People around the world used these events to exercise their power to advocate for, protect, clean, and improve our planet. Here in the United States, the birthplace of Earth Day, the story was no different.

EARTHDAY.ORG’s programs team worked closely with local organizations to build Earth Day coalitions in 13 cities across the U.S. We worked with grassroots partners in California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. 

Florida

In Orlando, Florida, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida hosted a successful event deconstructing mattresses to recycle their components. 

“Our Mattress Warrior Day protects our environment by deconstructing mattresses for the recyclable materials; therefore, diverting products from the landfill”, said Executive Director, Kathy Baldwin.

Michigan

The Manistique Community Treehouse Center in Detroit, Michigan hosted a community garden reset day. “The theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, means recognizing that real change starts at the community level. Our power is in our ability to come together, to transform vacant land into spaces of growth, and to invest in the health of both our environment and our people.” Said Tammy Black, Founder and CEO of the Manistique Community Treehouse Center.

New York

In Troy, New York, Capital Roots hosted a community tree planting. “These trees will help reduce heat, manage stormwater, and strengthen the health of our community,” said Amy Klein, CEO of Capital Roots. “This year’s theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ reminds us that real change starts with local action. When we come together to plant, learn, and invest in our shared future, even one tree can make a lasting impact.”

North Carolina

Trees for the Triangle, based out of Durham, North Carolina, hosted three events across the NC Triangle region throughout Earth Month. “On Earth Day, we’re bringing together local changemakers, business partners, and homegrown volunteers to help us establish Trees for the Triangle’s nursery location in Raleigh, where we will be growing our future impact, both literally and organizationally,” said Jean-Luc Duvall, Volunteer and Events Coordinator for Trees For the Triangle.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services organized a creek cleanup and sewer grate tagging event. Volunteers at the event could join a stream cleanup or mark storm drains using Quick Captures to track locations. Regardless of the activity they chose, their work supported water quality and wildlife habitats in their community.

Ohio

In Medina, Ohio, Medina County Indivisible hosted a community Earth Day fair using the theme of “Our Power, Our Planet.” Attendees heard from a retired NPS Ranger, a poet, the American Chestnut Foundation, and High School and Middle School kids sharing their perspectives on the environment.“Our goal is coming together in community to remember the importance of taking even small steps to connect with our environment and protect it,” said organizer, Mosie Welch.

Pennsylvania

In West Chester, Pennsylvania, the West Chester Green Team hosted a range of events, including an Earth Day march. They also hosted a wellness fair, jazz performance, and community dinner. All of these events united voices around environmental action, plastics awareness, and collective power for the planet.

Texas

Volunteer Houston, in Houston, Texas helped local volunteer organizations adopt the theme and promote their events during Earth Month. “When volunteers come together to care for the places they call home, they strengthen neighborhoods, protect our planet, and demonstrate the collective power we have to create a healthier, more resilient Houston for generations to come,” said Gayla Wilson, Community Engagement Officer for Interfaith Ministries- Houston.

In Elgin, Texas, the African American Youth Harvest Foundation hosted a community garden workday at Casa De Miel. Their work brought young people together to support one of their local partners.

Utah

In Salt Lake City, Utah, local student activist Grace Christiansen organized an “Our Power, Our Planet” themed rally. The Earth Action Rally was the second hosted by Christiansen and featured EARTHDAY.ORG Volunteer Coordinator, Lee Franklin as a speaker. You can watch a short video about the rally on our instagram page.

Conclusion

These local groups across the U.S. united people in their own community, their states, and the whole nation, to uplift the theme of “Our Power, Our Planet.” They used Earth Day to activate thousands of people and build a foundation for future action in their own back yards. That is what Earth Day is all about.

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Two years ago, a college student at the University of Utah, Grace Christiansen, reached out to EARTHDAY.ORG. She told us that she was planning an Earth Action Rally at the Utah State Capitol the weekend after Earth Day 2025. As college campus coordinator, I hit the ground running, working with Grace to determine where we could offer her support.

