“I’ve got a little yellow notebook that’s been designated for “special note-taking” and travels with me wherever I go. It’s the kind of notebook reserved for big thoughts, important lists, favorite restaurants and the stray sketch. On a coffee-splotched page about a quarter of the way in, there’s a list of all our Environmental Council members. When I have the pleasure of connecting with a group for one of our many projects, I put a checkmark and a date next to that group’s name.

This exercise is something I learned during my time working in K–12 education advocacy. We had about 300 schools on our membership list and compared our school connection checklist at monthly meetings. At first I thought this task was daunting and disconnected from my daily work. But I did it, and boy did it pay off. I watched our membership weather a pandemic together with grace, trust and confidence—all because of the connection we had invested in.

The Environmental Council has had a similar vision: reestablish ourselves as the nucleus of Michigan’s impressive environmental movement. Last year, we capped off 2024 with 105 dues-paying members, following the launch of a new, tiered membership program. The conference earned high praise, and to close it we awarded three members with $10,000 “ECOprizes.” One winner, the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, used that prize as part of the Protect the Porkies advocacy efforts.

With each check mark in my little yellow notebook, I know I’m doing my part in answering the call for connection—and helping strengthen a movement built on collaboration.”

-Grace Noyola, Communications Director