Shannon Anderson reflects on 10 years with ECI

It’s been a whirlwind of a decade with Earth Charter Indiana and when I try to recall all the things I’ve done in my 10 years here, it’s so much more than I can even remember. We published a book! We have saved trees, planted more, shut down polluters, passed Climate Resolutions and put on so many events…

I was fortunate to meet John Gibson and Jim Poyser, right after moving to Indianapolis, even more fortunate to land the job of being ECI’s second-ever staff member, working on our bicentennial legacy project Sustainable Indiana 2016.

That project is dear to me because John took me all over the state, to his favorite examples of what he called “green lights.” He believed deeply in the future that the Earth Charter describes, in celebrating the way forward, and the people making it possible. I planned so many events, wrote about these climate solutions, grew our network, and learned from the best on how to advance local climate action.

After transitioning to ECI projects completely post-bicentennial, Jim made sure I was involved in nearly every program and layer of our work. His commitment to my continued growth is something for which I can never thank him enough.

But my heart has always been rooted in change through public policy, especially with civic-minded young people. It has been an incredible gift to be able to shape ECI advocacy and to become a Director. This work is who I am, this climate mission is in my bones. At this time of great peril and promise, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m grateful to our supporters who have made our successes together possible. I’m thankful for my ECI team, now bigger than I could have imagined a decade ago. It’s a honor (and quite a bit of fun) to fight for the future alongside them.

for our children’s children,

Shannon