Chris Herndon, who signed on just over a year ago as the N.C. Sierra Club's Chapter Director, is expanding his leadership and impact as a member of the prestigious Leadership North Carolina program.
Chris is one of 56 civic and community leaders from across North Carolina to form the 2025-26 cohort known as Class 33. His predecessor as Chapter director, Cynthia Satterfield, was a member of LNC's Class 31.
The program brings class members together seven times for two-and-a-half day sessions to learn about issues critical to the state, focusing on six key areas: economic development, education, environment, government, health and human services, and inclusive leadership.
The sessions feature discussions with top officials and professionals, field trips, and experiential learning activities, giving participants new insight into our state's strengths and challenges, and opportunities for ways they can improve and empower their communities and the state as a whole.
As one of the cohort's only members from an environmental group, Chris hopes to use the experience to help North Carolina become a national leader in building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future – one where environmental policy and public leadership fully reflect the needs and voices of all communities.
"I believe North Carolina has a unique opportunity to integrate bold climate and environmental policy with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. That means investing in resilient infrastructure, affordable and sustainable housing, expanded parks and greenways that serve all communities, and stronger environmental justice protections. It also means ensuring that the communities who have historically been marginalized have meaningful seats at the table where these decisions are made," Chris says.
"This work matters to me personally because I believe the strength of our state lies not only in our natural resources, but in the dignity, well-being, and voice of every North Carolinian. My goal is to help shape policies that reflect that vision – creating lasting, systemic change that protects both people and places for generations to come."
The meetings kicked off in Boone and continued last week in Raleigh. Keep an eye out for Chris at local Group events as the group gathers monthly in Greensboro, Durham, New Bern, Charlotte, and Asheville.
Visit Leadership NC's site for a full list of Class 33 members and more details on the program.