Speakers Bureau

Are you looking for a speaker for your next event? Do you want your students to learn what they can do about climate change?

We have lined up speakers who would be happy to give a presentation to your students or organization, including neighborhood groups, youth organizations, faith groups, service organizations, government groups, health organizations and more.

Topic: Climate Change

Activism: A Non-depressing Talk on Climate Change

Speaker: Lynn Fitz-Hugh
Audience: Adults, Students (middle, high, college),
Description: This is titled this way because it starts from the assumption of an audience that already understands climate is a problem and so does not present the “evidence”.  People often don’t want to go to climate presentations because they anticipate being depressed by it.  This one instead focuses on activism – on what you can do about Climate.

Contact: Lynn Fitz-Hugh, 206-713-0497

Impacts and Mitigation

Speakers: Members of the Climate Reality Project – Thurston County
Audience: Adults, Students (high school, college). We are available to give presentations and workshops to any group in the community, including neighborhood groups, faith groups, service organizations, government groups, health organizations and more. We can tailor a presentation to meet the needs of any group that wants to learn more about climate change, its impact on their specific concerns and what each of us can do to help mitigate the consequences.
Description: The Climate Reality Project – Thurston County, Wash. (CRP-TC) is a Speakers’ Bureau dedicated to educating communities on the threat of climate breakdown. Our goal is to activate local citizens who will join a mass campaign to demand the transition to 100% renewable sources of energy before it’s too late. We are comprised of climate activists who have been trained by The Climate Reality Project, as well as other concerned citizens who have joined our local chapter. Our mission is to amplify climate effort, plans and policy efforts in Thurston County through clear, powerful and inspiring communications. We partner with existing climate organizations to provide high quality, up-to-date, locally contextualized presentations and workshops that inform, connect and empower individuals and groups.
Contact: To schedule a speaker or learn more, contact Barak Gale () or Connie Campbell ().

Local Action on Climate Change

Speaker: Tom Crawford
Audience:  Adults
Description: This presentation will talk about the local impacts of climate change, summarize key findings of the Thurston County Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, and provide recommendations for local action.

Contact: Tom Crawford,

Why Are Trees a Climate Change Solution?

Speaker: Lisa Ceazan
Audience: Adults and teenagers
Description: This presentation will discuss the ways trees help mitigate such effects of climate change as heat islands, pollution, drought, fires and floods.  Also discussed is the positive impact of trees on our mental and emotional health and how disadvantaged communities suffer from lack of trees in their neighborhoods.  Tree protection and preservation is encouraged and recommended resources will be provided for tree-planting.
Contact: Lisa Ceazan, 

Topic: Food and Climate Change

The Food Challenge

Speaker: Lynn Fitz-Hugh
Audience: Adults, Students (middle, high, college)
Description: This is a presentation about Food and Climate. It challenges the audience to look at 4 areas: local food, organic food, plant based food and wasting less food as all solutions to climate and why.  Offers concrete things people can do and a lot of information people generally do not know about our current food system and its role in climate change.

Contact: Lynn Fitz-Hugh, 206-713-0497

Waste Less Food

Speaker: Thurston County Solid Waste Program
Description: The average American wastes 209 to 254 pounds of edible food each year. That is a huge waste of resources and costs a family of four about $130 a month. Yet most people don’t realize they waste that much.
Presentation for Adults: Learn how important the issue is and what you can do about it. We’d love to come speak to your business, church, or neighborhood association. Why not make it a potluck? We will adjust the presentation length to fit your needs (15–45 minutes). Call (360) 867-2491 or e-mail .
Resources:  Waste Less Food Tips, Videos

Topic: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Thurston County

Speaker: Tom Crawford
Audience: Adults
Description: This presentation will discuss the latest estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within Thurston county conducted by Thurston Climate Action Team. It will include the principal activities which generate local GHGs (building energy, transportation, and other sources), the amount generated in each community, and how current emissions compare with previous years' inventories. Finally, how current levels of GHG pollution compare with targets set recently by local governments will be discussed.

Topic: Transportation

The Future of Cars is Electric

Speaker: Members of TCAT's Transportation Action Group
Audience: Adults
Description: This presentation is all about electric vehicles (EVs). You'll learn what the options are, why they're better for the climate, and why they're just plain better. There will be time for questions and discussion.

Contact: Carrie Ziegler, Carrie@ThurstonClimateAction.org, 360.970.4582

Topic: Renewable Energy

Reinventing Power: America’s Renewable Energy Boom (the movie)

Speaker: Marianne Tompkins
Audience: student (middle, high, college), adult
Description: Reinventing Power: America’s Renewable Energy Boom takes us across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future achievable. These individuals are working to rebuild what’s broken, rethink what’s possible, and revitalize communities. These stories are proof that America does not need to choose between keeping our lights on and protecting our communities. Critically, Reinventing Power underscores the notion that we don’t have to sacrifice jobs for a clean environment. Supporting a clean energy future means building a better, more prosperous future for everyone. Over the film’s 50 minutes, you’ll meet people in eight states whose lives were changed by the renewable energy industry while exploring various aspects of the clean energy industry from innovation to installation. Short discussion after the movie led by Marianne Tompkins (optional).
Contact: Marianne Tompkins, 360.545.5229

Topic: Social Change

Non-violent Social Change

Speaker: Lynn Fitz-Hugh
Audience: student (middle, high, college), adult
Description: This is designed to help people conceptualize change beyond lobbying as our only way to make change.  It draws on examples throughout history of non-violent campaigns that ranged from overthrowing a government to things like the civil rights movement.  It helps people notice the diversity of tactics people can take and also provides research on the effectiveness of these tactics that counter the prevailing belief that violence is the most effective way to make change.  I designed this after Trump was elected and feel it is increasingly important that progressive audiences know this information.
Contact: Lynn Fitz-Hugh, 206-713-0497

Environmental Racism 101

Audience: Youth (middle school-college) but can be tailored to an adult audiences
Description: This presentation is mean to provide an overview on what is environmental racism, and how Black and Indigenous people are most affected by environmental issues and climate change. Historical context is provided, and there is mostly a U.S focus in the presentation, however it can be tailored to include global case studies. Samara is open to working with different groups to tailor this presentation to specific needs, such as providing introductory information about environmental justice to focusing on a specific aspect of environmental racism and how it impacts marginalized communities. For more information email Samara Almonte,