Agenda for the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in New York City
APRIL 12-14, 2024
Day 1 - Friday, April 12
1:00 PM
Doors Open
1:00 – 4:00 PM
Registration Check-In
3:00 – 3:10 PM
Welcome to our 55th Training!
- Sophia Powless, Indigenous Educator, Onondaga Nation; Program Coordinator - This Is Planet Ed, The Aspen Institute
Welcome to Climate Reality’s first-ever training hosted in New York City. Our host for the day, Sophia Powless, offers an acknowledgment of land, people, and place.
3:10 – 3:15 PM
We Are Climate Reality
- Phyllis Cuttino, President and CEO, The Climate Reality Project
The Climate Reality Project’s president and CEO delivers opening remarks, highlighting the significance of the Leadership Corps and detailing the organization’s strategy and impact areas to reach net zero by 2050.
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Policy Pathways to a Greener Tomorrow: Insights from Regional Leaders
- Moderator: Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Rohit Aggarwala, Commissioner, New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- Peter Harckham, Senator, New York State Senate
- Sara Innamorato, Executive, Allegheny County PA
Hear from government officials across the region on current policies and initiatives that are driving climate action at the state, county, and city levels, challenges faced to further progress, and the role that you can play to make a difference.
4:00 – 4:15 PM
Let’s Get Digital!
- Saad Amer, Founder, Justice Environment; Climate Reality Leader, IRA Virtual US Training 2023
- Tim Guinee, Actor; President, Climate Action Now; Co-Chair, The Climate Reality Project Hudson Valley and Catskills Chapter; Climate Reality Leader, Colorado Training 2017; Green Ring Award Winner 2020
Hear about the importance of 2024 and ways to stay civically engaged in this critical year. Then join in a collective moment of digital action on the CAN (Climate Action Now) app.
4:15 – 4:35 PM
An Inconvenient Talk Show with Al Gore and Rollie Williams
- Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Rollie Williams, Creator, “Climate Town”
Al Gore has been interviewed by a lot of people, but for the first time ever, he'll be interviewed by Al Gore. Rollie Williams got his start in climate comedy by doing a live show called "An Inconvenient Talk Show." On the show, he interviewed climate scientists and comedians while in character as Al Gore. The wheel will come full circle as fake Al Gore interviews real Al Gore in the series finale of “An Inconvenient Talk Show.”
4:35 – 4:55 PM
Unlocking Investments: Ways to Make a Global Transition to a Clean Energy Economy
- Moderator: Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Amar Bhattacharya, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Visiting Professor, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, London School of Economics
We know the best things in life aren’t always free, so how do we make sure investments are flowing in the right direction and stay focused on a just transition? During this high-level discussion with Vice President Gore and Amar Bhattacharya, we will learn how we can implement a clean energy transformation on a global scale, while also ensuring that investments reach those who need them the most.
4:55 – 5:15 PM
Unlocking Investments: Ways to Make a National Transition to a Clean Energy Economy
- Moderator: Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Michael Regan, Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
To build off the conversation with Amar Bhattacharya, EPA Administrator Michael Regan will discuss with Vice President Gore what a clean energy transformation will look like in the United States.
5:15 – 5:30 PM
Building Community with Climate Reality
- Madeline Karp, US Region Senior Manager, The Climate Reality Project
- Sena Wazer, Northeast Regional Organizer, The Climate Reality Project
Climate Reality staff members Madeline Karp and Sena Wazer speak on the value of fostering community through the chapters network and ways to stay involved with Climate Reality and our global campaigns.
5:30 – 5:50 PM
Transition to Breakouts
5:50 – 6:30 PM
Collective Climate Action: Get to Know Your Training Mentors and Climate Reality Chapters
Chapter leaders discuss their local climate advocacy and ways you can participate. Then enjoy time to meet with other training attendees and training mentors from your region. Please be sure to go to the session based on your home location below:
- International Attendees: Room 406.2
- West Coast States Attendees: Room 413
- Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain States Attendees: Room 406.1
- Southeastern States Attendees: Room 406.3
- Mid-Atlantic State Attendees (VA, DC, DE, MD): Room 409
- Pennsylvania & West Virginia Attendees: Room 410
- New Jersey Attendees: Room 411
- New York City Attendees: Overview Room
- New York Upstate Attendees: Room 405.1 & 405.2
- Connecticut Attendees: Room 408
- Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont: Room 405.3
Day 2 - Saturday, April 13
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration & Check-In
8:00 AM
Doors Open
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Opening Remarks
- Susie Essman, Actress, Author, and Comedian
Actress, author, and comedian, Susie Essman, joins us as host to open the second day of programming.
