The Climate Candidate Accelerator is a 4-session interactive virtual workshop with fellow climate champions across the United States, speakers and trainers. The Accelerator is geared towards individuals who want to learn more about what it would take to run for local or state office. Our accelerator covers: Deciding to run; network weaving; climate and environmental justice at the local and at the state level; building blocks of a campaign; hearing from climate candidates and connecting with the climate candidates network. We have hosted 4 previous accelerators – June 2021, October 2021, April 2022 and November 2022.
Join us for our next accelerator in June 2023.
Seats are limited to keep it interactive. Oh – and it’s free plus open to all – no party boundaries here.
UPCOMING ACCELERATOR SCHEDULE (Participants are highly encouraged to attend all sessions)
Monday June 5th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET
Wednesday June 7th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET
Monday June 12th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET
Wednesday June 14th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET
Monday June 5th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET – Running on Climate: Things you need to know before you get started and Understanding What to Run For ?
This is why we are all here: we want to run on climate, win on climate and accelerate the adoption climate policies that reflect community needs and values. So, what does it actually mean to ‘run on climate?’ Most people do not understand how climate change affects their daily life, so how can you as a candidate make running on climate a winning issue? We believe it all starts with understanding why you are running for office, the seat you are running for, and your constituents and local-regional environmental justice -climate action issues. This session explores how to engage on the basic questions you should ask before you get started – with a guiding set of questions and exercises as you think about running for office. Whether or not you know what seat to run for yet, understanding how the seat you may run for ties to your community and constituent needs, connects your own personal story of why you are running for office and a run on climate.
If you want to understand what to run for, you first need to understand of how climate action can be pursued at the local and state level. This session will explore the different levers of climate action from utility boards to city council races. It will point to resources that exist on district-specific information from clean energy jobs, to incumbent vote records, and policy options for every state legislature district in the US.
Wednesday June 7th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET – Finding your Climate Story!
This session builds on the last – in order to run for office, you really want to understand your own climate stories, why we tell stories and the power of our own climate story especially for running for office. Climate Candidates will meet within their newly formed pods to practice their pitches.
Monday June 12th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET – Sharing Climate Stories
Participants share their climate stories and give each other feedback, working their ideas into a solid narrative.
Wednesday June 14th 8:00PM- 9:30PM ET – PowerMapping and Collective PowerMapping
Powermapping is a tool to understand how relationships and networks work and is very important when it comes to your climate candidacy and supporting climate candidates.
