Previous Events
Kites Galore at Celebrating Community Connections
So many smiles! Wind and whimsy! Saturday September 16th a trio of Climate League Board members (Shelley Buonaiuto, Jo Elsken and Herbie McGill) set up a kite-creation table at Celebration of Community Connections in Fort Smith. In addition to helping kids get...
Celebrating Autumn Vibes
We had so much fun! On the evening of Thursday, October 12th a powerful mix of Arkansans gathered at the home of John and Leah Lane (pictured center) to network, learn about the Climate League's grassroots work and enjoy a gorgeous autumn evening. Fort Smith City...
Dumas Playground Closer to Completion!
In 2022 Arkansas Climate League Donors stepped up and contributed over $2000 to our "So Kids Can Run and Play Campaign" in support of the Dumas, Arkansas, playground project led by Onie Norman, a longtime community organizer and friend of The Arkansas Climate League. ...
See You at Community Connections!
On Saturday, September 16th from 10 - 1 p.m. Arkansas Climate League volunteers will host an interactive educational table at Celebration for Community Connections. Located at Darby Middle School, this free event is sponsored by Fort Smith Public Schools. Our focus...
Party with a Purpose!
Join us at the Fort Smith home of Arkansas Climate League friends John and Leah Lane on Thursday, October 12 for Autumn Vibes. Drop in from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. and experience a delightful evening as we celebrate and grow The Arkansas Climate League's grassroots work for...
ScholarshIp Recipients Report Back
The Arkansas climate movement has gained two highly skilled, dynamic climate advocates! In mid June Shannie Jackson of Conway (left) and Shannon Farhat of Barling (right) attended the two-day Citizens' Climate Education Conference in Washington D.C. It takes a...
Climate League Welcomes Two New Board Members
The Arkansas Climate League is delighted to announce that Jo Elsken and Corey White have joined the Arkansas Climate League Board. These two dynamic individuals share a passion for expanding green energy access and have deep roots in the Fort Smith community. Corey...
McGill Center Luncheon Focuses on Home Weatherization
On May 19, we returned to Fort Smith's Elizabeth McGill Center to host another Community Luncheon. It was a lively and informative event! Thirty or so local residents, including Climate League Volunteers, enjoyed a full meal, conversation, and even spontaneous...
2023 Cinco De Mayo
Arkansas Climate League volunteers handed out weatherization and energy bill assistance information at Fort Smith's May 7th Cinco De Mayo Festival. Held at Fort Smith park, the community gathering brought together food vendors, musicians, artisans, healthcare...
May’s Monthly Community Luncheon
On May 19th the Arkansas Climate League will host the monthly community Luncheon at the Elizabeth McGill Center in Fort Smith. Join us at 11:00 a.m. for good food and conversation about green energy and energy efficiency. The McGill Center is located at 521 Sixth...
Climate League Partners to Deliver The Seventh Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit
Collaborations build allies and deliver results. For the second year in a row, The Climate League joined other Arkansas environmental and policy organizations in putting on the Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit. In addition to being involved in foundational planning and sharing in logistical expenses, The Climate League collaborated on organizing two breakout panels: “The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” and “Climate and Public Health”. Throughout the planning process,, we proceeded with an eye to highlighting issues and opportunities relevant to low-income families and struggling Arkansas communities and diversifying the core planning team and panelists.
RV-GEEP Workshop Oct 2022
On October 20 nearly seventy Arkansans filled the UAFS Economic Development Center for a day of learning and networking at our River Valley Green Energy and Education Workshop. Topics included: the expansion of solar in Arkansas, energy insecurity in the River Valley, home weatherization, financing solar energy, community solar and more.
KUAF Ozarks At Large Interview
In late August Ozarks At Large host Kyle Kellams’ sat down with Climate League Board Members Paulette Meikle and Robert McAfee, along with Herbert McGill (Director of Fort Smith’s McGill Center), and Dr. Latisha Settlage (Dean of the UAFS School of Business and Industry).
Visit to Dumas – Spring 2022
A healthy climate takes many forms. In early 2022, Onie Norman, a longtime community organizer and friend of The Climate League, told us about her intention to secure playground equipment for a park in her Dumas neighborhood, a community resource she’s been nurturing for years. The park is a welcoming green space featuring large trees and a few benches. It is owned by the local Youth Improvement Club (YIC) and is adjacent to an elementary school, which does not have an adequate playground for the students – most of whom are African American.
Lunch at the McGill Center June 2022
The Climate League is on the forefront of fostering climate change education and clean energy conversations in Arkansas communities often left out of these vital discussions. On Friday, June 17th, we sponsored the monthly community luncheon at Fort Smith’s McGill Center. The gathering drew together neighborhood residents and League volunteers. The shared meal created openings for exchanging personal stories and local concerns and aspirations.
Let’s Talk About a Just Energy Transition
On Wednesday, November 17, 2021 The Climate League hosted an online discussion focussed on the why, what and how of climate justice and the shift away from fossil fuels. Panelist Dr. Paulette Meikle (UAFS Fort Smith Associate Dean/League Board Member), Joanna Person-Michener (Arkansas licensed climate-informed therapist ) and Shelley Buonaiuto (Artist/League Board Member) anchored the discussion and took questions from the zoom audience.
Sixth Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit
The League was delighted to partner with the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Audubon Delta, and the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club on the 6th Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit. Due to lingering pandemic concerns the Summit was held online on Friday, November 5th.
“Taking Care of the Earth, Each Other & Ourselves” Panel
The Arkansas Citizens’ Climate League hosted a virtual Earth Day panel discussion titled “Taking Care of the Earth, Each Other, and Ourselves” from April 22, 2020 (Earth Day) via Zoom.
Dealing with the Climate Challenge in South Arkansas
In January 2020 Climate League board members and staff showed up to support Citizens’ Climate Education volunteers who delivered an interactive climate presentation to the Public Policy Panel’s lead grassroots organizers. The organizers arrived from communities across south Arkansas for a gathering in Monticello.