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! Over the coming months, 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!

It was 2015, and 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, Jessica Girard (our first Executive Director), 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 Girard moved from working at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center to becoming the first staff member at FCAC, which became an official organization sponsored by Native Movement. Tristan Glowa and Kengo Nagaoka were the next employees, completing organizing internships in the summer of 2016.

This initial period of FCAC was filled with excitement, community connection and shared values that pushed us into action. The FCAC we have today, while much larger, is still fueled by the same concerns and the deep hope that when people stand together, we can make meaningful change in our world.