Our legacy

With over 400 graduates, Green Corps has been the country’s most respected training program for environmental organizers for over 30 years. Below are stories and highlights from what some of our graduates have been doing:

  • Organizing Director, Student PIRGs

    Sophia grew up on a farm in Illinois and discovered her love for the environment early on. After graduating from the University of Kansas, she organized in cities across the country with Green Corps, developing a passion for youth engagement. Today, she leads teams of staff and students in Oregon and Washington on campaigns to protect orcas, ban plastic bags and register students to vote. Each summer, she directs door-to-door outreach to build grassroots support. In 2025, she returned to D.C. to campaign against tiny plastic pellets called nurdles that are polluting rivers and oceans.

  • Advocacy and Development Director, Solar Rights Alliance

    Cailey spent six years teaching high school English before pivoting to environmental organizing during the pandemic. Her first Green Corps campaign with the Solar Rights Alliance helped stop a harmful solar tax through rallies, petitions and media coverage. Now, she leads advocacy and fundraising at the organization, fighting to protect rooftop solar access in California and empowering citizens to take part in energy policy. Her work combines grassroots organizing with coalition-building and storytelling and is fueled by her passions for climate action and public engagement.

  • Senior Community Organizer, Move Minnesota

    During her Green Corps year, Julie organized with Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon South Carolina and Environment Iowa on campaigns ranging from protecting public lands to promoting clean energy. Now she works to improve transportation equity and sustainability at Move Minnesota, where she leads community-driven efforts to boost public transit access, reduce emissions and connect residents to jobs and resources. She recently organized the “Boost the Bus” rally and manages volunteer teams in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

  • Virginia State Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

    Victoria launched her career in Virginia through Green Corps and never looked back. She now leads state-level campaigns for Chesapeake Climate Action Network, fighting new pipelines and defending climate policy. Previously, she worked with the Virginia Conservation Network, coordinating environmental coalitions and grassroots mobilization. Today, she’s focused on pushing the state toward a zero-carbon future by 2040 and ensuring that policies stay strong in the face of opposition. Her work blends strategic advocacy, local organizing and legislative action.

  • Deputy Director, PennEnvironment

    Flora has spent her career advancing environmental action in Pennsylvania. After graduating from Green Corps, she joined PennEnvironment, rising through the ranks to Deputy Director. She oversees campaign strategy, field organizers and fundraising teams. Flora leads the state’s largest environmental lobby day and serves on the Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. Passionate about mentorship, she has hired multiple Green Corps alumni, including Class of 2024’s Belle Sherwood. Flora credits Green Corps with giving her the confidence and skills to lead — and she’s committed to paying it forward.

  • Colorado Director, Sierra Club

    Margaret began with Green Corps in 2014, then trained new organizers on staff before joining Mighty Earth and Oxfam America in national campaign leadership roles. Now, she directs the Sierra Club’s Colorado efforts, overseeing staff and volunteers working on air quality, land protection and climate policy. Her recent focus includes reducing ozone pollution and permanently protecting the Dolores River region. Margaret draws on over a decade of organizing and strategy experience to lead bold, statewide campaigns with lasting impact.

  • Executive Director, Mothers Out Front

    Jenny got her start organizing against corporate influence as a student, then she trained with Green Corps. She built a national network of climate organizers at 350.org and co-founded Choose Democracy to defend voting rights. After serving as National Organizing Director at RepresentUs, she joined Mothers Out Front as Co-Executive Director. There, she leads grassroots campaigns that empower mothers and caregivers to fight for climate action. Jenny blends deep movement-building experience with a fierce commitment to protecting our planet and democratic institutions.

  • Executive Director, Virginia Conservation Network

    Mary joined Green Corps right out of college, seeking hands-on experience in the environmental movement. A decade later, she became Executive Director of the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN), a statewide coalition of over 100 conservation groups. VCN strengthens Virginia’s environmental community by coordinating advocacy efforts and advancing pro-environment legislation. Under Mary’s leadership, VCN has helped unify the state’s climate, water, and land protection strategies. She credits Green Corps with launching her leadership journey in environmental organizing.

