Early in 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, our RC Community held three in-person meetings for local activists and RCers on “Expressing Climate Grief.” About thirty people attended. We introduced Sustaining All Life (SAL), presented information on racism and the climate crisis, and had a panel on backing young people in the climate movement.


In mid-2020, COVID forced all activities online. A smaller group of us continued to meet on Zoom. I have been leading the group, assisted by Kathy Lamb. We sent out regular reminders to the larger group to stay in touch with them and give them information. These reminders included Russ Vernon-Jones’ “Climate Moments,” information about upcoming SAL events, and more. 


Our group of three to four RCers and three to four non-RC activists has now met regularly for more than four years with only occasional breaks. We are mostly elder European-heritage people that I have worked with on local and statewide climate justice efforts. They enjoy getting and practicing RC tools and being connected in this way. 


We begin our meetings with news and goods—about our lives, about climate activism, 
and/or about the natural world. We present information on climate justice, climate science, elections, and more. We have used the Think-and-Listen format. We also try to introduce some basic RC perspectives and theory each time we meet, particularly as it relates to our activism.


Then we have “listening exchanges.” There is an experienced RCer in every two-way and three-way listening session. We might ask the participants, “What thoughts and feelings have come up for you during the meeting?” 


When we reconvene, we share a joke or something else that is light. We end with announcements, what we are looking forward to, and sometimes appreciations. 


We have grown close as a group and continue to meet on Zoom.