AL GORE HONORS CLIMATE REALITY LEADER DONALD VIECELLI WITH ALFREDO SIRKIS MEMORIAL GREEN RING AWARD

Washington D.C., (October 21, 2024) – Yesterday, former US Vice President and founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, Al Gore, presented the Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award to Climate Reality Leader, Don Viecelli, on the final broadcast of a successful virtual Climate Reality Leadership Corps training hosted across the US. The Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award honors Climate Reality Leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to climate activism and education. Trained at the first-ever virtual Global training in 2020, Don spearheaded the development and growth of The Climate Reality Project’s regenerative agriculture program work across its US chapters.

Don chaired the Regenerative Agriculture team while serving on several other chapter committees as a member of the Chicago Metro Illinois chapter. There he founded the Regenerative Agriculture Coalition, a cross-chapter campaign with ambitious goals and routine action that was crucial for Climate Reality’s Farm Bill advocacy. Don developed a Farmer Outreach and Engagement survey to gather input on the Farm Bill directly from farmers. The survey transformed into the Farm Voices Project, an educational podcast that features interviews with regenerative farmers on the upcoming Farm Bill.

“Don’s climate activism as well as his dedication to regenerative farming advocacy and elevating the voices of farmers embodies the values of the Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award,” said Phyllis Cuttino, president and CEO of The Climate Reality Project. “His leadership on The Climate Reality Project’s regenerative agriculture program has strengthened awareness, support, and advocacy efforts for the Farm Bill, and the Farm Voices Project has educated leaders within Climate Reality and the world at large about the future of regenerative agriculture across the United States.”

The virtual US Climate Reality Leadership Corps training, which ends its programming on October 23, convened attendees from across the nation to hear from leading experts in climate policy, environmental justice, business, and civil society. The training provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the latest climate science and solutions, strategies for effective messaging, community mobilization, and accelerating the clean energy transition.

Training topics focused on the critical role of ongoing civic engagement in achieving lasting, equitable climate solutions and protecting our communities from the threats posed by fossil fuel interests, promoting effective climate solutions at all levels, and building a healthy, sustainable clean energy future for everyone. 

“I’m honored to receive this award and to recognize the work that the Regenerative Agriculture Coalition is doing to advocate for regenerative recommendations in the 2024 Farm Bill.” said Don Viecelli, co-chair of The Climate Reality Project’s Regenerative Agriculture Coalition and Alfredo Sirkis Green Ring Award Winner. “The Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps trainings have been a great way for me to get involved in the climate movement. I grew up on a dairy farm in Michigan. After becoming a Climate Reality Leader in 2020, I started working with the Chicago Metro Chapter on regenerative agriculture advocacy to elevate the voices of farmers. Participating in these trainings and joining a local chapter have helped me make a real difference in addressing the climate crisis.”

The Climate Reality Project aims to recruit, train, and mobilize passionate climate advocates from across the country to join a global network of more than 3.5 million people who have either attended a training, taken action through one of Climate Reality’s campaigns, or taken part in one of its 11 global branch programs or US chapters.

For more information about the Climate Reality Leadership Corps program and to learn how to participate in the next training, please visit: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/training. 

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ABOUT THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT 

Founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project is working to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. With a global movement of more than 3.5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leaders, we are spreading the truth about the climate crisis and building popular support for clean energy solutions. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.