How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just that. Co-run by Vital Communities and the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup, 2CLA offers in-person and virtual meetings, guest speakers, group discussion, a project development workbook, and collaborative work time. The group explores climate change science, mitigation, adaptation, and migration – all with an eye towards equity and lived experience. Cohort members also have the change to develop their project design and leadership skills in order to lead successful community action. The current class includes 22 Upper Valley residents ranging in age from early-twenties to mid-seventies. This post reviews Session 1: Climate Science and Project Introductions – see the series here.
2CLA Program Manager Alana Redden writes:
Climate change means more frequent lash floods like this 2018 event in which the White River inundated downtown White River Junction.
The kick-off went great! Unfortunately, I’m still in Montana, so I’ve been relying on feedback from others to get a sense of how the evening went. The three main areas of focus were introductions and an overview of the program, Erich’s lectures on the latest climate science, and an introduction to projects and the Project Workbook. There was a lot of time for people to chat amongst themselves and have small group conversations to reflect on the material that Erich and Alana Macken presented. People’s responses in the follow up survey suggested that they really enjoyed getting a better sense of what to expect from the program, meeting everyone, and having good conversations. The constructive feedback was mostly about the fact it was pouring rain (everyone was under a pavilion but it was a generally wet environment) and they wanted more variety in who they were talking to in their small groups. We’ve made sure to mix up the groups in the coming sessions when we bring people into virtual breakout groups! I’m looking forward to the upcoming virtual sessions as I will be able to start to connect with the cohort members more personally. More to come!