We are so lucky to have had three new organizers recently join our staff to build power in Virginia! Lauren Goldman and Charlie Spatz are new CCAN organizers working out of our Richmond office, alongside Virginia Policy Director Dawone Robinson and Virginia Campus Organizer Drew Gallagher. Harrison Wallace is our new organizer based in Hampton Roads.
Read on to learn more about our newest Virginia team members.
Your age:
Charlie Spatz, Virginia Statewide Organizer: 23
Harrison Wallace, Hampton Roads Organizer: 25
Lauren Goldman, Virginia Campaign Coordinator: 28
Where you live:
Charlie: Richmond, Virginia
Harrison: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Lauren: Richmond, Virginia
Why are you a CCAN employee?
Charlie: I joined CCAN for the opportunity to work on the front lines of climate change here in Virginia. While coal mining continues in the western half of the state, the tidewater area of Virginia is already experiencing sea level rise. In fact, coastal Virginia is the 2nd most vulnerable coast in the nation to sea level rise. This presents an opportunity for a Southern state to take bold steps forward on climate change and hopefully lead others in its direction. I’m excited to be working on our Safe Coast Campaign to make this a reality.
Harrison: I grew up in the commonwealth, I went to college here, and my family has long-standing roots here. I love Virginia because it has the best of both worlds: a beautiful coastline and breathtaking mountains. So, I joined CCAN to do my part to make sure that our wonderful natural resources will be here for my future children and grandchildren. We are at a crossroads in history and I will work tirelessly to make sure that Virginia ends up going in the right direction.
Lauren: I’m a CCAN employee because I care about conservation of fragile ecosystems, and I love solar energy! Also, I lived in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and my house flooded in Hurricane Sandy in Greenpoint, Brooklyn so I am concerned about extreme weather.
What has inspired you most working for CCAN so far?
Charlie: The incredible activists that I get to work with every day. Day in and day out, they are committed to fighting for climate solutions.
Harrison: Listening to Reverend Yearwood’s speech and joining over 100 activists in running into freezing water for our annual polar plunge.
Lauren: I’ve been inspired by the willingness of volunteers to engage with their elected officials through lobbying and call-ins during this 2015 legislative session. I think engaging with elected officials on a regular basis and holding them accountable for their decisions on key issues is something we all need to do more of.
What have you contributed to bringing about a clean energy revolution that you are most proud of?
Charlie: Before joining CCAN, I worked on the People’s Climate March as an organizer for Greenpeace USA. It was an incredible opportunity to work on a team with some of the best organizers from around the country on what became the largest climate change march in history. The People’s Climate March flooded New York City streets with over 400,000 people in September of 2014.
Harrison: Organizing over 40 coastal residents to travel to Richmond and lobby their representatives in the General Assembly. We made sure our voices were heard in the legislature and within the McAuliffe Administration via a great meeting with Chief Resilience Officer Brian Moran.
Lauren: I’ve organized a series of solar phone banks and call-ins during this legislative session, and CCAN supporters across Virginia have been eager and willing to talk to their representatives about legislation that takes away barriers to solar energy in Virginia.
Who would you high five?
Charlie: Famed labor and environmental organizer Chico Mendes, who worked to save the Brazilian Amazon.
Harrison: President Obama.
Lauren: A polar bear (with proper protection) and Yoko Ono for her work against fracking.