Weekly Briefing: New BRIDGE Action Team kicks off this month
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Aug. 12, 2026
Are you ready to take your climate advocacy skills to the next level? The new BRIDGE Action Team might just be the perfect place for you.
The BRIDGE (Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement) Program was launched in January 2026 to help CCL volunteers master the relational advocacy skills needed to truly advance climate solutions — by building the kinds of trust, connection, and cross-difference communication that strengthens our work at every level.
Now, we’re rolling out a new BRIDGE Action Team to give volunteers a dedicated place to deepen their knowledge and skills. The Action Team’s vision is clear: To apply the BRIDGE framework to strengthen advocacy, coalition building, chapter health, and democratic engagement throughout CCL. And they’re recruiting!
Interested volunteers and potential new members are invited to join a discussion Monday, August 17 at 6 p.m. ET. At this meeting, the BRIDGE Action Team will discuss everything from how to select the best meeting time to the activities the team will focus on during its initial months.
Whether you’re already passionate about BRIDGE or simply curious about how these principles can shape the way we advocate and build relationships, there’s a place for you on the Action Team. Join the conversation on August 17 to learn more, share your ideas, and help shape what comes next for BRIDGE at CCL.
RSVP to the BRIDGE Action Team launch
In other news this week:
- Sen. John Curtis on FOFA: In a new article in Deseret News, Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) shared his perspective on the importance of the Fix Our Forests Act and its prospects for passage in Congress. As the lead Senate sponsor on the bill, Sen. Curtis has been working with a bipartisan group of his colleagues — including co-lead Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) — to help get this bill across the finish line. Of course, CCL is playing our own role in helping advance the legislation, with the Fix Our Forests Act serving as one of our Lobby Day asks on Capitol Hill just a few weeks ago.
Take action this week
If you have a little time: Amplify CCL’s Summer Conference posts on social media. Help build on the momentum from the Summer Conference by amplifying a social media post about our conference and Lobby Day. That helps push our message and our work out to so many more people who might want to get involved or support CCL’s work. Check out this year’s wrap-up posts on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn. (Hundreds of CCLers took this action together during our August meeting on Saturday, which you can watch here if you missed it!)If you have more time: Connect with your MOC during August recess. Members of Congress (MOCs) are typically back in their districts and states during the month of August. This is the perfect time to reinforce our recent lobbying asks by showing up at local events and asking relevant questions about permitting reform and Forest Service funding. Doing so helps to demonstrate community support for action, which is a key part of moving Congress forward on climate. Check out the August Action Sheet for more tips and ideas on how to make the most of the August recess.
Upcoming trainings & events
8/13: Election Engagement Activities For Your Chapter - For the 2026 election season, the Election Engagement Action Team is focused on helping CCL volunteers take meaningful, nonpartisan action—connecting with candidates, supporting voter turnout, and strengthening grassroots engagement. Join this training to explore key areas where the team supports CCL volunteers and chapters stay engaged in meaningful action. Join us!
8/20: Understanding and Transforming Conflict (BRIDGE Training #8) - Our second-to-last BRIDGE training is coming up! We’ll continue applying our skills in real-world scenarios. Recognize when a conversation shifts into identity-driven “high conflict,” then practice curiosity, looping, and complexity to de-escalate and reopen space for dialogue. Join us!
8/24: August 2026 Inclusion Workshop: Culture, Creativity & Climate: How the Arts Can Drive Environmental Advocacy - Climate change threatens more than our ecosystems; it also threatens the cultural traditions, knowledge, and practices that connect communities and shape our relationship with the environment. At the same time, artists and cultural practitioners are using creative expression as a tool to communicate climate issues, preserve cultural knowledge, build community, and inspire action. Join us to explore the connection between cultural conservation and climate conservation, while highlighting how the arts can serve as a mechanism for environmental advocacy and collective action. Join us!
8/20: Understanding and Transforming Conflict (BRIDGE Training #8) - Our second-to-last BRIDGE training is coming up! We’ll continue applying our skills in real-world scenarios. Recognize when a conversation shifts into identity-driven “high conflict,” then practice curiosity, looping, and complexity to de-escalate and reopen space for dialogue. Join us!
8/24: August 2026 Inclusion Workshop: Culture, Creativity & Climate: How the Arts Can Drive Environmental Advocacy - Climate change threatens more than our ecosystems; it also threatens the cultural traditions, knowledge, and practices that connect communities and shape our relationship with the environment. At the same time, artists and cultural practitioners are using creative expression as a tool to communicate climate issues, preserve cultural knowledge, build community, and inspire action. Join us to explore the connection between cultural conservation and climate conservation, while highlighting how the arts can serve as a mechanism for environmental advocacy and collective action. Join us!
To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Live Events Calendar on CCL Community.
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Aug. 12, 2026 Are you ready to take your climate advocacy skills to the next level? The new BRIDGE Action Team might just be the perfect place for you. The BRIDGE (Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement) Program was launched in January 2026 to help CCL volunteers master the relational advocacy skills needed to truly advance climate ...
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