We need to slash carbon emissions from Transportation ASAP– here’s my plan
“To change everything, we need everyone”
Cars are cooking the planet. Climate change is an existential threat and cars are America’s largest source of emissions. Despite the boom in EVs, emissions from driving are only getting worse. We have effective & affordable solutions at our fingertips that would help slash emissions, save lives, and make our communities healthier & easier places to get around. The challenge of liberating our communities from car domination to make walking, transit riding, and biking easy options is not technically– it’s political. We need to tackle that political challenge to slow climate change.
That work takes a lot of people and a lot of leaders. It takes winning changes at every level of government in every community– from the sidewalk in front of your home to the high-speed rail network that needs building. It takes tens of thousands of people campaigning on a wide range of issues from regulations on dangerously oversized cars, to getting more shade at bus stops, to allowing for corner stores in residential neighborhoods, and safe routes to school. In short, it takes people politically organizing to win the changes they want to make their community a better place.
It takes robust civic engagement and a vibrant democracy.
I work to help make that happen by training people to be effective activists. Not for causes I tell them to work on– but for the causes they care about. I find folks who want to make their community more walkable or bike-friendly or transit abundant (or they find me) and I help them figure out how to fight more effectively and win those changes.
Whether they are political veterans or total beginners, I listen to their story, learn about their situation and challenges, and together we create and refine their campaign goals, strategies, tactics and messaging. Then they go out and push harder and more strategically. If and when they need help with the next twist or turn in their campaign, I’m still here for them.
So far this year, I’ve helped nearly 300 people from over 30 states this way – 300 grassroots activists who are stronger and more strategic in their political organizing to improve their community, strengthen our democracy and win climate change solutions. Most of these 300 probably wouldn’t have considered themselves a “climate activist” beforehand but are now more effective as they work to win climate solutions in their communities. Sometimes one of the most powerful near-term climate solutions a neighborhood can install is a speed bump or a protected bike lane…and sometimes it is a new rail line.
Right now, these 300 are scattered across the country fighting their own local efforts, but as the work continues that number will grow and these local efforts will start to linkup for larger state and even federal campaigns. Imagine what 3,000 effective grassroots organizers can achieve in their communities. Imagine what they can achieve together.
This is a critical part of how we win the hundreds of billions of dollars of government funding and the policy changes needed to fundamentally transform America to be a low-emissions country where mobility is easy and safe.
I’m working to significantly ramp up this effort, but I need your help to keep this going and growing. When you donate monthly as a paid subscriber to this Substack, you enable me to offer more free group trainings and help a wider range of people build their political organizing skills. In November, I’m hosting four free training sessions “A beginner's guide to getting better bus service in your community," “A beginner's guide to winning the political changes you want" (a West Coast presentation and a Central/East Coast one) and “How to Build a Coalition and Win Bigger.” Your donations make those free trainings possible.
When you donate directly to sponsor the training of an activist, you help an activist get a free 1-on-1 personalized session where we can do a deep dive into their unique situation and get them equipped with the political strategy they need to win.
When you become a sustaining donor through a monthly contribution of over $100, you help ensure continued work that strengthens grassroots organizing around the country.
And if supporting financially isn’t an option for you right now– the best way you can help is by spreading the word. You could reshare this or any of my pieces, or post the link to one of the upcoming training sessions to a group you’re part of, or simply tell a friend to reach out to me next time you hear them complain about how “there oughta be a law that…”
As the activist saying goes, “To change everything, we need everyone.” I’m working to help as many people as I can step into their potential as a leader to stop climate change and strengthen our democracy and I need your help to sustain and grow that work. Whether you donate, help spread the word or something else – thank you in advance for helping out.
Together we can make the world a better, healthier, safer place for all, and the only way we can do that is together.
Onward,
Want help to devise a strategy and build the skills in your campaign for better transit and or safer streets? I’m here to help! Whether you want a 1-on-1 training session or a group workshop, let’s talk. Email me at Carter@carterlavin.com to set something up. Here’s a bit about what training sessions are like.
Free upcoming online events!
**This Thursday** 11/16 @ 3:30pm PT AND 5:30pm PT- Free online training “A beginner's guide to winning the political changes you want." Register for the 3:30pm PT (6:30pm ET) session here OR Register for the 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET) session here
11/30 @ 3:30pm PT — Free online training for bike and transit advocates: “How to Build a Coalition and Win Bigger.” Learn more and register here.
Interested in sponsoring the training of an activist working on an issue you’re passionate about? Let’s chat. Carter@carterlavin.com