Great Lakes Regional Conference A Big Success

By John Sabin

CCL’s 2019 Great Lakes Regional Conference was a huge success this past weekend! There were 186 in attendance, including 45 students (including a group from the College of Wooster shown here). The keynote address was given by Dr. Carolyn Woo, Distinguished President’s Fellow for Global Development, Purdue University, and former President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services. Dr. Woo spoke of the “Energy Transition Dialogues,” held at the Vatican in 2018 and 2019, which she helped to convene. These meetings brought together the CEOs of major oil companies, investment firms and environmental watchdog groups, and led to the signing of carbon pricing and climate impact transparency resolutions. 

The conference included a focus on the importance of diversity within CCL. Clara Fang, CCL’s Higher Education Outreach Coordinator, presented a plenary session on “Building an Inclusive and Empowering Culture.” This was followed by a session on “Growing Conservative Engagement,” led by CCL Development Associate Topher Anderson, and a panel on “Diversity in Youth Climate Advocacy,” led by Great Lakes Regional Fellow, Jess Wilber. 

Another highlight of the conference was the showing of the documentary film “Anote’s Ark,” which depicts the people of the island nation of Kiribati as they face inexorably rising sea levels. The film was presented by Cincinnati volunteer Mike Roman, who was introduced to Kiribati during his time in the Peace Corps, and whose dissertation led to the making of the film. Participants at the conference report coming away inspired, rejuvenated, and ready to dig into more CCL action back home.

John Sabin is a regional coordinator for the Great Lakes Region. More CCL regional conferences are scheduled through the rest of 2019 and early 2020. Find your regional conference on this list, and plan to attend!