As the Inflation Reduction Act comes online as the largest investment in clean energy in the country’s history, it is a great time to look back.  The PIRGs’ campaigns to clean up the Filthy Five power plants in Massachusetts, and the Sooty Six in Connecticut, were victories for clean air policy but also served a dual purpose to curb global warming pollution at a time when the American public lacked awareness.  And of course, the effort trained a generation of advocates and organizers along the way at MASSPIRG, CONNPIRG, Green Corps, and Community Action Works (formerly Toxics Action Center).  Come join a virtual campaign reunion to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, including hosts Bernadette Del Chiaro, Johanna Neumann, and Rob Sargent!

WHEN: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 12:30pm PST/3:30pm EST

Let us know if you can make it by filling out this form below - we’ll send along a ZOOM link.

What: A virtual party for Hyam’s “soft launch” into retirement

When: 5pm ET/2pm PT on Monday, April 18, 2022

Where: Over Zoom

RSVP by filling out the form below and we will send you the link to join the event!

Are you a Public Interest Network alum working on clean energy or in the renewable energy field? If so, join Environment America Senior Director Johanna Neumann for an informal virtual gathering to connect and share updates in our first Alumni Affinity Group virtual event!

Where: Zoom Web Conferencing

When: October 26, 2021 at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we’ll send you a link to the event.

Did you work for the PIRGs in the late ‘90s or early ‘00s in the Midwest? If so, people like Diane Brown, Kate Strouse, Canada, Heather Kunst and Gigi Norcross would love for you to join a virtual gathering to share memories and reconnect with friends and colleagues!

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 8:30pm ET/ 7:30pm CT/ 5:30pm PT
Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we’ll send you a link to the event. See who else will be there by checking out the Facebook event!

Did you work in DC or in the field on passing the 1990 Clean Air Act? If so, alumni like Pamela Gilbert, Liz Hitchcock, Jim Leahy, Jon Scarlett, Daniel Silverman and Bill Wood would love to see you at a virtual gathering to reconnect with friends and colleagues from the campaign!

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 8:00pm ET/ 5:00pm PT

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below and we’ll send you a link to the event. See who else will be there by checking out the Facebook event!

Did you work for the PIRGs in North Carolina, or somewhere else with The Public Interest Network and now live in North Carolina? If so, join fellow alumni like Wib Gulley and Jay Harris for a virtual gathering to reconnect with colleagues and make some new connections. We’ll also hear an update from the new NCPIRG State Director Katie Craig and from the NCPIRG Students team about their efforts on campuses across the state!

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:00pm ET

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below and we’ll send you a link to the event.

Did you work on the “Big Green” Campaign in California leading up to 1990? If so, you’re invited to join a reunion to share memories and reconnect with friends and colleagues. Join fellow Public Interest Network alumni and staff like Tanya Africa, Matt Baker, Joanie Clayburgh, Andre Delattre, Julie Miles and Mary Raftery.

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we’ll send you a link to the event. See who else is coming by checking out the Facebook event!

The COVID-19 crisis has demanded many of our institutions to be nimble and flexible in ways they have never had to be before. As the pandemic continues, and especially as it winds down, it will be critical for policy-makers to keep their eyes open to changes happening on the ground and to look for opportunities to ensure that the transportation system that emerges in our “new normal” is better, cleaner and healthier than the deeply flawed old normal now receding in the rearview mirror. Come hear about what’s going on at the state and national level, and what’s coming next.

Public Interest Network alumni are invited to join a virtual briefing and discussion on this topic as part of our “Food for Thought” series. We’ll hear from U.S. PIRG’s Matt Casale, Frontier Group’s Tony Dutzik, CoPIRG’s Danny Katz and Transportation Riders United's Megan Owens, plus have a chance for some Q&A and discussion.

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 8pm ET/5pm PT

Fill out the form below and we’ll send you the link to join the event.

Did you work for the PIRGs or the Fund in the ‘80s in Massachusetts? If so, alumni and staff including Margie Alt, Joel Ario, Laura Barrett, Jeff Bernstein, Janet Domenitz, Rich Hannigan, Liz Hitchcock, Mindy Lubber, Doug Phelps, Sandy Pooler, Susan Rakov, Leslie Samuelrich, Jon Scarlett, Ken Ward, Kirk Weinert and others would love to see you!

When: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:00pm ET

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

Fill out the form below and we’ll send you the link to join the event. See who else is coming by checking out the Facebook event!

Our democracy has been profoundly challenged in recent years, and Public Interest Network staff and alumni continue to push for a variety of efforts to make it better, from civic participation and voter modernization to campaign finance reform. Come hear about what’s going on at the state and national level, and what’s coming next.

