ongoing support and expertise—their involvement has been truly invaluable. We want to share their powerful message with all of you.
“In around 1971, Vice President Spiro Agnew made a campaign stop (for the 1972 presidential election) in Salt Lake City. One of the events he attended was a tour of the University of Utah. I (Jim) was a student at the time, and happened to hear the speech Agnew delivered from the steps of the Park Building on President’s Circle. The day was dreary, largely because an inversion had set in the valley and the air was as polluted as Salt Lake City had seen in some time. Nevertheless, Agnew stood on the Park Building steps, looking out over the valley, and said something like, “I know some people say that Salt Lake City’s air can be polluted, but they’re just wrong. I don’t see any pollution.” I knew at that moment that achieving clean air and water in Utah would be a lifelong struggle.
As a couple living and working in Salt Lake City for many years, we have witnessed the air quality in Salt Lake Valley grow both more toxic and more visible, and we have educated ourselves about the deleterious effects our poor air has on our entire population. Because air pollution acts as a neurotoxin, and can damage the brain both functionally and anatomically, it can reduce anyone’s cognitive capacity. But it is especially damaging for vulnerable groups: infants and toddlers whose brains are just developing, teenagers struggling with learning disabilities, and elderly who are trying to maintain their cognitive functioning in a rapidly changing world. Add to that the damaging effects air pollution has on many other body systems, including pulmonary capacity, and we have become painfully aware that Salt Lake City, and the Wasatch Front altogether, are experiencing an existential crisis that must be addressed with bold and immediate action.
Because the leadership of o2 Utah has demonstrated, over the course of several years, that they know how to approach the problems of pollution in Utah in smart, effective, and strategic ways, we have decided to lend our full support to them. We applaud their advocacy, educational, and legislative initiatives, and we have committed our funds and our sweat equity to help them achieve their goals. We only hope that more Utahns will see the necessity of their efforts, and will join them in the fight."
We are so lucky to have Jim and Donna in our corner.
We're enacting change with bold environmental policy. Each month, we want to keep you updated on our policy development: what we're focussing on, facts to help connect the dots, and progress on o2 Utah policy.
Winter is coming, which means those dreaded winter inversions are, too. If you're like us, your eyes go to the sky each day, just waiting to see that brown blanket. This year, we're channeling that dread and turning it into bold action.
It's all hands on deck here at o2 Utah! We're all hard at work ensuring air quality is a top priority in the upcoming legislative session with Prosperity 2030.
We've been engaging with stakeholders across the state—from health care professionals, to auto dealers, to real estate and homebuilders, and beyond! Discover all of the community leaders who have already signed on in support of the goals of Prosperity 2030.
When you see that brown blanket, let it remind you that now is the most crucial time for you to take action on air quality. If you haven’t already, please encourage your elected officials to support Prosperity 2030.
It's up to all of us to demand clear skies for our future generations—they deserve it and so do we. Thank you in advance for taking action.
If your last year and a half was anything like ours, you blew through just about every show, book, podcast, and playlist—leaving you searching for something new. Worry not, we've got you! Every month, you can look forward to recommendations for listening, watching, and reading from our team.
WHAT DAVID IS EATING
Snack | Delallo Potato Gnocchi
"I know it's not a listen, read or watch. But you HAVE to try this gnocchi. It's easy to make and delicious! I like mine with a little peh-stoh."
WHAT TRAVIS IS LISTENING TO
Podcast Episode | The Rich Roll Podcast with Mike Posner
Rich Roll talks to singer Mike Posner about his walk across America and summiting Mt. Everest.
WHAT COREY IS LISTENING TO
Podcast | Reply All
"I'm not a tech person or really get the internet... But this podcast is wildly entertaining and keeps me up to date on what the youths are up to."
WHAT MARCUS IS LISTENING TO
Audiobook | "Dune" by Frank Herbert
“I like Dune and I really like audiobooks."
WHAT BELLA IS LISTENING TO
Album | The Slow Rush B-Sides & Remixes by Tame Impala
"Just when you think Tame Impala songs can't get any better, he drops his B-Sides & Remixes and your mind is blown all over again. I love you, Kevin!"
WHAT ELIZA IS RECOMMENDING
Fresh Perspective | Embrace the Dark!
"As our long sunlit days are behind us, I want to encourage everyone to get outside even if that means starting before the sun rises or ending after it sets. Getting outside, even if just for a brisk walk, is sure to brighten up your day!"
Thank you for being in our corner. We'll see you next month!