The first question I asked her was what campus organization she was working with to put on the event. I remember Grace paused, seemingly confused, and finally stated that she was just doing this by herself. 

I was amazed. She just decided one day that this rally needed to happen and she would be the one to do it. All I do for a living is try to convince people to take action, and here was someone who was doing it without even being asked. 

I helped her submit her permit application for the south steps of the Utah Capitol and helped her reach out to local student organizations. Grace took care of the rest. 

The Earth Action Rally was a success, featuring speakers from several local and statewide organizations and even a Utah state senator. Grace knocked it out of the park on the first try. 

Going into Earth Day 2026, my role shifted away from campuses to activating volunteers and advocates of all ages. Again, without any encouragement from me, Grace reached out and let me know she was organizing another Earth Action Rally in 2026. I was thrilled.

This time, Grace didn’t need help with the logistics and scheduling. This time EARTHDAY.ORG was able to provide media outreach, support with coalition building, and even material support with free t-shirts and a banner. And of course, this year, EARTHDAY.ORG gave me the go-ahead to attend the rally and help amplify the “Our Power, Our Planet” message.

Utah may not be the first place to come to mind when you think of environmental issues, but the state is at the center of several. Most famous might be the Great Salt Lake, which has shrunken over the past several decades as a result of water overconsumption. The issue is especially top of mind this year after a historically dry winter, with very little snowpack to feed the lake. We were joined this year by the Utah Center for Biological Diversity to address this problem.

Connected to the issue of water consumption is the rise of data centers. The rise of data centers is not unique to Utah at all. However, the Utah State Government and some local governments have gone out of their way to make it as easy as possible for developers to build data centers, with little public input. Unchecked development of data centers will lead to greater consumption of water and open the door to higher emissions of CO2 and particulate matter to meet the new energy demand.

The issue of emissions takes us to one more environmental problem Utah faces, air quality in the Salt Lake Valley. With most Utahns living in and around valleys, fossil fuels pose a unique problem. Air is easily trapped in the valleys, so emissions from cars, power plants, or even data centers can be trapped as well. These emissions pose a direct threat to human health, which is why one of the organizations that joined us this year was Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment.

As Utah suffers from the pressure of higher energy demand and the limitations of its own environment, the Governor and State Legislature have decided that rather than invest in clean energy, they should decrease regulations on the construction of nuclear energy. This action is in lock step with the Trump administration’s wishes and a result of the Trump administration’s own policy of defunding the construction of renewable energy in favor of fossil fuels. 

Deregulation of nuclear energy is an issue which hits many Utahns close to home. Nuclear bomb test fallout during the 20th century led to negative health consequences in communities living downwind of the test sites, including Grace’s grandmother. As of January 2025, over 8,000 Utahns had received compensation through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

Rather than bending to the will of the tech industry, many Utahns would like to see their state government take a deliberate and careful approach to growing nuclear energy production. Healthy Environment Alliance (HEAL) of Utah joined the rally this year to spearhead this very issue.

For all of these reasons, Grace’s rally could not have been more timely. These issues were unified perfectly under the theme of “Our Power, Our Planet.” Even when federal, state, and local governments are making poor environmental policy decisions, we still have an obligation to exercise our power to protect our planet. And that is just what we did.

On April 26, 2026, I began my journey to Salt Lake City. I woke up at 3 a.m. and headed to the airport to fly across the country to speak at the rally that same day.

When I stepped off the plane, I could see it was going to be a cold, windy, and rainy day. When I climbed the steep hill and walked up to the front steps of the Utah State Capitol, I could feel the full force of the wind and the rain was beginning to fall. 

At first only a few people arrived, and I wondered if the weather might make this event a bust. But the trickle of attendees remained steady, and when Grace kicked off the event we had several organizations tabling and a solid turnout of about fifty people.

