CCL Lynchburg at their summer picnic in August 2025
Part social, part productive: CCL summer get-togethers
By Flannery Winchester
Climate advocacy can feel heavy and hard, at times. That’s a big part of why our volunteers make it a point to get together for connection and camaraderie whenever they can.
Let’s take a look back at a few of the summer events our chapters hosted to enjoy each other’s company, energize themselves for the work ahead — and even sneak some climate action into their socializing!
Story swap over pizza in Illinois
CCL’s Greater Naperville Area chapter in Illinois held their August monthly meeting at a local pizza place. Chapter co-leader Scott Buckley said, “18 members attended, including three new members we’d never met before.”
CCL’s Summer Conference and Lobby Day took place just a few weeks before, so the chapter members who went to D.C. reported back about what it was like to learn and lobby alongside hundreds of other grassroots climate advocates.
“Three of our members who attended the Summer Conference and Lobby Day shared their experiences, followed by lots of introductions and conversation over pizza and beverages of choice,” Scott said. “A good time was had by all!”
Picnics and postcards in Virginia
In Virginia, CCL Lynchburg got together for their annual chapter picnic on August 21 (pictured above). “I’m becoming more convinced that enabling people who are concerned about climate to connect with one another is one of our most important actions,” said chapter co-leader Steven Selby.
Across the state, CCL Fairfax County gathered at a brewery to write postcards to Virginia’s environmental voters, encouraging them to turn out and make their voices heard in upcoming elections. Group Leader Rose Hendricks called it, “Part social, part productive!”
From a mixer to meetings in Texas
CCL Austin’s “Under-40ish” group held its third mixer this summer, pulling in many folks who are aware of the chapter but don’t often attend regular chapter meetings.
“I’ve been mentioning to our younger members that it would be great to organize something for their generation,” said Cynthia Lesky, one of the chapter’s leaders.
Chapter member Roustam Gouliev (pictured below, left) took her up on the idea. Cynthia shared the suggestion with him at a tabling event, and “within ten minutes, Roustam had set up a GroupMe chat and started inviting people,” Cynthia said.
“That GroupMe very quickly led to monthly get-togethers at a local brewpub and at coffee shops — proving yet again, it takes just one person to get things moving!”
Check out the recording of CCL’s September monthly meeting to see and hear about even more of our chapters’ recent activities. If your chapter hosted a summer event, feel free to share your own stories in our CCL Community forums and send us your photos at .
After all this quality time together, we hope you’re feeling energized and ready for a busy fall season of climate advocacy!
Join Citizens’ Climate Lobby to get connected with your local chapter and take climate action together.
