I have very exciting news to share with you about your state chapter of the Sierra Club. As you probably remember, our previous Chapter Director Sherri Evans Stanton moved on from the Sierra Club Delaware Chapter back in April of this year.
Sherri was a fantastic advocate for change in her time as our Chapter Director, leaving behind some rather significant shoes to fill. Since April, the Chapter Executive Committee has been working to identify candidates to take on that challenge, and I am happy to announce that this work has now come to a close.
I am thrilled to announce that I, Dustyn Thompson, will be your next Sierra Club Delaware Chapter Director.
Many of you already know me from our work together, the Chapter’s emails since 2019, or the many outings that I helped plan and attend. For those that don’t, allow me to take a second to introduce myself.
I grew up running through the woods in western Pennsylvania where I spent a lot of time with my grandparents in their garden, hiking to get fresh spring water right out of the side of the Appalachian Mountains, and climbing the various fruit trees on their property. I often joke that between this and watching Magic Schools Bus and Captain Planet, that I was destined to work for an organization fighting to save the planet. So when the Sierra Club originally approached me to help with their outreach and communications, it was a no-brainer to join on and take on that task.
Now, with the recent addition of my daughter Nova Leigh to our family, my drive to protect our fragile planet is stronger than ever. Everytime we play, go for a walk, take a ride on my e-bike, or sing and dance to some of our favorite music, my resolve to make a difference for her grows even stronger.
Over the last few years, I have worked with many of you on a number of state and county level initiatives. My first organizing campaign with the Chapter was to fight back against a landfill in New Castle County that threatened to increase pollution in several communities around Wilmington. From there we fought to increase our state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and create a nationally recognized Community Solar Program. Now we are working on expanding residential solar, fighting for one of the strongest greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals in the nation, and pushing for more access to clean transportation for all Delawareans.
We have an amazing team here at the Sierra Club, and I am looking forward to working with all of you. My job will be to help guide our Chapter on this journey towards creating a clean, healthier, safer, and more sustainable Delaware for every community from Claymont to Bethany Beach and everywhere in between.
We can’t do that without everyone’s help. As always, my door is always open. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about this change, or if you would like to take this opportunity to get more involved with the Chapter.
The work ahead of us is immense, but our resolve to fight is even greater. Join us at Sierraclub.org/Delaware because we are Powerful, Together.
In Solidarity,
Dustyn Thompson
Chapter Director
Sierra Club Delaware Chapter