For Climate Action, reflections on attending recent Oregon legislator town halls
‘Do you know who your elected officials are? Wait! Better yet: Do they know who you are?’
– Educator, Climate Reality Leader and Citizens’ Climate Lobby organizer Greg Hamra
I heard my friend Greg say this at a video released shortly after The People’s Climate March that happened on April 29, 2017. Sadly, that video is no longer available. However, I wrote a blog about this quote in February 2023 and how it impacted me, For Climate Action, the best advice I ever received.
Why attend town halls as a Climate Reality Leader?
Over the years, as I got to know my members of Congress and their staff, as well as my legislators, the staff and elected officials advised that they pay attention closely to what constituents ask and comment about at their public town halls. The legislators and members of Congress then converge with their staff to then see what policies and legislative bills they should prioritize.
I have attended Congressional and legislative town halls since moving to Portland, Oregon in 2017. As a climate organizer, my biggest frustration is that I often feel lonely at these public town halls. Huge crowds of local citizens come to these town halls to pack the room. However, I rarely see other Climate Reality Leaders or volunteers from other climate groups that I am involved with attend these town halls. Yes, I get that climate advocates have very busy lives working, taking care of their family, and honoring other commitments. Still, I would like to see more Climate Reality Leaders and other volunteers make it a priority to attend their Congressional and Legislative town halls to ask elected officials to focus on climate legislation.
When I attended town halls over the years, I’ve felt frustrated that my concerns about climate change are drowned out by other attendees speaking out on other vital issues. Yes, we must address the massive gun violence, lack of access to affordable healthcare, paying workers a living wage and providing them with safe working conditions, reproductive rights for women, peace in the Middle East, etc. Heck, if climate change magically went away tomorrow, I would be working on those issues. So when I go to public town halls, I thank advocates who are working on those issues. The key is that if we don’t have a livable climate, we won’t be able to solve those other pressing issues.
When I thank fellow advocates for the issues they are working on when I attend town halls, it turns out these other advocates also care deeply about climate. In fact, they often thank me for being a climate organizer. They are up to their eyeballs though trying to advance their issues. This is another reason why Climate Reality Leaders should attend public town halls. If we are not there speaking out for climate action, our issue which so many others also care about will get pushed to the sidelines for the elected officials trying to determine the top issues for their constituents.
