Sierrans for Alabama: Building a Movement for Environmental Advocacy

Why We Formed

The Sierra Club’s Alabama Chapter is at a critical juncture. Despite urgent environmental challenges such as polluted waterways, industrial contamination, habitat loss, and lack of sustainable development, the Alabama Chapter has struggled to maintain active campaigns or recruit volunteers. Closed meetings and a lack of transparency have excluded new voices, creating a cycle of disengagement that leaves our state’s environment vulnerable.

Sierrans for Alabama emerged to break this cycle. We are a grassroots network of Sierra Club members and supporters dedicated to strengthening the Alabama Chapter by fostering transparency, inclusion, and mission-driven advocacy. Our goal is to ensure the Chapter can effectively address Alabama’s pressing environmental issues, from clean water to environmental justice.

Early Developments & Progress

Since our formation, we’ve taken concrete steps to reignite the Sierra Club’s presence in Alabama:

• March 20, 2025: Sent a formal letter to the Alabama Chapter Executive Committee requesting a general membership meeting, as outlined in the Chapter Bylaws. This meeting aims to discuss transparency, inclusion, and strategies for rebuilding volunteer engagement.

• May 12, 2025: Issued a press release highlighting a pattern of exclusion within the Chapter that has sidelined efforts to establish programs for clean air, water, and conservation.

• June 3, 2025: Held our first statewide meeting, bringing together members to discuss challenges and opportunities for revitalizing the Chapter.

• July 10, 2025: Hosted our first in-person meeting in Birmingham, featuring John Northrop from the Alabama Action Coalition for Transit (ACT), to discuss public transit advocacy and Sierra Club’s role in supporting sustainable mobility.

  
  

What’s Next

We believe the Sierra Club’s strength lies in its members. By convening a general membership meeting, we can create a platform for volunteers to shape the Chapter’s future, recruit new leaders, and demonstrate to Sierra Club that Alabama is committed to growth and impact.

We’re building a brighter future for Alabama’s environment, one rooted in democratic governance, community engagement, and effective advocacy.

Join Us

We invite all Sierra Club members and supporters to join this effort. Together, we can ensure the Alabama Chapter becomes a vibrant, inclusive force for environmental protection.

• Sign our petition for a general membership meeting: https://www.sierransforalabama.org/petition

• Follow our updates on Facebook

• Contact us at sierransforalabama@gmail.com