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See our Summer Conference through social posts

Posted on July 28, 2025 in Be Your Best Advocate

Four young women of different ethnicities are sitting in a row of conference seating. They are wearing nametag lanyards, holding folders with papers on them, and smiling at the viewer

See our Summer Conference through social posts

By Isel Neira, CCL National Events Intern

More than 800 CCL volunteers just experienced the excitement and empowerment that comes from attending CCL’s annual Summer Conference and Lobby Day. Over the last few days, CCLers traveled to Washington, D.C. for inspiration and training, which we immediately put into action in 402 meetings on Capitol Hill.

It has certainly been a tumultuous year in Congress for climate policy. Yet our volunteers embody CCL’s core values time and time again by responding with focus and optimism. While many others have pressed pause on D.C., we pressed on at this year’s conference. CCL keeps showing up, even in the tough moments — and we’re sharing it on social media all along the way!

First-time conference attendee and lobbyist Lydia Elhadi from the Palm Beach/Boca CCL chapter shares that she loved “meeting a lot of different people who I know care about the climate as much as I do.” CCL’s vibrant community of volunteer lobbyists who make the great effort to show up for lobby meetings are exactly what makes our conferences so empowering and enriching.

Sunday, July 20th kicked off our conference with a film screening of “Out There: A National Parks Story,” accompanied by a panel discussion with some amazing volunteers with film screening experience as well as a conversation with the director of “Out There,” Brendan Hall. 

Monday, July 21st immersed our volunteers in the CCL conference spirit! CCL’s Interim Executive Director, Ricky Bradley, opened up the conference to welcome attendees and shared some insights of CCL’s path forward. 

Keynote speaker Amanda Ripley — author, investigative journalist, and co-founder of Good Conflict — had a conversation with CCL’s Illinois State Coordinator Alex Marianyi about working through high conflict and having effective dialogue. 

“In high conflict, people are stuck in the same repetitive, negative, hostile emotions,” says Amanda Ripley at #CCL2025.

“In good conflict, you have anger, frustration, sadness — and there’s also flashes of surprise, curiosity, even humor.”

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— Citizens’ Climate Lobby (@cclusa.org) July 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM

Then, CCL’s Government Affairs and Research Teams prepared volunteers to make our asks to Congress and understand the ins and outs of lobby day logistics. 

After lunch, it was time for a deeper dive into our breakout sessions! The first afternoon time slot included three experience-focused sessions for our volunteers to join. Anyone new to CCL and lobbying for the first time attended CCL’s Climate Advocate Lobby Training (our basic lobby training). CCL group leaders, state coordinators, and liaisons went to our “Leadership Meeting” breakout to learn about CCL’s plans for the future and goals for this Congress. And folks who wanted more prep time for their specific lobby meetings opted for a gameshow-style coaching session at the “Perfect Your Lobby Day Plan” breakout. 

Throughout the afternoon, additional breakout sessions covered: 

  • communicating across differences
  • social media strategy
  • media efforts across state lines
  • and policy specifics like the Fix Our Forests Act, permitting reform, and carbon pricing

In between all the amazing breakouts, volunteers stopped by the Action Team Fair to learn about CCL’s various policy-focused, skill-based, discussion, and affinity groups.

Then on Tuesday, July 22nd, volunteers put all of our learning into action during lobby meetings. At 8 a.m. we gathered for our annual group photo on the Capitol steps, before heading into meetings with congressional offices representing districts all around the country. 

Check out our Instagram highlight with photos from lobby day, including posts from members of Congress themselves!

At the end of the day, we celebrated all our efforts CCL style with a Lobby Day After Party at the Omni Shoreham hotel, complete with a DJ, drinks, and light hors d’oeuvres. 

There is no experience quite like a CCL conference, where you get to see with your own eyes the people power that we have been able to build through our commitment to integrity, non-partisanship, focus, optimism, diversity, relationships, and personal power. 

Isel Neira is an intern with CCL’s Events Department and is studying International Affairs at The George Washington University.

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