The Climate Hope Affiliates Metro-West Project (CHAMP) is dedicated to advancing and protecting federal legislation through the development of ongoing relationships with members of Congress, local media, and the broader community. Our research-based, Transformational Advocacy training leads us to open our hearts and minds, and learn skills proven effective at communicating, building relationships, changing minds, and moving legislation forward.
Since launching our chapter in June, we have written many Letters to the Editor regarding the environment and the EPA, of which 13 were published. We met with staff from Katherine Clark and Ed Markey’s offices to thank them for supporting the environment and the EPA, to discuss our work and ask how we could best help them. We had meet and greets at Framingham events. We staffed information tables at national and regional conferences and farmers markets. Rev. Dr. Debbie Clark has preached on the environment and our efforts both at Edwards and at the multi-church Epiphany service at Plymouth. Rev. Dr. Fran Bogle’s Just Peace Players have presented an environmental piece within an Edwards Church service and at other events as well.
The Climate Hope CHAMPs welcome new members. We meet via Zoom on the first Monday of the month at 7:15 pm. We also meet in person on the third Saturday afternoon of the month at 1pm to watch the National Climate Hope Affiliates Webinar featuring environmental experts, and then to have our chapter meeting. We receive near weekly leadership support, and monthly “Action Sheets” from UCC Environmental Justice Minister, the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt. We are connected with Climate Hope Affiliates chapters all around the country and hope you will join us! We have fun and it is sacred work!