This isn’t the Green American issue that we had originally planned, but in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, it is the one we feel called to create.

The return of the incoming administration to the White House was always a distinct possibility, no matter how much we might have worked for a better outcome. And regardless of who took their place in the Oval Office in 2025, we knew that there would still be a need to press our government and corporations toward implementing and enforcing policies promoting sustainable energy production and supply chains, fair labor, and social justice.

None of that negates how overwhelmed many of us have felt since the election, however. More than anything, I’m tired of joking that I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. Because I’m not just mad, I’m a barely contained mess of fury and grief and fear—for my country, my loved ones, and for myself as a daughter of Filipino immigrants.

Let’s be clear: Being disappointed by the loss of a particular candidate you personally supported is not the same as being horrified by candidates brought to power by stoking waves of bigotry, cruelty, and utter selfishness. And openly expressing our exhaustion, frustration, and grief does not mean we’re not ready or willing to get up every day to give our best in service to the causes we believe in.
Green America will not accept that false equivalence, nor are we ever giving up.

The ways people are processing what happened and what’s coming next can’t possibly fit within any neat and tidy boundaries. The immediate future we face as a country will be under heightened stakes, not “business as usual.” And it would be hubris to pretend Green America has the answers about “the right way” to feel and what we “should do” moving forward.

What we can do is share the enormity of this moment and be open about where we find ourselves, both as an organization and as a diverse array of people who bring their whole selves to the work we do at Green America. In response, we’ve created a Green American issue with a much more personal focus and perspective than has been typical in the past. In addition to sharing Green America’s moments of success from this year and suggestions for enacting green generosity beyond the winter holidays, six Green America staff members contributed personal essays sharing what advocacy means to them at the end of 2024. We have also included an organization-wide reflection on what Green America has learned from four decades of navigating the cycle of change in federal administrations and how we plan to not just defend the gains that we’ve made, but to also keep pushing for progress.

I am deeply moved and appreciative of the trust and vulnerability in these pieces, especially knowing that we live in a culture and country where historically, not all people are given equal space and benevolence for free expression. Many of our readers may recognize these writers or have worked with them in the past, but for me, these pieces have provided a deeper glimpse into the experiences of my coworkers who I’ve only known for eight months.

Todd Larsen celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary with Green America soon after I came on board, but I hadn’t known his experience with direct environmental advocacy went all the way back to his college days in the 1980s. Watching Todd lead our climate and worker justice campaigns by leaning into economic activism, it’s easy to see how his thoughtfulness, keen insight, and willingness to learn from discomfort stem from those early days knocking on doors to talk with people in New York City neighborhoods about environmental issues.

Dr. LaKeisha Thorpe and I immediately bonded over a shared love of Star Wars and pop culture, but what I’ve enjoyed the most is seeing how she weaves justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles into every facet of her work. Barely two years into her tenure with Green America it’s clear how we are a better organization and more empathetic people thanks to her encouragement to challenge our unexamined assumptions. The ways LaKeisha is leading our programs to push even harder on JEDI work is a constant source of inspiration.

I couldn’t ask for a better editorial team than Mary Meade and Anya Crittenton, both of whom are incredible writers. Mary’s expertise, particularly in online communications and Green America’s library of articles, has been invaluable support in my new role. And since taking the lead on layout with the most recent Your Green Life issue, she’s revealed a fresh and energetic eye for design.

Anya’s dedication to living a green life and enthusiasm for social justice is evident in both their professional and personal lives. Whether telling compelling stories about everyday Green Americans or helping Green Business Network® members navigate the complex transition to sustainable business practices, Anya is a fierce and selfless advocate for others.

I was in college when Al Gore began speaking about climate change and I can’t fathom what it’s like for folks like Emily Chambliss to face the onset of adulthood under today’s circumstances. Even though her time as our intern is finite, Emily’s clear and determined voice has been a constant reminder of the potential in the generation now coming of age.

Last but not least, Dennis Greenia has been a steadying anchor whose calm and friendly demeanor belies a tenacious belief in the possibility of a greener, more just world. He has been with Green America longer than almost anyone else and inhabited many roles, including production of this magazine and our other publications and as our Human Resources Director. Our team is so thankful for his dedication to protecting the benefits, such as access to reproductive healthcare, remote-supportive culture, and four-day work week, that Green America has traditionally provided for all our staff spread over 20 states and out of the country.

I’m proud of how these essays demonstrate a willingness to be honest and accountable to who we are as people. Words only carry as much weight as we’re willing to give them and immense harm often follows when people are not held responsible for what they say, especially when they occupy positions of influence and power. And as Green America has proven time and again, the weight of our words is always matched by the strength of our actions.

We are all capable of being many things at once—hopeful, grieving, angry, blunt, poignant, exhausted, determined—but most importantly, Green Americans are united by an abiding love for our communities and our planet. I’m reminded of a concept embraced by the late celebrated science fiction author Terry Pratchett—militant decency is the idea that not only is anger a natural reaction to witnessing the ills of the world, we should be intensely, incandescently angry about them—and then use that anger to fuel our efforts to make the world a better place.

Our government may have changed, but our dedication to Green America’s mission has not. Whether you are sad, lost, determined, frightened, or furious, your feelings are justified, we hear you, and we will continue to act in service of a greener, safer, kinder, and more joyful world for us all. We hope that somewhere within these pages, you can find what inspires you to feel seen, empowered, and anchored, so you may act with clarity and intention regardless of what lies ahead. It ultimately doesn’t matter if those actions are directed toward caring for yourself, focused into the bonds of intimate community, or spread outward to local, state, or national levels, so long as you stay guided by the beliefs that sustain you and the people you love.

That is the heart of Green Advocacy and we are proud to share it with you.