EARTH CHARTER INDIANA

?? Calling all student leaders - ECI Intern and high school senior Paige Hein is leading a free community engagement event this Sunday, March 30th at the Valpo Public Library from 3-4pm. This event will teach young people how to be more engaged in the process of advocating for a more sustainable and equitable world. ???? We will build a stronger community of change-makers in Northwest Indiana and advocate for legislative change that protects both people and the planet! This event is in partnership with the state-wide nonprofit Earth Charter Indiana and student-led nonprofit 4SEE. There will be free refreshments and fun activities! Sign-up HERE - https://lnkd.in/grXQgeYV

This Sunday our Youth Environmental Press Team is offering a FREE webinar about Climate Journalism for high school and junior high students. You can register at bit.ly/yept101

Below is the opening letter from our 2024 Annual Report, which we published on our website today. Stable Despite the Shocks - By: Jim Poyser We don’t need to tell you that 2024 was a year of shocks, but it was also a year that saw the unprecedented stabilization of our own organization. Why is that? Well thank goodness, we hired an Operations Manager! That’s right, on Earth Day, 2024, we added our sixth employee, Kristina Hartley, to run our operations, including HR, data conversion, financial reporting; what some might call administrivia. This was such a relief to me personally, as our growing organization was simply becoming too complicated for me. Kristina joined us and exceeded all expectations, adding tasks to her list of duties beyond what was on the job description we publicized last year. This is where my fellow staff members caution me NOT to use the Big Lebowski rug metaphor, so, okay, I’ll comply. Kristina has automated many of our actions and activities, allowing the rest of us to spend more time on what we love doing: serving the youth of Indiana, and their adult supporters, to learn more about caring for the environment, and how to turn that education into action. We're sharing our reports so you can get a sense of what we’re working on these days, though it’s just the proverbial tip of the (melting) ice berg. I’m so proud of the work that all our staff is doing, in the face of worries of harassment and other obstructions to our work. Hey, all we are asking for is a livable habitat for our children grow up into. That appears to be too much ask some who are hellbent on dismantling civil systems, while increasing their own power and wealth. Not sure if this is an appropriate approach to issuing an annual report, but this is a particularly frustrating and scary time. Gotta vent a little! By the fourth quarter of 2024, we had a new grant in hand from the McKnight Foundation, that will lead to our seventh employee, to be hired in Q1 of 2025. This Special Projects Coordinator will be tasked with outreach education to communities in need of information about renewable energy, and how they might acquire it. We are certain this new employee, whom we will describe in next year’s annual report, will bring even more expertise and passion to the work that keeps us committed to this vital work of ensuring our kids have a shot at a future. There’s no more inspiring work than this, and we are happy to be in this work with you! Read the full report here - https://lnkd.in/gCYGArNa

Do you consider yourself a climate optimist?? On Wednesday, March 12, Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future will be hosting ERI Assistant Director for Policy and Implementation Therese Dorau and City of Lafayette Climate Change Resilience Manager Halee Griffey for a talk on climate optimism and how Hoosiers are building resilience to climate change in Indiana today. Together, they will discuss their approach to this valuable work. Register and RSVP for the event here: https://lnkd.in/gt4w_6ku

We always love this conference. Over 400 people came together last Friday to share data, projects, inspiration, and ideas for climate solutions. Don't get discouraged by the horrifying executive orders pouring out of the white house. We have solid support for this work in Indiana and talented professionals dedicated to a sustainable and resilient future.

Our very own Shannon Anderson was quoted in this Indy Star article about the push to deregulate small modular reactors (SMRs) in Indiana and allow the for-profit monopolistic energy companies to raise your bills to pay for their development. "Small module nuclear reactors are much smaller than full-scale nuclear plants, but cost estimates can run into the billions for a completed reactor. Senate bills?423,?424?and?House Bill 1007?all provide utilities options to make customers pay back at least some of the costs incurred before construction even begins." Advocates say Hoosiers will bear the risk Consumer and environmental advocates oppose the new Indiana bills. Some say Indiana should wait until the technology is tested and proven effective. The legislation would create a path to socializing the risks while privatizing the profits utilities stand to gain, said Shannon Anderson from?Earth Charter Indiana. “It’s an interesting choice for (lawmakers) to bank state money and consumer money on unproven pieces of technology,” Anderson said. https://lnkd.in/gbe4Y83i

Join us tomorrow, February 4, for Transit Equity Day 2025 to fight for affordable transportation where you live! Go to bit.ly/transit2025 to learn more and get involved. Transit is in crisis in this country. The pandemic accelerated this transit crisis, with many employees commuting far less than before, and some transitioning to remote work entirely. The loss of revenue for transit agencies was partially covered temporarily by federal government subsidies as one of the reactions to the pandemic. But those subsidies are not going to continue into the future. We need to turn things around. Transit is a civil right. Everyone–workers, riders, and everyday residents–should have access to reliable, affordable transit.

Yesterday we held our annual rally -Renewable Energy Day 2025- with Solar United Neighbors at the Indiana State House and it was a huge success! We saw folks from all across the state show up to speak with their legislators and advocate for a clean energy future. We saw our newest intern, Paige Hein, from rural Indiana, take the mic to share a youth perspective on climate change. And we saw some very committed elected officials speak on the climate solutions they're promoting in their communities. Thank you to everyone who showed up, all the organizations who came out to show their support, and to the kind and patient state house staff for helping us navigate that majestic building.

Mark your calendars and start your engines - Climate Camp registration opens TOMORROW, Wednesday January 15! This summer we're offering 5 weeks of camps with 4 different themes for ages 6-18 years old. ?? - Beginners Camp offers new campers a basic foundation in climate science and shows how they can be part of the solutions. This camp will be hosted on the north west side of Indy in the Eagle Creek neighborhood. ?? - Bus Camp familiarizes campers with our local public transit system by taking them on adventures across the city using Indy Go busses. It was so popular last summer that we added a second week. Campers can choose ONE week of Bus Camp. ?? - Resilience Camp is designed especially for the sensitive, climate concerned youth who want to learn practices that will sustain their optimism and build their reserves for action. This camp is based in the southeast side neighborhood of Indy ?? - Food Equity Camp will immerse campers in our food systems (past and present) so they can learn to be advocates for food sovereignty in their communities.

By now we've all seen the heartbreak and destruction caused by climate related disasters. Friends and loved ones in the LA area are literally running for their lives and as we process the grief, anger, and fear rising up with the smoke and flames of our burning planet, we remain COMMITTED. We have the technology to address this climate crisis and renewable energy is at the top of the list! Hoosiers are coming together on Tuesday January 21 at the Indiana Statehouse to speak directly with legislators about the importance of building a renewable energy future. This day will include speakers, a renewable energy fair, FREE lunch, and training on how to connect with elected officials. If you are ready to turn your grief into action, join us at Indiana Renewable Energy Day! You'll be surrounded by a powerful and growing network of advocates, industry professionals, and fellow concerned citizens all working to transform Indiana energy production toward the renewable, affordable, and stable grid we deserve.