Weekly Briefing: Get ready for Lobby Day with CCL’s BRIDGE training

Jun. 24, 2026

We’re just a month away from our biggest lobby event of the year on Capitol Hill. On July 28, hundreds of CCLers from across the country will gather on Capitol Hill for a full day of meetings with members of Congress to advocate for clean energy and climate policies. To prepare for this year’s Lobby Day, we’re diving deep into CCL’s BRIDGE Advocacy Training program.

BRIDGE Unit 2 focuses on applying the knowledge from Unit 1 to better understand our Members of Congress. Trainees have learned how to apply Moral Foundations Theory to members of Congress, research their priorities and values, and tailor messaging in ways that resonate with their perspectives.

Unit 2 focuses on one of the most important skills for effective advocacy: understanding your audience. You'll learn how to apply Moral Foundations Theory to members of Congress, research their priorities and values, and tailor your messaging in ways that resonate with their perspectives.

As CCL Vice President of Field Operations Brett Cease explains, “The more we understand where someone is coming from, the more effective we can be at finding common ground and building trust.” That's why Unit 2 lays such an important foundation for successful congressional meetings.

Once you’ve worked your way through Units 1 and 2, you have two upcoming opportunities to strengthen your skills. 

1. Join us tomorrow, June 25, for BRIDGE Training #6: Unit 2, Section Three Deep Dive. During this session, you'll practice assessing where your member of Congress stands on a CCL policy and identifying a realistic next-step ask that builds trust and political will over time.
2. Then, join an Advocacy Detective Blueprint Co-Working Session. These informal workshops, held every Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT through July 15, offer dedicated time to work on your Member of Congress Common Ground Blueprint alongside fellow volunteers and CCL staff. Whether you're just getting started or refining your research, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside other CCLers in small groups and get real-time guidance.

As Brett reminds us, “Political will is built through relationships. When we understand what motivates a member of Congress, we're better equipped to make meaningful asks that create real progress.”

The best way to prepare for both workshops — and for Lobby Day itself — is to complete Unit 2 of BRIDGE. If you haven't finished it yet, now is the perfect time to catch up. Complete Unit 2 and access all BRIDGE resources on CCL Community.

Take me to BRIDGE!

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Share a conference update from Brett Cease. Unsure what to expect at this year’s Summer Conference & Lobby Day? CCL VP of Field Operations Brett Cease has the inside scoop on the day’s program, including his conference-exclusive, afternoon BRIDGE training. Check out Brett’s conference update and share it to your network on Facebook, Instagram, X, or Bluesky. 

If you have more time: Make one last conference push ahead of the registration deadline. We have only two weeks left to get as many citizen lobbyists as possible to Washington, D.C. this July! Work within your chapter and network to coordinate registration, transport, and logistics to help make this our biggest Conference & Lobby Day ever. The more people we can bring to Capitol Hill, the louder our message will be. Make sure everyone is registered before the July 9 deadline to secure their spot and experience what it’s like to be a citizen lobbyist in our nation’s capitol. 

 Featured: The Great School Electrification Challenge

CCL’s National Youth Action Team recently wrapped up the third and final round of The Great School Electrification Challenge.  The Challenge was part of CCL’s effort to promote building electrification through federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. It provided a fun, lightly competitive framework for students to learn advocacy skills, engage in their communities, and move their school districts forward on an infrastructural plan to reduce emissions.

Round 3 winners were Durham (NC) Sustainable Schools Coalition (1st place), Voltage of Issaquah, WA (2nd place) and Fairfax (VA) Solar Schools Campaign (3rd place).  The Durham team was successful in getting the district to commit to a full Climate Action Plan, and the Fairfax team was featured in an Earth Day video at the invitation of their superintendent. 

Over the three years of the Challenge, 35 youth-led teams completed and tracked 614 local advocacy actions. Their efforts mirrored CCL’s 5 levers, and included over 200 lobbying actions, such as meeting with school board members and district administrative staff.

Highlights of the Challenge include: 

• The Electrify Cincinnati (OH) Schools Team worked with the Board of the Cincinnati Public Schools to pass a full “Electrify Everything” Resolution.
• Duluth (MN) Climate Club saw the installation of solar panels on the school district’s administration building after 6 years of student advocacy.
• The Durham (NC) Sustainable Schools Coalition was successful in getting the district to commit to creating a full Climate Action Plan. 
• The Moscow (ID) Solar Bears obtained a commitment from their superintendent to install solar panels in the district. 

The National Youth Action Team congratulates all of the students who participated over the course of the three year project for using their powerful voices as constituents to make change in their communities. Way to go!

The National Youth Action Team finished out the year strong before beginning a well-deserved summer break. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the NYAT, visit the group’s page on CCL Community.

Upcoming trainings & events

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Live Events Calendar on CCL Community.