This summer, we invite you to journey with us through the history of the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition as we celebrate a decade of grassroots organizing! Each throwback email will revisit pivotal moments, courageous actions, and the unwavering spirit of those who built this movement—leading up to an unforgettable 10th anniversary celebration this fall.

Save the Date for our Ten-Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, October 18th!

We begin in 2015, a year of global transformation. The Paris Agreement was on the horizon, Pope Francis called for urgent action in Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home, and here in Fairbanks, a group of passionate organizers felt the same fire—the need for bold, collective action. In the back room of Gulliver’s Books (we miss you!), Jessica Girard, Cathy Walling, and Charlie Basham gathered to dream of a climate justice movement rooted in Fairbanks values. A week later they met again joined by Enei Begaye and Princess Johnson and their vision turned into reality.

Film screenings, deep discussions, and community-building soon followed. From the very start, this movement was shaped by relationships, shared power, and the values of decolonization and democratic organizing. FCAC’s first leaders built a framework that invited neighbors, friends, and allies to step into their power—launching working groups, hosting trainings, and sparking conversations that ignited action.

Jessica moved from working at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center to become FCAC’s first staff member, and by 2016, organizing interns Tristan Glowa and Kengo Nagaoka joined the charge. FCAC became an official organization sponsored by Native Movement, solidifying its commitment to community-controlled solutions.

From humble beginnings to a thriving coalition, our work has always been fueled by people like you—Fairbanksans who dare to dream, organize, and fight for a just, sustainable future.