Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Hammond
By Flannery Winchester
Our very first Volunteer Spotlight is trained on 19-year-old Nicole Hammond, a CCL volunteer in Maryland’s Howard County chapter. She’s a rising sophomore at Salisbury University in Maryland, pursuing a major in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. CCL is just one cool membership on her plate—she also in her school’s Honors College and the Environmental Student Association.
In her own words, here’s a little about what keeps her motivated, what projects she’s taken on, and why she loves this work.
How did you first get connected with CCL?
I first got involved with CCL about a year ago. I knew my chapter leader, Sabrina Fu, because I went to high school with her daughter, who was also in Girl Scouts with me. She invited me to one of the monthly meetings, and I decided to try it out. Everyone was so friendly, and I felt at home. It was right before I started college, and I was looking for an environmental organization to take part in. CCL seemed like the perfect match.
What did you like about CCL?
I liked the mission of CCL to approach climate change by creating the political will through constituents. I felt like I could actually influence policymaking in Congress. The one characteristic that made CCL stand out and hold my interest is our bipartisan approach. Many environmental groups tend to be partisan, and being in CCL feels like you are a part of a family.
Tell us about your main efforts or projects within CCL.
When I was in school, I helped coordinate a showing of “Facing the Surge” on my college campus. I plan on organizing more movie showings on my campus when I return this fall. Over winter break, I was an intern for the Howard County chapter. During this time, I did a variety of projects like organizing and managing the social media accounts, and coordinating outreach events like tabling, movie showings and workshops.
I’m currently working on outreach to environmental justice (EJ) groups for the upcoming regional conference. Climate change affects everyone, especially those prone to rising sea levels and temperatures. The areas where EJ groups are located are predicted to be the most affected by climate change. Also, I feel that outreach to local EJ groups can help diversify CCL.
What keeps you motivated to do this work?
I remain motivated because I see potential for growth in CCL, like more members on the Climate Solutions Caucus, more EJ outreach, and even passing legislation in the future. As a member of the younger generation, CCL has provided me with hope that we will be able to slow down climate change and maybe even solve the issue. CCL provides a comprehensive solution that is inclusive.
Got a suggestion for our Volunteer Spotlight series? Send the name, chapter and some brief info about the volunteer to Flannery Winchester at flannery @ citizensclimatelobby.org.
