We’re on tour in the Sierra Nevada!

By Renna Hickey, Sierra Regional Organizer

EnviroVoters is on tour! 

Nevada County Supervisor Hardy Bullock collaborating with community members during the Sierra Action Tour in Truckee.

In May, we began the Sierra Action Tour in the Eastern Sierra in order to build relationships with the multitude of communities that make up the Sierra, build local power, and protect our environment and climate progress in the area. The tour kicked off with a dinner in Bishop, hosted by Inyo Supervisor and California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President Jeff Griffiths, and a brunch in Mammoth Lakes with the Mayor, Chris Bubser.  

We continued with two more stops in the Northern Sierra in Truckee and Grass Valley with amazing dignitaries that spoke on local power, the excitement of the new Sierra Protection PAC, and strategies to hold our Congressional Representative Kevin Kiley (CD-03) accountable after his consistent votes for destructive, anti-environmental legislation like the “Big Ugly Bill”.  At these community parties, I was able to connect with the diverse corners of the Sierra, meet our partners to build trust, connect with grassstop leaders, announce the Sierra Protection PAC, and build momentum for action needed in Congressman Kiley’s district, one of the most resource-dense districts in the state.

The Sierra Action Tour in Truckee was co-hosted by Nevada County Supervisor Hardy Bullock with a small and mighty group of fellow conservationists, advocates, and organizers. We discussed our need to focus on local offices and candidates that are crucial to our local projects that protect Truckee, Lake Tahoe, and all the surrounding carbon storage of forests and wetlands. Supervisor Bullock expressed that Representative Kiley needs to hear more from his constituents on economic developments and local businesses that would benefit from Sierra protections. The Sierra Action Tour in Grass Valley was a real prize for me, as I was blown away with all the leadership that surrounded me.

Our Co-hosts for Grass Valley included:

1. 1. My good friend, Former Nevada County Supervisor and Mining Advocate Izzy Martin
   2. Nevada County Supervisor Lisa Swarthout
   3. Former Bishop and Nevada County School Trustee Terry McAteer
   4. Nevada County Irrigation District President Ricki Heck

EnviroVoter’s Sierra Regional Organizer Renna Hickey (that’s me!) introducing SPPAC during the Sierra Action Tour in Mammoth.

The room was full of live Irish revolutionary music, Sierra advocates, conservation nonprofit founders, former mayors and elected officials, and plenty more community members that are ready to be activated. I was honored to shake so many hands and share the growing work of EnviroVoters, my plan here in my role as their region’s organizer, and gain excitement (and funding!) for the Sierra Protection PAC. With numerous people speaking in the program, we were still able to have a conversation about the “Big Beautiful Bill” results in the Sierra Nevada and what Nevada County will do to fight back. Our goal is to grow relationships with moderate voters in the area to pressure Congressman Kiley into stepping up on environmental issues—and if he fails, to make sure we put a climate champion in that congressional seat instead.

This has been a heart-warming experience to meet our community where they are at, hearing how our organization builds progression in their lives, and work together to make climate progress happen in the Sierra.

No power without community!