Working Together to Build Civic Commitment for Climate Action & Justice
The League is a 510(c)3 committed to the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. Our passion is encouraging, engaging and connecting climate advocates across race, life experience and zip code.
We approach “climate” as a broad unfolding crisis, enveloping bio-destabilization, racism, poverty, educational disparities, and disenfranchisement. It is a crisis that can be addressed through collaboration and relationships. That is where and how we work.
From 2017-2019 we focused heavily on identifying emerging leaders and funding individual scholarships to regional and national climate advocacy conferences. We continue to encourage these leaders as they take on issues in their communities.
We collaborate with Arkansas Citizens’ First Congress, supporting positive environmental, economic, civil rights and education legislation. We have working relationships with Citizens’ Climate Education in Arkansas, Police and Community Engagement of Fort Smith, the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith and Parkway Disciples of Christ in Springfield, Illinois.
In 2020 due to covid-19, we set aside plans for an issues listening tour through South Arkansas and event-partnering with climate advocates in the Springdale Marshallese Community. We jumped to growing an online community via educational offerings.
In 2021 we are building up our Board and needed working groups for the work ahead.
The League Team
The legal governing body for the League is made up of volunteers from across Arkansas.
Chair
Soniyyah "Sonna" Bkey, Fort Smith
Secretary
Fay Knox, Deer
Treasurers
Keaton Smith, Fayetteville
Directors
Chris Balos, Springdale
Diana Casteel, Douglassville, Texas
Charles Sisco, Springdale
Paulette Ann Meikle, Forth Smith
Administrator
Robert McAfee, Hackett
Chair Emeritus
Chris McNamara, Fayetteville
Advisory Board
Celica Bailey, San Bernardino
Bob Brown, Bella Vista
Nancy Brown, Bella Vista
Shelley Buonaiuto, Fayetteville
Bernadette Devone, Willingboro, NJ
Darianne Maclin, Fort Smith
Christina May, Fort Smith
Que Mumford, Little Rock
Education Coordinator
Jan Schaper, Russellville