Featured chapter: CCL Vermont

CCL volunteers are the best messengers about our unique, effective approach to climate advocacy — and Jennifer Durgin, CCL’s Vermont state coordinator, is no exception! Jen was featured in a wonderful radio interview earlier this year. (Scroll down the show page to find Jen’s April 3 episode.)

“Congress is more polarized than it has ever been in modern times, and this has made it particularly hard for environmental groups to have their voices heard by Republicans who control both the House and the Senate and the executive branch,” Jen explained to listeners.

“But Citizens’ Climate Lobby does still have a seat at the table. The doors are still open to most of those Republican offices. That’s because the approach of Citizens’ Climate Lobby is to build trust and positive relationships.”

She shares, “I natively am not a great listener because I come from a big family and I was the youngest, so I had to make my voice heard. But Citizens’ Climate Lobby has taught me a lot: Listening first. Listening deeply [...] because everybody wants to be heard.”

Before Jen’s interview, you’ll hear a discussion with another CCLer — Beth Malow from our Braver Angels Action Team! Beth, co-author of the newly released book Beyond the Politics of Contempt, was also featured in the same radio show. She highlighted the importance of having productive conversation across differences.

“Climate action, far from being a casualty of the dysfunction we are feeling right now as a democracy, can actually become our catalyst for renewal,” Beth explains. “We can use climate, and rallying behind climate in a bipartisan way, to be a force for our renewal of our democracy.”

Beyond the airwaves, Jen and other CCL Vermonters are also spreading the word at community events, including tabling last month with a fun activity built by chapter co-leader Alex Messinger (pictured). “Kids and adults could spin the wheel and then answer a climate-related question,” Jen said.

Keep up the great work, CCL Vermont!