2025 Coalition Recap

The below points of recap were shared at our year-end social, the Wrapping Up 2025 Party, on December 4th. Thanks for your support in 2025 of our goal of mobilizing collective power to ensure equitable access to a clean, healthy, just, and livable community and climate. 

THANK YOUS

• Thanks for the solidarity of our 113 member organizations and dedicated supporters! 

• A special thanks to Kim Hunter of Engage Michigan and Ericka Lozano-Buhl of (member org) Mixto Communications LLC for their years of lending expertise to the Communications Working Group 

• Everyone who pressured electeds and mobilized for GR's Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP), which passed in August

• Thanks to Sponsoring Member Westminster Presbyterian Church for generously allowing us to use their space for the end of year party and for offering the member presentation

WINS & HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025

• Thanks to sponsoring member organizations & individuals, Coalition has high level of financial backing to pursue its goals

• Coalition launched Working Groups to support priority climate action areas 

• Massive community turnout to advocate for the CAAP at the public hearing in April

• Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival in July was a big day of tabling and community

• The Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) passes in August! We played a part!

• With the financial and collaborative support of Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN) and sponsoring member Urban Core Collective (UCC), coalition holds a successful Powershift Block Party in late September, engaging community in utility accountability 

• With advocacy by the coalition, the City is now more transparently publishing their strategic priority spending and actively exploring a Green Revolving Fund 

LOOKING AHEAD 

• The Executive Committee will meet on January 12th to draft high-level annual priorities

• Coalition member input will be sought on draft proposal and integrated; then it will be finalized by coalition members 

• Working Groups continue to work toward CAAP chapter actions 

• February 2025 will mark 5 years of the GR Climate Coalition! 

• In the summer of 2026, the coalition will have two climate fellows from the University of Michigan to support its work

TO GET (MORE) INVOLVED 

• Join a working group or volunteer your skills in other ways: info@grclimate.org

• Our website has a ‘Get Involved’ page to get on our mailing list and a ‘Donate’ page

• Join our Discord channel; follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts @grclimate 

• Consider nominating someone or yourself for the Executive Committee (April-May 2026)

• Current Executive Committee members: Janet Zahn, Sarah Chatterley, Nate Rauh-Bieri, Gloria Koch, Wesley Watson, Carlos Calderon, Kathi Harris, Kymie Spring, Kilian Roach, Dani Niewenhuis, and Jonathan Hand

While 2025 was a tough year for climate progress in many areas, our coalition and allies saw successes at the local level. We look forward to taking forward this momentum into 2026.