Public Interest Network alumni are invited to join a virtual briefing and discussion on this topic as part of our new “Food for Thought” series. We’ll hear from U.S. PIRG Democracy for the People Program Director Joe Ready, MASSPIRG Executive Director Janet Domenitz, Public Interest Network Senior VP and Campaigns Director Zach Polett, New Voters Project Director Manny Rin and Maryland PIRG State Director Emily Scarr, plus have a chance for some Q&A and discussion.

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 8pm ET/5pm PT

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we will send you a link to the event. You can also check out the event info on Facebook!

Did you work for the PIRGs or the Fund in the late ‘90s/ early ‘00s (circa Y2K) in DC? If so, join alumni and staff including Steve Blackledge, Ivan Frishberg, Emily Greenfield, Liz Hitchcock, Wes Jones, Christy Leavitt, Adam Lioz, Navin Nayak, Becky Stanfield and Aaron Viles for a virtual reunion!

When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00pm ET

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we will send you a link to the event. Plus, see who’s coming by checking out the Facebook event!

So many people have done great organizing and advocacy work in Florida over the years, and many additional Public Interest Network alumni have moved to the state in the meantime. We’re getting everyone together for a virtual gathering to allow everyone to catch up and meet some new faces. We’ll also be introducing some new staff, who are launching an exciting new organizing effort on campuses in Florida called PIRG Campus Action!

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 8:30pm ET

Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form below, and we will send you a link to the event.
Plus, see who’s coming by checking out the Facebook event!

Many alumni asked us over the years for more opportunities to get engaged in important issues. Now we send an Alumni Action Alert each month on a particular issue or campaign The Public Interest Network is working on, along with some actions that you can take to help protect the environment, public health or the public interest.

This month, we're calling on Costco to take two steps to help save Canada's boreal forest: First, make its Kirkland Signature tissue products from at least 50 percent recycled or forest-free materials; then, refuse to sell other brands of tissue products until they implement the same change. Will you join the call?

THE ISSUE: Urge Costco to stop selling toilet paper made from ancient trees

PUBLIC INTEREST NETWORK GROUP WORKING ON THIS: Environment America

CONTEXT: We’re losing the ancient forest of the Canadian boreal, one of the world’s most important forests, at a rate of one and a half football fields per minute. Unfortunately for wildlife and our climate, many manufacturers make their tissue paper using 100 percent virgin forest fiber -- much of it logged and pulped trees from the boreal. These companies use all-virgin fiber because it makes a softer tissue they believe customers prefer.

Here’s why we think we can win, and why Costco’s commitment would be so important:

• We have alternatives. Materials exist for creating tissue products that are far less damaging than wood, like wheat straw, bamboo and recycled paper. Well-regarded companies are already using them to make products many Americans use.

• We have momentum. Environment America and allies have been publicly urging Procter & Gamble (P&G), which owns the Charmin, Bounty and Puffs brands, to stop making products using virgin fiber. Last October, by a surprisingly large margin, shareholders voted for a proposal calling on the company to eliminate deforestation in its supply chain.

• As for Costco, toilet paper is its best-selling item. The retailer sells a billion rolls a year. If each and every one of those rolls were made in a way that tread lightly on the Boreal and the Earth, it would have a huge impact on the industry.

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE: Costco, a major seller of toilet paper, has a chance to make a major difference in preventing widespread deforestation in the boreal forest. Tell Costco CEO Craig Jelinek: Help save North America's biggest and most vital forest by committing his company to only sell products made sustainably. Take action here.

What: Did you graduate Green Corps in 2002? If so, we'd love to have you join us to reminisce and catch up with a great crew of people!

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 5:30-7:00pm MT

Join: Margie Klein, Johanna Neumann, Steph Bonin, Natalie Foster, Beth Weinstein, Glenn Hurowitz

Here is a photo of the event below:

What: Were you involved with Arizona PIRG anytime between 2006 and 2010? If so, we'd love to have you join Diane Brown, Marites Velasquez, Erin Eccleston, Whitney Kraner, Jason Donofrio and others to reminisce and catch up with a great crew of people! 

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 5:30-7:00pm MT

Here is a photo of the event below:

What: Were you involved in the CALPIRG High Speed Rail campaign in the '00s? If so, we'd love to have you join us to reminisce and catch up with a great crew of people! 

Where: Zoom Video Conferencing

When: Thursday, February 4, 2021, 4:30-6:00pm PT

Join: Danny Katz, Emily Rusch, Laura Deehan, Dan Xie, Jenn Engstrom and others

See who's RSVP'd on facebook here.

Here is a photo of the event below: