Dear John,

As 2022 comes to a close, we ask you to make your voice heard and TAKE ACTION TODAY to support those on the frontlines of the climate crisis who valiantly continue to beat back harmful legislation through strategic campaigns and sustained organizing efforts. 

Earlier this month, thanks to the power of grassroots organizing and the strength of the Environmental Justice Movement, we beat back Senator Manchin’s attempt for the second time to pass a dirty deal that would sacrifice frontline communities through a handout to the fossil fuel industry, all under the guise of permitting reform. 

Now, he’s up to it again, this time trying to pass it through the Senate before the end of the year (and likely this week). 

Please, take a minute today to call your Senators or email them; it’s quick and easy to do!

Learn more about why we oppose this dirty deal in our most recent opinion piece.

In November 2022, Climate Justice Alliance members were on the ground in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for COP27, the United Nations Climate Change conference, as part of a 60 member It Takes Roots Frontline delegation.

Click here to watch the COP27 video by filmmaker Keenan Rhodes.

Together, we pushed our demands for climate reparations, for human rights and the rights of Indigenous peoples, and against false solutions. We joined social movements and Global South countries and were successful in pushing wealthy countries to finally cease their opposition to the creation of a Loss & Damage fund to compensate communities suffering the impacts of the climate crisis. Less progress was made in the efforts to cut emissions and to phase out fossil fuels, not surprisingly given that there were more fossil fuel lobbyists at COP27 than there were delegates from any African nation, even though this is only the fourth time the conference has been held on the continent. It’s time to ramp up our efforts to kick polluters out of COP.

For more information about COP27, visit https://climatejusticealliance.org/cop27/

After a journey through the history of environmental and climate justice, how to identify good and bad solutions to climate change, and the importance of storytelling and creativity in the movement, we conclude this season of our podcast, Stories from Home with this episode that focuses on the most foundational element of the work: each of us, our capacity for self-transformation and leadership, and our relationships in the ecosystems that are our families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Organizations like the Kheprw Institute focus on just that – community empowerment through self-mastery. In this episode, guests Aghilah Nadaraj and Asli Mwaafrika from Kheprw share what it means to build “community wealth” and how leadership is within each of us.

You’ll also hear from Najari Smith, founder of Rich City Rides, on his journey from Brooklyn, New York, to Richmond, California, and how he channeled the voices of his community into the visionary bike cooperative and ecosystem that it is today. 

Lastly, you’ll meet Climate Justice Alliance’s co-executive director Marion Gee, who talks about personal loss, grief, and her calling to leadership.

We hope you enjoy and please share with your networks.