July 2025 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

July 23, 2025

Join us outdoors this summer!

Hi Supporter,

In this issue: meet volunteer leader Kasey Grau Jackson, join our virtual Summer Book Club, learn how to manage your Sierra Club emails, get the lowdown on data centers, see upcoming events and outings, plus all our regular features — like photos from you, our readers — and much more!

Happy reading,

Rebecca Dien-Johns
Chapter Coordinator

Volunteer Spotlight - Kasey Grau Jackson

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and what made you so passionate about protecting the environment?

As a journalism student and assistant editor of the Summer Kent Stater at Kent State University, I wrote a news story about the first Secchi Dip-In, a project spearheaded by Kent State professors. The goal for this volunteer project: collect water clarity measurements from lakes, rivers and streams and track changes in water quality over time. Reporting and writing that story ignited my passion for environmental activism and learning that continues to this day. (The Robert Carlson Secchi Dip-In continues as well — celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024!)

A selfie of a woman and her teenage son on a trail. The sky is bright blue in the background and the trees are starting to get green leaves. They are both smiling.

Kasey and Luke Jackson at Mounds State Park. Photo: Kasey Grau Jackson

I'm still a reporter, writer, editor, photographer and curious learner. I completed the Learning For Action Climate Change Fellowship with Terra.do in March 2024 as well as the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in October 2024.

In addition to being a member of the Sierra Club, I served as co-chair of the Central Indiana Chapter of the Climate Reality Project and volunteered with Work on Climate. During my time as the first woman to serve as executive editor in Kiwanis International’s then-104-year history, I dedicated the entire first issue of Kiwanis magazine to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, highlighting the climate crisis and what Kiwanis clubs around the world are doing to protect the planet.

I was born and raised among the rolling hills of rural western Pennsylvania, but have now lived in Indianapolis longer than I've lived anywhere else. I have three amazing children who are true Hoosiers and lovers of the outdoors, just like their mama. I do this work for them and future generations.

How did you first become active with the Sierra Club?

I followed Sierra Club on social media and one day decided to join. Shortly after, I attended my first outing and have been hooked ever since.

What's your favorite thing about volunteering with the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter, or a favorite memory from your time here?

I enjoy being part of an organization filled with people who have similar passions and interests. It's hard work fighting for Mother Earth, and I'm proud of the work we do.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of volunteering with the Sierra Club?

Join us!

Volunteer with the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

Join our virtual Summer Book Club!

Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter's Book Club is a great way to meet other members and volunteers from across the state and learn more about the important environmental and climate issues that bring us all together.

July's book is The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas.

An essential read, this book addresses the most pressing issues that the people and our planet face, examines and dismantles privilege, and looks to the future as the voice of a movement that will define a generation.

A bookshelf filled with books and details about the Hoosier Chapter Summer Book Club: The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas. Tuesday July 29th from 6-7pm ET online via Zoom. Register in advance at sc.org/hcevents

This is a quick read at just over 200 pages and we are looking forward to the discussions it generates!

Register here: Hoosier Chapter Summer Book Club: The Intersectional Environmentalist.

Not able to join us this month? August's book will be Sea of Grass by Dave Hage & Josephine Marcotty and that Hoosier Chapter Book Club will be held on 8/26.

Managing your Sierra Club emails

Did you know there's a one-stop shop for all your Sierra Club email preferences? It's called MyAccount!

This is where you can unsubscribe to specific emails and subscribe to others. It's a great place to take control of exactly what you receive from both your local chapter (that's us!) and our national organization. And for your local chapter and group Executive Committee elections later this year, MyAccount houses the voter portal. So if you're a Sierra Club member, it's where democracy happens!

All you need to do is go to myaccount.sierraclub.org. If you've never used MyAccount before, you can create an account at that link too.

Once you're in, you may find this guide from our friends at the Tennessee Chapter helpful: How to update your Communication Settings.

If you have any problems, contact member.care@sierraclub.org and they'll be happy to help!

Data Centers are Demanding Dirty Power

Last month, we learned AES Indiana is intending to build a new gas plant to serve an unknown large energy user (likely a data center). If you haven’t had a chance to write to AES telling them that you oppose electric price hikes for dirty power, please sign our petition at sc.org/nodirtypower.

Two data centers are proposed in AES service territory, including Google’s Franklin Township Data Center on Indy’s southside. Check out Protect Franklin Township to learn more about why neighbors are opposing the data center and to see how you can help.

AES Indiana is also considering building an experimental Small Modular Nuclear Reactor. You might recall that due to recent state legislation, we could be stuck paying for up to 100% of these costs, even if the project fails. We need to push back on AES Indiana’s dirty power proposals! Help us protect the progress we’ve made toward a renewable energy future by joining our campaign. Check out our upcoming Beyond Coal mixer to get involved:

Beyond Coal Campaign Mixer

Let’s come together as a community to advocate for renewable energy and to push back on dirty power proposals in 2025! At the mixer, you'll have a chance to meet people from around Central Indiana and get to know staff including Beyond Coal Campaign Organizers Megan Anderson and Nicole Chandler, Campaign Organizer based in Evansville; and Colleen Curtin, Hoosier Chapter Outreach Coordinator. We will give a short overview of our goals, and spend time enjoying food and getting to know each other!

Date, Time: August 11th, 2025 at 6:00pm ET
Location: 708 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Register: Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Mixer.

Spotted!

Sierra Club staff and volunteer leaders are passionate about getting out there and spreading the word about issues that matter to Hoosiers!

