In my experience as an organizer, there is one thing that I least like to hear. It’s this line, which usually comes at the end of a great conversation with someone about the problems of burning fossil fuels and what we need to do to minimize the effects of climate change. “I’m glad to know that someone is working on this. You young people have to keep up the good work!”

If you hadn’t noticed, the world is facing some pretty big issues. I certainly believe in myself as an organizer, but I don’t have the hubris to think that I, with a few friends, am going to turn the climate around.

To create a sustainable future we are all going to need to work together. There is not one best action or one most important step to take. It will vary from community to community, landbase to landbase. Our best chance of success is a continuous series of widespread actions organized by folks in a network. These people need to be in communication with others taking action, so that messaging and tactics build towards the same goal of justice and stability.

Being Director is a great role, because I get to be in on all of the action in SJSF, but also interact with the greater world. How can we best collaborate with outside organizations? How does our work compliment someone else’s? I love outreach, because often I get to hear inspiring stories or great ideas that we could appropriate.

I have been working to combine a list of all of our past, current, and potential future partners around the state, and then reaching out to all of them. These range from larger, national and international organizations to local churches around the corner from our campuses. Because we believe in collaboration, we do not want to force projects or ideologies onto any group that we work with. Instead, we try to work with different organizations and individuals in the way that makes the most sense. Can they come to or advertise the March Against Coal? Can we go with them to help them lobby a state representative? Do they have artists who might want to join our art show? Would they like to work with us to submit a question for the municipal ballot?

I have been so impressed by and grateful for the amazing people whom I have talked with so far this semester. I appreciate all of those who realize that we need everyone’s skills, strength, and insight to truly build a better future. As the campaign builds up in April, with the marches, the art show, our legislation, our ballot question, Powershift 2011, and numerous other local projects, I look forward to meeting all of you out there, who believe in banding together to create the just and stable world that we want to live in.