Valley Climate Coalition

 

The East Metro and Valley region needs YOU to help us build a hub to support the urgent need for accelerating climate work in our region.

Please DONATE today and double your impact with matching funds generously donated from Do It Green! Minnesota - then triple your impact and share us through your social media networks to reach our goal of $10,000 by Earth Day on April 22 to officially launch the Valley Climate Coalition!

"Thank you for supporting the most important local and global challenge of our time. Your contribution will help us to accelerate climate work in our cities and valley region to protect our community today for our children's future tomorrow."

-  Ami Voeltz, Founder of the Valley Climate Coalition

My Story

I have been engaged in environmental education and climate work in the Twin Cities metro area community for 25 years! I am so proud of all that I have done - from helping large entities like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency put on the Living Green Expo event at the State Fair grounds to small but impactful projects like guiding churches, schools and non-profit organizations to implement culturally sensitive environmental projects. I also founded and served as Executive Director for a non-profit organization Do It Green! Minnesota in the year 2000, which ran for twenty years until COVID in 2020. We impacted and brought together many people including youth and diverse communities around climate through education, workshops and events. I heard countless personal stories that we inspired them to make a difference for the environment in their own communities and workplaces. 

Climate resilience is one of the most important issues of our time. The United Nations 2024 People's Climate Vote reports that 87 percent of the world’s population show that climate change is on people’s minds daily or weekly. Climate change is real and happening and we all are or will be impacted by climate change in Minnesota; such as extreme heat, wildfires affecting air quality, pesticides on our foods, contaminants in our water, and the impact of populations growing reducing our natural spaces and resources. All communities need to learn, assess and make plans together to be prepared and resilient during climate impacts in our state, county and cities. 

There is a tipping point of climate work in the East Metro area of the Twin Cities. Government entities including Washington county and many local cities, businesses, schools and non-profits are taking steps to plan for a climate resilient future. As I am meeting with and listening and learning from our regional counties, cities, environmental organizations and community members, I am seeing a need to create a comprehensive group to work together to implement and accelerate climate resilience and preparedness. After gaining support from groups and key individuals in the east metro, we are ready to launch a climate coalition in the St. Croix Valley and East Metro to build a hub to collaborate for collective action to:

1. Learn from each other through forums, conferences and other networking events.

2. Create a hub of network of experts, advisors and leaders to support all forms of climate work for cities, counties and community initiatives.

3. Listen to concerns, needs and ideas from diverse voices and especially vulnerable communities in the east metro area.

4. Engage, guide and mentor our youth into climate leaders as they carry on the climate work into the future.

We need YOUR support for seed money to help to start an East Metro Valley Climate Coalition come alive!

I have been inspired by Jane Goodall's final message to the world saying "each and every one of you has a role to play...and you are here for a reason and you have to decide what kind of impact to make." I am drawn to do what I do best through creating this Valley Climate Coalition and supporting communities to inspire, teach, collaborate, share resources, tools and validate this important climate work in the east metro St. Croix Valley area.

Your seed donation amount could help us jump start our climate work! As a donor, you will be publicly recognized if you choose and will become our first seed members of the Valley Climate Coalition!  

$300 Create an educational display to promote the coalition

$500 File for dual 501c3 non-profit status in MN & WI

$500 Hire a grant writer to apply for funding to begin our coalition work

$1,000 Support networking events for climate leaders to share, learn and collaborate on climate projects

$1,500 Develop a climate hub website for the region

Our Goal

To collaborate with residents, youth, cities, counties, businesses, schools, community groups and non-profits to learn, plan and take actions for climate change in the Twin Cities East Metro & St. Croix Valley region in Minnesota and Wisconsin - bringing our hands and hearts together to protect our communities and the environment. 

"Let's work together to help protect our Earth and the next generation" - Mia Schakel, Youth Climate Leader

 

St. Croix River image courtesy of NPS