  • Shareholder Advocacy Director, Green Century Funds

    Annie spent 16 years with Green Corps, including time as Executive Director, before shifting to financial advocacy. At Green Century Funds, she now directs shareholder engagement campaigns, using investment leverage to push major companies toward sustainability. Annie works with corporate leaders to improve climate policies, reduce plastic use and protect biodiversity. Her leadership reflects a career-long commitment to fighting for environmental accountability — whether through grassroots campaigns or boardroom negotiations.

  • Agriculture and Climate Finance Program Manager, Friends of the Earth

    Ashley leads international finance campaigns aimed at transforming industrial agriculture. At Friends of the Earth, she spearheads the Stop Financing Factory Farming campaign, pressuring global institutions like the World Bank to shift investments toward sustainable, agroecological systems. She collaborates with global partners to expose harmful lending and promote equitable food systems. Ashley’s work reflects a passion for reducing agriculture’s climate footprint through bold, system-level change.

  • Deputy Director, California Solar & Storage Association

    Josh started with Green Corps in 2003, later returning as Executive Director. Today, he’s Deputy Director at CALSSA, organizing events and lobbying efforts to expand solar access and clean energy infrastructure in California. He supports member businesses navigating state and federal policy changes, including battery incentives and investment tax credits. “Every day I use the skills I learned in Green Corps,” Josh says — a testament to the long-term impact of grassroots training.

  • Founder & CEO, Mighty Earth

    Glenn is a globally recognized campaigner and the founder of Mighty Earth, where he’s helped transform industries like palm oil, rubber and steel. His leadership helped drive major deforestation reductions and corporate policy reforms. He also co-founded Chain Reaction Research, which provides sustainability risk analysis to investors. A former journalist and author, Glenn has shaped global environmental dialogue and strategy for decades. He credits Green Corps with giving him the foundation to launch ambitious campaigns for the planet.

  • Senior Director, 100% Renewable Energy Campaign, Environment America

    Johanna oversees national clean energy campaigns for Environment America, working with organizers and state groups to accelerate the transition to renewables. Her earlier wins include securing smoking bans in Maryland workplaces and stopping new nuclear development on Chesapeake Bay. At the heart of Johanna’s work is a belief in people-powered change — mobilizing grassroots support to drive state and national policy. She traces her organizing roots to her Green Corps training over two decades ago.

  • President & CEO, Consumer Reports

    Phil has led some of the country’s most influential advocacy organizations, including Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. Now, he leads Consumer Reports, advancing fairness and transparency in the marketplace. At Greenpeace, he grew revenue by 233% and drove corporate climate action. At the Sierra Club, he worked closely with lawmakers and businesses to develop environmental policy. Phil started his career with Green Corps and credits it for launching his lifelong commitment to impact-driven leadership.

  • Senior Vice President, Environmental Working Group

    Bernadette leads the Environmental Working Group’s California work, advancing public health and clean energy policies. She previously directed the California Solar & Storage Association, growing it into the nation’s largest consumer solar business group. Earlier, she launched the Million Solar Roofs Initiative at Environment California and helped communities fight pollution with Toxics Action Center. With 30 years in the movement, Bernadette’s career reflects a deep commitment to bold policy and grassroots action.

  • Senior Campaigns Director, Electrification Coalition

    Aaron designs and leads campaigns to electrify transportation in key states. At the Electrification Coalition, he helped launch Veterans for EVs and played a key role in securing EV incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act. Aaron also supports federal and state advocacy and currently chairs the board of Healthy Gulf. With roots in environmental organizing and experience in political campaigns, Aaron blends movement savvy with strategic policy work.

  • Executive Director, Climate Solutions

    Gregg has spent over 25 years leading climate nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. At Climate Solutions, he directs strategy for dozens of policy experts and campaigners across Washington and Oregon. His leadership has helped pass some of the strongest climate policies in the nation. Gregg started his career with Green Corps in 1993. He also served as Executive Director of Toxic-Free Future and helped found major regional coalitions like Renew Oregon.

  • President, League of Conservation Voters

    Pete launched his career with U.S. PIRG and was a member of the inaugural Green Corps Class of 1993. He has since played an instrumental role in building up grassroots organizing capacity in his home state of Colorado. More specifically, he first joined the Conservation Voters Movement network as the head of League of Conservation Voter’s Colorado affiliate in 2009, and became the founding executive director of Conservation Colorado when two organizations merged in 2012. He then served as the senior vice president of campaigns for the League of Conservation Voters before stepping up as the organization’s new president in the spring of 2025.