Six people standing in a park. There are picnic tables in the background and trees behind them. The six people are smiling. The sky is light blue with fluffy white clouds.

Jean Barr, Susan Wilder, Robyn Skuya-Boss, Mark Hatlestad, Christopher Norrick, and Nicole Chandler at the outing in Newburgh, IN. Photo: Nicole Chandler.

The Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter and the Indiana Beyond Coal had a great time on our most recent outing in Newburgh, IN!

"We discussed the work the Sierra Club is doing to help stop mercury pollution in the Ohio River, and witnessed both the smoke stacks at the F.B. Culley (CenterPoint) and Alcoa Aluminum smelting coal plants." - Nicole Chandler, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Organizer.

Sign our petition at sc.org/centerpoint asking CenterPoint to stick to their 2027 goal of being coal-free!

Check out this front-page coverage on the Sierra Club in the Evansville Courier and Press.

In this article, Nicole had the opportunity to give Sierra Club's perspective on the state and federal government rolling back environmental regulations, keeping old, polluting coal plants online, and how that only hurts our health and wealth in southern Indiana.

Read the article: Advocates concerned for Evansville as EPA aims to roll back environmental protections (Courier & Press)

A physical copy of the Evansville Courier and Press newspaper being held up against a field and sky in the background. There is a large image of smoke stacks on the paper. A hand is holding the paper and there are also smoke stacks just about in shot behind the paper too.

If you look to the right of the picture you'll see the F.B. Culley and the Alcoa Warrick coal plants in operation. Photo: Nicole Chandler.

The Winding Waters Group held an Anderson Falls County Park Adopt A Road clean-up and picnic.

We had some Blazing Stars CISMA (Cooperative Invasives Species Management Area) work being done in the parking lot and the fence line too!

Interested in helping tackle invasive species? Check out our website for all our upcoming Weed Wrangles!

A group of nine people sitting outdoors eating at an outdoor picnic table. They are looking at the camera and smiling.

Winding Waters Group picnic.

Sierra Club Uplands Group kicked off the Rail Trail Walk Series on July 2 with an out-and-back on the Limestone Greenway in Monroe County, IN.

Six more rail trail walks are planned for the summer and fall and are designed to include people who prefer paved trails.

Join us on the trail!

Four people standing outdoors on a trail. Some of them are leaning against a fence and there are trees in the background with green leaves against a blue sky.

Uplands Network folks on the Rail Trail walk. Photo: Eve Cusack.

Way Back Wednesday

The inside of a church or similar building with two people presenting with a projector screen behind them. There are around 15-20 people in the room listening sitting on pews.

Welcome to this regular feature where we look back and share photos from our past.

This month we travel back to July 2016, when Jodi Perras (Sierra Club) and Indra Frank (Hoosier Environmental Council) presented about the health risks related to coal and coal ash at a Heartlands Group Meeting in Mooresville, IN.

Thank you to Heartlands Group Chair Jesse Kirkham for sending this photo!

Readers' Photos

A red tailed hawk standing on a green-brown branch against a gray sky.

Thank you so much Josh Brown, for sending in this beautiful photo of a red-tailed hawk. This photo was taken on September 18, 2023, in Fishers, IN. We love to see the wildlife in our cities!

Do you have a photograph of Indiana nature — past or present, micro or macro — that you would like to share?

We'd love to see it and perhaps feature it in a future newsletter.

Use the button below, email rebecca.dien-johns@sierraclub.org, or just hit reply to share!

I have a photograph to share

Upcoming Events

Sierra Club local events and outings:

Wed, Jul 23, 2025; 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Eastern)
Seeds of Democracy: Summer Training Program Orientation (Virtual)

Sun, Jul 27, 2025; 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Eastern)
Art in Nature Family Hike
Bloomington, IN

Tue, Jul 29, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern)
Hoosier Chapter Summer Book Club: The Intersectional Environmentalist (Virtual)

Wed, Jul 30, 2025; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern)
Rail-Trail Series: Clear Creek Trail
Bloomington, IN

Sat, Aug 2, 2025; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern)
MC-IRIS/Hoosier Nat'l Forest partner weed wrangle
Bloomington, IN

Wed, Aug 6, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern)
Rooted in Community: Growing our Environmental Movement
Columbus, IN

Sat, Aug 9, 2025; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern)
MC-IRIS/Hoosier Nat'l Forest partner weed wrangle
Bloomington, IN

Mon, Aug 11, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Eastern)
Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Mixer
Indianapolis, IN

Mon, Aug 11, 2025; 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM (Eastern)
The Fascinating World of Moths - Uplands Network August Virtual Meeting (Virtual)

Tue, Aug 12, 2025; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern)
MC-IRIS/Hoosier Nat'l Forest partner weed wrangle
Bloomington, IN

Sat, Aug 16, 2025; 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern)
MC-IRIS/Hoosier Nat'l Forest partner weed wrangle
Bloomington, IN

Tue, Aug 26, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern)
Hoosier Chapter Summer Book Club: Sea of Grass (Virtual)

For the full list, go to our Upcoming Events and Outings page.

Other local events and outings of interest:

Thu, Aug 21, 2025; 6:00 PM (Eastern)
Carmel Green Initiative - Solar 101 workshop
Carmel Library, IN

Jun 20, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025
Greetings from Duneland: Indiana’s National Park Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center Indianapolis, IN

Sep 29-30, 2025
Faith in Place hybrid 2025 Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit with keynote address from Robin Wall Kimmerer.