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In August 2005, Green Corps welcomed a new class of 20 aspiring environmental leaders. These trainees participated in a three-week Introductory Classroom Training, where they learned the basic issues and skills needed to launch their first campaigns. |
Although in March the Senate voted to drill in the Refuge by a two-vote margin, the fight to protect the Arctic is far from over. In our August classroom training, we brought in media and communications experts from the Sierra Club and Fenton Communications to train the new class of organizers in effective media outreach skills and strategies, preparing them for the Arctic fight. Currently, Green Corps organizers are working with the Alaska Coalition and the Alaska Wilderness League in key states to advocate the protection of this national treasure during the critical budget reconciliation process.
Green Corps’ mission is to train the next generation of environmental leaders. Since 1991, Green Corps has recruited and trained 190 college graduates for leadership positions in the environmental movement. Today, 85 percent of our graduates hold leadership roles within top environmental and social change organizations.
Here are just a few recent achievements of our alumni:
 Confronting Climate Change: On June 14, 2005, Vermont took an important step towards a cleaner energy future when Gov. Jim Douglas signed a VPIRG-backed renewable energy bill that promotes efficiency and use of affordable, local, clean energy sources. VPIRG Clean Energy Advocate James Moore (GC Class of 2001) was instrumental in coordinating the grassroots and lobbying efforts to secure this victory. “This bill is a huge victory for Vermont’s ratepayers, environment and locally based economy,” said Moore.
 Supporting Communities Fighting Toxics: Kim DeFeo (GC Class of 2000) is the co-director of the Sierra Club’s National Environmental Justice Grassroots Organizing Program. In this role, Kim manages the program work of eight organizers across the country, providing support to people of color and low-income communities in their environmental justice struggles. For example, in South Carolina, the Sierra Club program was able to assist an African-American community plagued with mercury-contaminated water from nearby industrial dumping. With the additional grassroots organizing training and support, the community was able to secure safe drinking water and protect the health of their families.
 Protecting Puget Sound: In his first year as field coordinator of People for Puget Sound, Jim Dawson (GC Class of 2001) developed the grassroots strategy and mobilized citizen support for a state bill to protect Puget Sound from oil spills. Jim dramatically increased citizen participation in the Legislature by turning out more than 400 local residents to a Citizen’s Lobby Day, doubling the organization’s ability to mobilize its activists. In April 2005, Jim’s efforts paid off when the state Legislature passed the bill.
All of us at Green Corps would like to thank you for your support, which has enabled us to create concrete change on such a wide range of issues. We look forward to updating you on our continued progress and success.
Sincerely,
Naomi Roth
Executive Director |
