2023 Michigan Climate Summit

June 2, 2023  |  Oakland University

Addressing the climate crisis calls for social action guided by science, informed by values, and fueled by emotional engagement. This year, in addition to science and policy, we convened even more movement makers and connected to the broader cultural work of artists, storytellers, educators, and activists. The vision we achieved was an accessible, interactive, and fun day focused on increasing our collective capacity, supporting each other, and unleashing the creative potential of the climate movement to transform culture.

QUICK LINKS

• Schedule-at-a-Glance
• Photo Gallery
• News Coverage

LIVE STORYTELLING EVENING: TALES FROM HEAT ISLAND

To get in the Summit spirit of "Sharing Our Stories", on the evening leading into our event, Here:Say Storytelling staged a show at the Crofoot in Pontiac, MI. The live storytelling show was hosted by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities and featured true experiences of climate impacts told on stage by performers from all walks of life. Listen to the moving recording of Tales From Heat Island >

2023 MICHIGAN CLIMATE SUMMIT SCHEDULE & RECORDINGS

Denise Keele, Ph. D.
Director, Michigan Climate Action Network

April Clobes
CEO, Oakland University Credit Union

President Ora Pescovitz
Oakland University

Jeffrey Insko
Professor of English and Coordinator of American Studies, Oakland University

Graham Cassano
Associate Professor of Sociology, Oakland University

Cory Connolly
Climate and Energy Advisor
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Regina Strong
Environmental Justice Public Advocate
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Hudson Villenueve - Moderator
Federal Government Affairs Coordinator, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

State Representative Abraham Aiyash (D-MI-9)
Majority Floor Leader

State Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-MI-13)
Energy & Environment Committee

State Representative Dylan Wegela (D-MI-26)

State Senator Sue Shink (D-MI-14)
Energy & Environment Committee

Liv Rollinger - Moderator
Climate & Clean Energy Specialist, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Lake Liao
Sunrise Movement Troy; Incoming freshman at Princeton University

Anna Kavanaugh
Environmental Engineering Junior at Michigan Technological University

Perla Guerrero
SPROUTS; Environmental Justice Group at Congress of Communities

Richard (RJ) Card
West Bloomfield High School EARTH Club Diversity Chair

 

Ellis Walton - Moderator
Associate Attorney, Environmental Law & Policy Center

Sean McBrearty
Clean Water Action; Campaign Manager, Oil & Water Don't Mix

Beth Wallace
National Wildlife Federation

Jeffrey Insko
Professor of English and Coordinator of American Studies, Oakland University

Kathleen Brosemer
Ph. D. Candidate in Energy and Environmental Policy, Michigan Technological University

 

Bill Latka - Room Moderator
Founder & Chief Storyteller, Storylicious

Peter Sinclair
Michigan-based videographer specializing in climate change and renewable energy issues

Mike Buza
Chair - Sierra Club: Nepessing Group
Chair - Legislative Committee: Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club

Brendan Miller
Michigan Field Director, Land and Liberty Coalition

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services for Wayne County

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed - Moderator
Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services for Wayne County

Lisa DelBuono - Co-Moderator
Executive Director, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action

Laura Carter Robinson, Psy.D.
Clinical psychologist, Humanity&Planet; Executive Committee, Climate Psychology Alliance of North America

Sue Anne Bell
University of Michigan School of Nursing

Donna Givens Davidson
President and CEO of the Eastside Community Network

Dr. Porsche Fischer, MA, MS, Doctor of Human Services

Education and Evaluation Manager, Center for Health & Community Impact, Wayne State University

Jeffrey Insko - Moderator
Professor of English and Coordinator of American Studies, Oakland University

Elena Lioubimtseva
Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning, Co-founder and coordinator of Climate Change Education Solutions Network, Grand Valley State University

Eileen Boekestein
Environmental Education Coordinator, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Riley Justis
Chief Operating Officer, Take Action Global

Jennifer Tianen (McQuillan)
English Teacher and Founder of the West Bloomfield High School Literary Garden

Brian Deyo
Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Grand Valley State University

Karen (Kabie) Stein - Interactive Workshop Facilitator
Creative Director & Producer, Here:Say Storytelling

Learn how to tell your own story to inspire change, incite empathy, and motivate action.

Tina Catron - Moderator
Michigan Field Consultant, EDF Action

Erin Quetell
Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer, Oakland County Office of Sustainability

Andrew Sarpolis
Senior Field Organizer, Sierra Club, and Turn Oakland County Green

Analicia Hazelby
Chapter Leader, Greater Detroit Chapter Citizens Climate Lobby

Kimathi Booth
Climate Justice Co-Chair, North Oakland Branch of the NAACP

Woody Gontina
Vice Chair, Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board

Brendan Mortensen-Seguin - Moderator
MiCAN intern and rising junior at Western Michigan University

Alison Martin
Student at Western Michigan University; Director of Sustainability for the Western Michigan Student Association

Aaeshah Siddiqui
Social Work student at Oakland University; Organizer for Public Citizen

Taryn Indish
Student at Northwestern Michigan College; Northern Michigan Regional Organizer for Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Dominique Campbell - Interactive Workshop Facilitator
Musician & Cultural Organizer

Discover how to tap into your own creativity to mobilize a movement through cultural and community organizing.

Ellen Vial - Moderator
Engagement & Coalitions Manager, Michigan Environmental Council

Michelle Jones
Soulardarity

Kamau Clark
Southeast MI Lead Organizer, We The People

Rafael Mojica
Program Director, Soulardarity

Victoria Stewart - Moderator
Director of Advocacy and Outreach, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Marnese Jackson
Co-Director, Community Engagement & Equity, Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition

April Lindala, Ph. D.
Professor and Director (2007-2019), Center for Native American Studies, Northern Michigan University

Terra Bielby
Legislative Aide to Alabas Farhat

Monica Lewis-Patrick
President & CEO, We The People of Detroit

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Marshall Clabeaux, Michigan Mosaic Energy Cooperative; Dr. Jeffrey Insko, Oakland University; Bentley Johnson, Michigan League of Conservation Voters; Michelle Jones, Soulardarity; Bill Latka, Storylicious; Colleen Ludwig, Summit Art Director, Oakland University; Brendan Mortensen-Seguin, Western Michigan University; Frank Provenzano, Oakland University; Liv Rollinger, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Ashley Rudzinski, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Andrew Sarpolis, Sierra Club, Turn Oakland County Green; Jeff Smith, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities; Ellen Vial, Michigan Environmental Council; Hudson Villeneuve, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

The Michigan Climate Summit is our keystone event that brings together advocates, activists, and the general public to discuss policy, further solutions, and inspire people to act on behalf of the climate. We are proud to organize signature annual gatherings to keep the movement strong in Michigan. See the history of our past summits below.

PAST SUMMITS

• 2024 Summit - Ann Arbor
• 2023 Summit - Oakland U
• 2022 Summit - Traverse City
• 2021 Summit - Virtual
• 2020 Summit - Ann Arbor
• 2019 Summit - Grand Rapids