2016–2017 Annual Report 1 CELEBRATING YEARS OF CLIMATE ACTION! ANNUAL REPORT 2016–2017 2 Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy LETTERS FROM OUR FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This past year, dramatic Climate change is personal, changes in our political visceral, and grounded in system and in public reality. discourse have highlighted the heightened urgency With a decade of of addressing climate experience educating change. We are on the and activating leaders edge as a human race. to engage in solutions, we are building climate- The U.S. administration’s literate young people, rejection of climate change and science is educators, businesses, and communities who showing up in damaging ways, from canceling are equipped to take action and inspired to environmental regulations to trying to silence lead the way in creating the resilient world scientists. Preventing experts from expressing and we envision. bringing truths to the public is a harmful initiative. This past year has inspired immense gratitude. There is evidence of climate change all around us. Our 10-year anniversary celebration last This past year, we have witnessed unprecedented December came at a time when we needed droughts, floods, wildfires, and extraordinary our supporters to lift us up and carry us hurricanes. Climate change is no longer a emotionally and financially down the long road concept of the projected future; it’s with us now. ahead. I’m watching West Antarctica closely, where irreversible changes loom frighteningly close. On a national scale, we saw a continuation of The waters around the Amundsen Sea in West climate change facts tangled up in a complex Antarctica have warmed dramatically over the web of misinformation. For instance, special past few decades, and the rate at which ice is interest groups funded classroom curricula melting and calving has quadrupled. If all the designed to discredit the perceived risks of vulnerable ice became unmoored, it would raise climate change. More states pushed anti- the sea level by 10 feet, drowning coasts around science bills, and misinformation campaigns the world. spread fake climate science mass mailings to K–12 schools. We also saw rollbacks to policies I’ve long believed that the fight for climate that would promote a just, clean energy change action is a continuous struggle with ups economy at the local and federal level. The and downs. We may feel like we’re down now, but obstacles we face today mark the threshold there is no place to go but up. I’ve seen the power we must cross to realize a future that supports of the human spirit. When we come together, resilient and thriving communities. This is the we can do the impossible. I believe storytelling future we all deserve. and interpersonal conversation are powerful tactics to build public support; this approach has As I said at our 10-year celebration: it’s easy to guided Climate Generation for over ten years be hopeful when things are going well, but we and will guide the next ten. I personally have need hope most when things are at their worst. found renewed resolve and a commitment to our vision that shines stronger than ever. At Climate We are honored that you chose to support Generation, we rededicate ourselves to the work us. Thank you for investing in our increasingly of uniting diverse individuals and communities critical education, youth empowerment, and around the desire to halt climate change. public engagement programming. Sincerely, Onward, Nicole Rom Will Steger 2016–2017 Annual Report 3 CLIMATE GENERATION: A WILL STEGER LEGACY MISSION & VISION Building on the experience of our founder equitable solutions to climate change. Will Steger, polar explorer and science Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Climate educator, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Generation is a nationally connected and Legacy’s mission is to empower individuals trusted nonprofit dedicated to climate and their communities to engage in literacy, climate change education, youth solutions to climate change. Our vision leadership, and citizen engagement for is a world of resilient communities with innovative climate change solutions. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This year we said goodbye to Abby Fenton who worked at Climate Generation for 11 years. As a founding staff member, Abby began as Education Coordinator for the 2007 Global Warming 101 Expedition to Baffin Island, coordinating our annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education before launching our local YEA! MN high school program. During her tenure as Youth Programs Director, Abby also built a robust Midwest youth program and served as the Youth Caucus Coordinator for the RE-AMP network, connecting youth to clean energy and climate policy campaigns across the region. We welcomed Robin Thorstenson as our new Office Manager. Nicole Ektnitphong moved on from YEA! MN Coordinator and Jason Rodney joined as the new YEA! MN Coordinator; Katie Siegner wrapped up as Communications Coordinator to pursue graduate studies and Lauren Boritzke joined our team as Communications Coordinator. Board of Directors member Tim Brownell finished his term as Vice Chair after serving three years, supporting the organization through a time of growth and transition during our name change. We thank Chuck Bennett for his time on our Advisory Board and welcome several new members: Jessica Hellmann, Julianne Laue, Sally and Richard Leider, Judy Poferl, and Lissie Schifman. Will Steger with staff at 10-Year Celebration, from left to right: (back) Janet Brown, Katie Siegner, Abby Fenton, Kristen Poppleton, (front) Nicole Rom, Jenna Totz, Jothsna Harris. Not pictured: Nicole Ektnitphong, Robin Thorstenson, Megan Van Loh. 4 Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT 10-Year Celebration: A Night of Radical, Resilient Hope Less than one month after the presidential election results, our 10-Year Celebration inspired a positive, solutions-oriented wake- up call that many of us needed. Over 450 people packed Nicollet Island Pavilion, filling the space with enthusiasm and impact. YEA! MN alumni traveled back to Minnesota for the evening, education partners from around the We acknowledged and celebrated 10 of our country attended, and Minnesota business partners and supporters who have truly and political leaders were present. Together, made our work this last decade possible the room represented a powerful array of with the “Climate Gen 10” awards. Our youth climate leaders dedicated to realizing the just and educators collaborated on a powerful and resilient climate future that has been at performance piece. Hip-hop artist Dessa was the core of our organization’s vision since our phenomenal emcee for the evening. our founding. As a fundraising event, the night was a resounding success. We raised over $230,000 to support our programming at a critical time in the climate movement, thanks to generous donations from individuals and businesses. We are incredibly thankful for our wonderful honorary chairs, our host committee, our corporate sponsors, the businesses that donated auction items, and our wonderful volunteers for their invaluable role in the event’s success. A full list of supporters can be found in the back of this report. New Business Partnerships Accelerate During the 10-Year Celebration program, Climate Action Will Steger challenged attendees to “stand up, brush ourselves off,” and work together In the wake of the presidential election, we to solve this issue. Governor Dayton re- saw companies step up to take the reins committed his administration to climate of climate action, locally and nationally. action. Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighted Several businesses reached out to us the critical importance of this moment, about supporting our work—a new and saying “a kite only rises in opposing winds.” very much welcome trend in the current Our Executive Director, Nicole Rom, spoke political environment we’re in. Two of our of a radical, resilient hope: “hope that allows events from the past year exemplified us to dig in and be the climate champions the importance of corporate action and that future generations need us to be.” Our the power businesses have to make a keynote speaker, Marshallese poet Kathy difference. Jetnil-Kijner, performed a powerful poem written for the evening. 2016–2017 Annual Report 5 Climate Generation staff acknowledged partners and supporters from the last decade with the “Climate Gen 10” awards. Preserving our Favorite Things • Climate Communications for Business • April 2017 June 2017 Coffee. Honey. Wine. Chocolate. Beer. We convened over 50 representatives from These are a few of our favorite things. Twin Cities businesses at McKnight Foundation But what happens when climate change for a three-hour workshop on climate bites, disrupting the land, resources, and communications and actions businesses could communities that create these wonderful take in their workplaces. Participants ranged products. And, what can we do about it? from multinational companies like Avangrid We hosted an evening at Norway House Renewables, Best Buy, General Mills, Andersen in partnership with Peace Coffee and Corporation, and Aveda to local companies local growers and vendors for a night that like Birchwood Cafe, Rahr Corporation, and explored these questions. Representatives Askov Finlayson. The timing of this event from Bang! Brewing, Mighty Axe Hops, felt prescient: less than a week earlier, the Alexis Bailly Vineyard, Peace Coffee, president announced his intention to withdraw Manos Campesinas, Ames Farm Honey,