Green Corps Organizer Andrew Adams, center, convinced the Los Angeles City Council to pass a resolution in support of protecting the Endangered Species Act. (Photo by Mark Adams).

For over 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has effectively served as the safety net for wildlife by saving hundreds of plants and animals from extinction, putting hundreds more on the path to recovery and safeguarding the habitat on which they all depend. From wolves in Yellowstone to manatees in Florida, from sea otters in California to coastal birds on New England’s shores, the Endangered Species Act has protected species and reversed dangerous trends that threaten their existence.

Unfortunately, land developers and their political allies in Congress have launched an all-out assault on the Endangered Species Act. House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) introduced a bill that would decimate the Act. Green Corps joined the Defenders of Wildlife to mobilize broad-based opposition to weakening the Endangered Species Act.

Working in Los Angeles, Andrew used the skills he learned in Green Corps classroom training to launch a massive public education effort across southern California. Due to his effective outreach, Andrew was able to convince the Los Angeles City Council to adopt a resolution that opposes any weakening of the Endangered Species Act. Andrew also passed similar resolutions in West Hollywood and Long Beach.

As the fight to protect the Endangered Species Act continues, Andrew’s impact in California will continue to expand. Andrew has transferred the skills he learned in Green Corps to a diverse group of citizen activists who, armed with the tools for change, can continue to advocate species protection.

You can read more about Andrew and other members of the Green Corps Class of 2006 at www.greencorps.org.

Matthew Anderson-Stembridge, Green Corps Class of 2000, recently took a job as the national coordinator for the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign (ICEC). The group was formed in the late 1990s as a collaboration of the National Council of Churches in Christ and the Coalition on Environment and Jewish Life. The organization’s purpose is to educate and mobilize people of faith in the United States in order to address climate change and energy issues. Currently, ICEC has a field presence in 10 states that each recently completed a state energy charter based on the call of the faithful to care for creation.

Before taking a job with ICEC, Matt worked with Greenpeace, and as the Environmental Advocacy Director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Matt hopes that his work with ICEC, building on this previous experience in Washington, D.C., will bring together new allies to protect the environment, and is especially excited about promoting creation care as a member of the faith community.

Matt told us, “To me, it makes perfect sense that people who care deeply about each other, their faith and their moral commitments ought to be able to make incredible change happen on environmental issues".

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