Weekly Briefing: CCL Celebrates 15th Anniversary

October 12, 2022

In 15 years, CCL has grown so much that some new volunteers might not know about our origins. Let’s take a look back at the very beginning when CCL was born. 

While CCL officially started 15 years ago, the spark that set everything off was in 1994, when future CCL founder Marshall Saunders attended his first lobby meeting on Capitol Hill with an advocacy group called RESULTS. While working alongside RESULTS, Marshall honed his lobbying skills and learned how to influence Congress to take action on major issues facing our world.

After seeing the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” in 2006, Marshall realized that climate change was another major issue that required action. He began to give talks about climate change. 

During one presentation, a woman in the audience asked, “What should we do?” Marshall responded that lobbying Congress together was key. The woman replied, “Why don’t you do that?”

That one question caused Marshall to start the first CCL chapter in 2007. CCL has since grown to over 200,000 supporters, organized in over 560 chapters around the world. 

To celebrate our birthday, CCL’s marketing team made the awesome video below. Check it out. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CCL!

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In other news this week: 

• NCARS gains bipartisan support: The National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act, which is one of CCL’s supporting asks, passed out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with bipartisan support.  
• Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day: As we continue to fight climate change, it’s important to remember the native peoples whose identities are tied to the land we strive to preserve. Like and share our Instagram post to raise awareness. 
• CCL Executive Director to attend COP27: Not only will President Biden be attending COP27 in Egypt next month, but CCL Executive Director Madeleine Para will be there too! Like and share the news in this tweet.  
• Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Weinstein: Age is just a number, and CCL volunteer Linda Weinstein is proof. After moving in to her senior care facility, Linda was surprised that more people weren’t climate activists — so she did something about it. 
• Podcasts for climate enthusiasts: All caught up with the Citizens’ Climate Radio podcast? Check out our recommendations for other climate podcasts to listen to until the next Citizens’ Climate Radio episode comes out. 
• Nerd Corner and carbon education: A recently published international survey highlights the value of carbon price education. You can read Jonathan Marshall’s analysis at Nerd Corner on Community.

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Take action this week  

If you have a little time: Earth Day: Election Edition events
Earth Day: Election Edition events are right around the corner on Oct. 22. This is the final push to make climate an election issue during the midterms before voting in November. Find an event near you, or get in touch with your chapter to create your own event!

If you have more time: Watch the recording of the October national call
Couldn’t make it to our October national call? No worries — check out this recording. This month’s guests were Stephen Perkins and Quill Robinson from the American Conservation Coalition. 

Find your CCL chapter | Check out our Action Teams | Browse upcoming events

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Featured Lever This Week 

Asheville CCLers table at Cider Fest

This past weekend, CCLers in Asheville, North Carolina tabled at a local autumnal festival, Cider Fest. The group spent time talking with festival attendees about climate and the upcoming midterms. 

VIEW THE ASHEVILLE TWEET

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Upcoming Trainings 

• 10/20: How to Tour Your State or Region — This training explores how other CCL volunteers have helped build new chapters in their state and region to expand CCL’s presence into every congressional district. Join us!

Need training on the basics? Catch our next sessions of Core Volunteer Training, made for newer volunteers:

• 10/18: Lobbying 201: Practicing Effective Lobbying — Join us for an online training that will walk you through important considerations for preparing to meet with your member of Congress. Join us!
• 10/25: 7 Steps for Media Actions — Join us for a training that will be focused on how you can use CCL's media resources to amplify the importance of including a carbon price in legislation. Join us!

To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.