9:10 – 9:20 AM
A Tale of Fire and Ice by Yellow Dot Studios
- Staci Roberts-Steele, Managing Director, Yellow Dot Studios; Producer, “Don’t Look Up”
Denial of science and facts may be a tale as old as time, but advocates need to keep finding new and creative ways to challenge it. Please enjoy this video from Yellow Dot Studios.
9:20 – 9:50 AM
Facts First: Countering Climate Disinformation
- Moderator: Emily Atkin, Editor-in-Chief, HEATED
- Imran Ahmed, Founder and CEO, Center for Countering Digital Hate
- Amy Westervelt, Executive Editor, Drilled
Climate disinformation is pervasive. This discussion brings together prominent voices calling out the threats posed by widespread disinformation on the climate crisis across media and offering solutions to uncover the truth amidst so much noise.
9:50– 10:00 AM
Bridging Generations for Climate Action: A Conversation with Jonathan Scott and Alexandria Villaseñor
- Jonathan Scott, Designer, Entrepreneur
- Alexandria Villaseñor, Founder and Youth Activist, Earth Uprising International; Climate Reality Leader, Minneapolis Training 2019
This inspiring conversation between two influential voices in the climate movement dives into the importance of intergenerational collaboration to tackle the climate crisis and share insights on how all individuals can engage in meaningful, collective activism.
10:00 – 10:10 AM
Black Agrarian Climate Solutions
- Leah Penniman, Founding Co-ED and Farm Director, Soul Fire Farm
Industrial agriculture turned the soil into a carbon emitter. Regenerative, Afro-Indigenous farming practices can put carbon back in the soil and plants, where it belongs. Learn how Soul Fire Farm is part of a movement to reclaim heritage agrarian methods that promise to feed the world without destroying the atmosphere.
10:10 – 10:20 AM
Inner Activism: Connectedness to Nature and Ourselves
- Nicole Ansari; CEO, Actors Rising; Climate Reality Leader, US Virtual Training 2021
In this keynote, we will look at our own connection to nature and explore what we can learn from the natural world.
10:20 – 12:20 PM
Presenting the Climate Crisis: Science, Impacts, and Solutions by Former US Vice President Al Gore
- Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
Former Vice President Al Gore delivers his inspiring presentation on the climate crisis, featuring science, impacts, and solutions tailored to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
*Please submit questions for the scientists immediately after the conclusion of this presentation.
12:20 – 1:50 PM
Partner Fair & Lunch
4th Floor Foyer
During the partner fair, our partners, chapters, and youth leaders will have tables to display information about their work and answer attendee questions. This will be an opportunity for attendees to learn how to engage in different aspects of the regional climate movement and take action on a broad range of issues.
12:20 – 1:50 PM
Faith and Climate Justice Luncheon (sign-up required)
Room 413
1:50 – 2:35 PM
Thematic Breakout Session I
Choose one thematic breakout session to attend.
2:35 – 2:55 PM
Transition to next Thematic Breakout Session
2:55 – 3:40 PM
Thematic Breakout Session II
Choose a second thematic breakout session to attend. The same sessions are offered in this round.
3:40– 4:10 PM
Transition to Skill-Building Sessions
4:10 – 4:55 PM
Skill-Building Session I
Choose one skill-building session to attend.
4:55 – 5:15 PM
Transition to Second Skill-Building Session
5:15 – 6:00 PM
Skill-Building Session II
Choose a second skill-building session to attend. The same sessions are offered in this round.
Day 3 - Sunday, April 14
8:00 AM
Doors Open
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Opening Remarks
- Jerome Foster II, Co-Executive Director, Waic Up; Member, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Climate Reality Leader, Atlanta Training 2019
Youth climate activist Jerome Foster II hosts this third and final day of training.
9:10 – 10:00 AM
Answering Your Questions: A Climate Science Q&A
- Moderator: Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Rosina Bierbaum PhD, Professor, University of Michigan and University of Maryland; Chair, Scientific and Executive Advisory Panel, Global Environment Facility; Board Member, The Climate Reality Project
- Dr. Gavin Schmidt, Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Former Vice President Al Gore, alongside two prominent climate scientists, answers previously submitted questions from the audience.
