By Katie Zakrzewski
With June just around the corner, we are getting geared up for CCL’s International June conference in Washington D.C. The June 11-13 conference is the first international in-person event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We can’t wait to see you!
This year’s conference features an impressive list of speakers, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), CCL Board Member Mark Reynolds, author Amanda Ripley, Chief Cultivation Officer at The Virtues Collective Nwandi Lawson, Maryland Regional Director of Climate XChange Wandra Ashley-Williams, and others.
You can also look forward to a host of fascinating seminars on Saturday June 11, if you wish to add this on to their conference registration for $25.
One seminar sponsored by the CCL Braver Angels Action Team, “Conversations Across the Political Divide – from Polarizing to Partnership,” addresses that talking about climate change and its solutions can be challenging, especially in today’s polarized political environment. In this interactive seminar, attendees will get to observe CCL volunteers from across the political divide, see through their eyes, and discuss what they learn with others in small groups and larger group shares.
Another seminar, “Finding CCL’s Next Climate Policies,” is hosted by Tony Sirna, Vice President of Organizational Strategy, and Dana Nuccitelli, CCL Research Coordinator. This seminar is designed to explore the process of identifying potential climate policy options and the screening criteria to find the one or more policies that CCL will advocate for in addition to carbon fee and dividend.
After the Saturday seminars, we’ll host a film screening on Saturday night at the Omni Shoreham hotel. CCL will show the film “Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops” followed by a panel discussion with the film’s producer and director.
Then, the learning opportunities continue with additional breakout sessions on Sunday, June 12. “The Sunday morning breakout sessions are based on experience level with CCL, and we have something for everyone,” explains Alison Kubicsko, CCL’s National Events Manager.
Climate Advocate Training is provided for new volunteers or for volunteers that need a refresher, it also includes a mock lobby meeting for those who have not lobbied before. There will also be a special training session for group leaders and liaisons. For volunteers who have been here for a while but aren’t in a leadership position, there will be several choices of skills-building breakout sessions focused on the five levers of political will.
Monday, June 13, will feature our keynote speakers and panel discussions, as well as more breakout sessions. Breakouts will focus on topics such as social media, tabling, presentations, gaining endorsements, writing press releases, outreach to BIPOC individuals, outreach to conservatives, and onboarding best practices, among others.
Additionally, a new type of CCL breakout session will teach attendees how to work with their particular member of Congress based on their place in the political landscape. In this breakout session, you will choose from six concurrent sessions to learn to work effectively with House Progressives, House “Rank and File” Democrats, House Republican moderates, House Republican populists, Senate Democrats or Senate Republicans. This breakout will teach you which stakeholders are important in your district and state, effective messaging to use with the member, how campaign season impacts your work in the district and winning strategies that have worked for CCL liaisons and chapters around the country.
We’ll cap off the conference with a reception on Monday night where you can relax and mingle with your fellow climate advocates. It’s always special to hear folks share their experience of climate advocacy — you can watch and listen to some volunteer stories from our 2019 June conference to get excited for this year’s event.
Alison says, “After two years of holding amazing virtual conferences, I am so excited to get back in person and see the CCL family again. This conference has a lot in store to refresh our advocacy, get you up to speed with our actions, and there will be plenty of time to catch up with your old CCL friends and make new ones. Not only will we gain knowledge from our expert speakers, and up our skills in training, we benefit from being with each other and drawing inspiration from each other. I can’t wait to see everyone in June.”
The early bird rate for conference registration ends April 30, which will save you $50 on your registration fee. CCL has two conference scholarships available: inclusion and conservative. Scholarship applications close May 1.
