Dear Supporter,
I found my home in nature as a kid growing up in the California redwoods. By the time I was a teenager, I was (the youngest) guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Most people may not know about my environmental roots, and some are surprised that a person most known for civil rights is the new executive director of the Sierra Club. They shouldn't be. Coming to the Sierra Club is like coming home. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.
Not gonna lie, though, given this moment in time it is also a daunting place to be. That's why I'm glad I'm not alone. Not even close. Knowing the unparalleled strength and commitment of Sierra Club's membership - especially members like you - is a big reason I took the job. And, to be completely honest, I'm counting on you to be with me as we face the challenges ahead together. Will you make a special gift of $15 or more today?
I'm told your generosity will earn you not only my gratitude, but also a pretty beautiful calendar as well.
The connection between my work in racial justice and voting rights and Sierra Club’s work on climate change and a looming extinction crisis is poverty. After all, we’re living in a world where the poor and marginalized are enduring the worst impacts of fossil fuel’s toxic legacy. And despite what fossil fuel companies want us to believe, we don't have to choose between jobs and the environment - if we solve poverty, we solve the environmental crisis.
The good news is that I see how the Sierra Club has become rapidly more inclusive. In order to save this planet, we must take on the ravages of poverty and oppression.
If this sounds like an ambitious agenda - you're right. That's why your contribution today matters so very much. I expect our organization to take on ever more local campaigns on everything from industrial pollution to the electrical grid. And we have a critical role to play in making sure that the $370 billion in climate change funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act is not wasted.
These goals are at the top of my list. But of course, there's more. As I write this, I'm on a listening tour throughout the country to hear Sierra Club chapter leaders, volunteers, members and activists discuss their priorities and passions. I am already wildly impressed - not only by the depth of knowledge about what our communities are facing, but by the sheer will in every person I meet.
This incredible will has long proven effective here at the Sierra Club. By working together, we have achieved critical victories. In the last few weeks alone, we've celebrated the news that Alaska's breathtaking Bristol Bay will be saved from devastating mining. And, of course, millions of environmental activists like you can take credit for the news that President Biden's administration has restored protections for the Tongass National Forest.
Still, though, even as I am hearing your joy in these important achievements, it is nearly drowned out by our shared resounding anguish: there has never been a more important time for us to reach across our differences to confront the climate crisis we're in. We have no choice but to move ahead, together, fiercely, and with every bit of strength we can muster.
That's why I'm here, Supporter. I'm pretty sure that's why you're here too. I'm ready to do this work. I hope you are too. Thank you, in advance, for your financial support today.
Sincerely,
Ben Jealous
Executive Director
Sierra Club | 