Organizing for Biodiversity – ESC’s Activist Training Lab and New National Grassroots Organizer

Greetings from the mountains of beautiful Boone, North Carolina. Since our last newsletter, I’ve joined the Endangered Species Coalition team as the new National Grassroots Organizer! I am excited to contribute to the work of the ESC team and coalition.

This Fall, I joined other ESC staff and several member groups in Washington, D.C., for a rally supporting the Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act. Joining with member groups, I met with North Carolina legislators to discuss critical legislation to protect and improve biodiversity. 

I’ve also been hard at work leading the Activist Training Lab.This program is unique to ESC and includes coaching, training, and mentoring to build the foundational skills for grassroots organizing.  Our newest cohort of trainees will be covering some of the following subjects:  

• Organizing 101
• Issues, Goals, and Power Mapping
• Campaign Planning
• Volunteer Retention and Recruitment
• Local and Regional Organizing*
• Congressional Advocacy and Organizing*
• Cultural Organizing*
• Telling Your Campaign Story and Closing

Given the challenges of the new administration and Congress, it’s clear that we’ll have to activate our member groups and bring more people into the movement to champion the Endangered Species Act and wildlife protections. Through strong organizing, I’m confident we can do just that. Please reach out if you or your organization want to learn more about the Activist Training Lab. We would love to work with you.