10:00 – 10:45 AM
Intersectionality and Climate Change: A Climate Justice Conversation
- Moderator: Sheila Foster, Professor of Urban Law and Policy, Georgetown University; Visiting Professor of Climate, Columbia University
- Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
- Roberto Múkaro Borrero, Kasike (Chief), Guainía Taíno Tribe of Borikén; Strategic Advisor, Center for Earth Ethics
- Heaven Sensky, Organizing Director, Center for Coalfield Justice
Hear from some of the region’s prominent justice advocates on the intersectionality of the climate crisis, with a focus on strengthening nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, clean transportation, and more.
10:45 – 10:55 AM
What’s Next: Engaging with Climate Reality
- Phyllis Cuttino, President and CEO, The Climate Reality Project
You’re nearly a certified trained Climate Reality Leader! In this session, Climate Reality CEO Phyllis Cuttino will talk about what opportunities are on the horizon for you in your journey as a Leader.
10:55 – 11:10 AM
What’s Next: Taking Action
- Sidney Miralao, Youth Engagement Manager, The Climate Reality Project
- Jess Wilber, Community Engagement Associate, The Climate Reality Project
Climate Reality’s youth engagement manager and community engagement associate highlight ways to further your leadership through the Campaign Leadership Academy and Climate Reality’s exclusive online platform Reality Hub.
11:10 – 11:40 AM
Participant Survey and Coffee Break
11:40 – 12:00 PM
Charting the Course: A Dialogue on Climate Action with Al Gore and John Podesta
- Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, The White House
Join us for a dynamic conversation with Al Gore and John Podesta on global climate action. Gain insights into key topics such as climate finance, the Biden Administration's approach, and actionable steps for advocacy.
12:00 – 12:40 PM
Climate Action from Climate Reality Chapter Leadership
- Moderator: Al Gore, Founder and Chairman, The Climate Reality Project
- Zoe Byham, Chair, The Climate Reality Project Rutgers Campus Chapter; Climate Reality Leader, Global Virtual Training 2020
- Faith Cummings, Journalist; Co-Chair, The Climate Reality Project New York City Metro Area Chapter; Climate Reality Leader, Global Virtual Training 2020
- Sandy Field, Chair, Save Our Susquehanna (SOS); Chair, The Climate Reality Project Susquehanna Valley Chapter; Climate Reality Leader, Pittsburg Training 2017
In this final panel discussion, Vice President Al Gore invites three inspiring chapter leaders from across the region to discuss their current work, successes, and hopes for future action.
12:40 – 12:45 PM
ATMOSPHERE by Artists Climate Collective
- Dancers: Madeline Bez, Keaton Leier, Virginia Lensi
- Choreography: Keaton Leier
- Projection Graphics: Jacqui Hinskon
- Costumes: Imperfect Pointes Dancewear
- Music Credits: Cello: SUUVI Bacelar; Piano/composer: Paul Leonard-Morgan; 12 Etudes for Piano and Cello, No. 12
Artists Climate Collective comes together with world renowned cellist SUUVI to create a unique dance performance for The Climate Reality Project. This piece was made with the intention of giving the attendees the feeling of being in nature, transporting participants to a serene place where music, movement, and beauty meets the natural world. Cherish a moment of wonder, tranquility, and reflection as the weekend's events come to a close.
12:45 – 1:00 PM
Green Ring Award and Closing
ONGOING SPACES
Action Center: 5th Floor Foyer
- Friday: 3:00 - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Attendees can head to the Action Center to learn directly from staff and training mentors about Climate Reality's programs, how to get involved in our US chapters, apply for the Campaign Leadership Academy, and ways to take action. The Action Center also includes support for Reality Hub and the CAN app!
Quiet Room: Room 410
- Friday: 1:00 – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:50 PM; 2:40 – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Drop in anytime if you need a quiet space to reflect or take a break from programming. Remember, self-care and wellness are key for sustaining yourself in the fight against fossil fuels! This space can also be used for prayer.
Environmental Documentary Shorts Screenings: Room 408
- Friday: 1:00 – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Learn more about the documentaries by clicking here.
Partner Fair: 4th Floor Foyer
- Saturday: 12:20 – 6:30 PM
During the partner fair, our partners, chapters, and youth leaders will have tables to display information about their work and answer attendee questions. This will be an opportunity for attendees to learn how to engage in different aspects of the regional climate movement and take action on a broad range of issues.