Leading Locally: How Climate Ambassadors Are Sparking Change Across Communities

My name is Laura Gomez, and since August I have been working with ecoAmerica as the Ipsos Climate Ambassador Fellow. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and now studying at Middlebury College in Vermont, I have seen how differently communities experience and talk about climate change. These differences have inspired me to help bridge the gap by reaching out to underrepresented communities and encouraging young people to take part in climate action through my role as the Ipsos Climate Ambassador Fellow

I believe that underrepresented youth care deeply about these issues and have powerful perspectives and ideas to share. The stories from our Climate Ambassadors over the past few months have been especially inspiring to me and show how local leadership can create lasting and meaningful change.

Engaging Communities Through Education and Experience

In Michigan, Brenda Grove teamed up with a local nature educator to host an experiential learning event that helped participants reconnect with the natural world. Although it was designed for youth, adults joined in too, learning about Indigenous knowledge and how to be better observers of the world around them. The event was part of a larger Season of Creation celebration that featured displays, community posts, and activities that deepened local engagement and understanding of the environment.

Building Bridges Between People and Policy

In Utah, Karen Jackson joined thirty local hikers and Senator Curtis for an outdoor conversation on climate policy. The hike offered a relaxed space to discuss how policy decisions affect local communities and how everyday people can play a role in shaping climate priorities. Events like this show how Ambassadors are bringing advocacy to new and creative spaces, inspiring participation and dialogue.

Inspiring Collaboration and Action

In Texas, Valarie Atwood hosted a Climate Ambassador training at the Plano Baha’i Center, welcoming participants from multiple community backgrounds. After the training, attendees toured the site’s native plant gardens, a project that originally grew from Valarie’s own Ambassador experience. This gathering not only equipped new leaders with communication and engagement skills but also demonstrated how shared learning can lead to real, lasting environmental improvements.

Turning Knowledge Into Energy Solutions

Grace Longo helped organize a three-hour community forum focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. She brought together power companies, local leaders, and 27 churches to discuss practical steps like funding opportunities, energy audits, and carbon tracking tools such as Bright Action. Grace’s leadership inspired several organizations to schedule energy walk-throughs and begin implementing sustainability measures in their buildings.

Raising Their Voices for Climate Policy

Ambassadors are also using their voices to advocate for stronger climate protections at the national level. Rachel Woods gave a powerful testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency opposing the rollback of the 2009 Endangerment Findings, which recognize greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. She later wrote a reflection encouraging others to submit comments and share their own stories. Other Ambassadors including Ken Kobayashi, Karina Maher, Ethan Sims, Cheryl Holder, Neelu Tummala, Homan Wai, and Beth Tremblay joined her in representing their communities at EPA hearings. Walter Tsou also spoke at a national press conference, highlighting the connection between public health and climate action.

Join the Movement

These stories are just a snapshot of the extensive activities carried out by our Climate Ambassadors. They not only educate and inspire but also advocate for tangible changes in both policy and personal behaviors. If you’re interested in driving climate action within your community, workplace, or house of worship consider inviting a Climate Ambassador to speak at your next event.

Request an Ambassador Presentation at:
Climate for Health | Blessed Tomorrow | Path to Positive

---

About the Author

Laura Gomez, Ipsos Climate Ambassador Fellow at ecoAmerica, is passionate about building community-driven climate solutions through collaboration, policy, and public engagement.

ecoAmerica is a nonprofit organization that moves society toward climate solutions by engaging and supporting trusted national institutions to inspire and empower their millions of members in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate for ambitious, just, climate mitigation, resilience, and restoration.