As I listened to each speaker step up and tell their stories, the rain and wind continued to pick up. By the time I was up to speak, I was shivering. But seeing such a determined group of people refuse to give up and make sure their message was heard, brought me some warmth. Nothing embodies the meaning of “Our Power, Our Planet,” better than Grace and her collaborators who I stood with on that rainy Sunday afternoon.

Reflecting on the rally she organized, Grace said, “In order to make change, we need to remember the beginning of Earth Day and the legacy it created.” She continued, “I’m grateful to have been in a position to mobilize our community. This work needs to continue and it will. Earth Day is important and we need to keep protecting and advocating for our Earth on that day and all year round.”

Grace graduates from University of Utah this year, but I have no doubt that her actions have helped bolster the environmental movement in Utah and that this is just the beginning for her. Just like Grace, you don’t have to wait for someone to ask you to get involved. If you’re ready to take action, visit EARTHDAY.ORG to learn how to organize an event, a cleanup, or a community meeting.

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Opinion

Yesterday was Election Day in the United States. On its face this might seem like just another “off-year” election: with no U.S. presidential race on the ballot, no entire Congress up for grabs. But from the biggest cities to the smallest towns, statehouses to local councils, what happened yesterday in the U.S will ripple through our lives in ways many overlook.

In cities as large as New York City with nearly nine million residents, to college towns like Boone, North Carolina with about 20,000, voters are making decisions that matter. Last night, New York residents voted for their first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who beat former New York state Governor, Andrew Cuomo in a race that electrified the nation. 

In two other states, the results are also historic: In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger has been elected the state’s first female governor. And in New Jersey, another woman, Mikie Sherrill has won the governor’s race, defeating a GOP-endorsed opponent.

Why local votes matter — maybe more than you think

You’ve heard it before: voting is every citizen’s right and a vital part of democracy. But here’s the kicker: in local and state elections, you’re often voting on policy that touches your everyday life far more directly than what happens in Washington. Because in the U.S local governments, state legislatures and governors wield enormous power.

They decide the health of our communities, the quality of our environment, the schools we build, the trees we plant, and the laws that protect or roll back vital climate protections. For example: decisions about urban tree canopy investment, plastic pollution bans, requiring climate education, or on the other hand, restricting the growth of renewable energy. All of these decisions often originate and are made at state or local levels, not just in Congress.

Though the federal government is influential and messages about it dominate our headlines with a neverending stream of executive orders, acts of Congress, court rulings — it is only one part of the puzzle. There are fifty states, and thousands of municipalities all making decisions — often with more immediacy and direct impact on your local environment, your commute, and your children’s classrooms.

Virginia’s result means a shift in the commonwealth’s leadership and a signal that voters expect perhaps more than just partisan theater. New Jersey’s win for Sherrill, meanwhile, underscores a rejection of the familiar and a push toward fresh leadership. Together, these outcomes suggest that even when the headlines appear loud and seem dominated by two parties constantly fighting each other at every turn, state and local races are where the action is truly happening.

So, What Should You Do?

At a time when we’ve seen our own federal government here in the U.S pushing false information on climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency trying to roll back climate protections, and executive orders decreasing investment in renewable energy production – it is more important than ever to let our politicians know what matters to us. 

If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll wait for the next big federal election before I bother voting,” consider this your wake-up call: vote local. No matter what you believe in or which party you vote for or which candidate, take part in this important process and vote.

Because abstaining means leaving the choices about your environment, your schools, your climate future to others. These local and state elections give you the power to fill policy gaps left wide open by Washington — and even to stop bad decisions before they begin.

Whether you care about the fate of our national parks, the strength of our renewable energy economy, or making sure the next generation understands climate change and has the skills to act — those fights often start at home, in your town, in your state. So when you walk into that voting booth, remember: this isn’t secondary. In many ways, it’s frontline.

Don’t forget too that you can support our work too and make a difference on the issues you care about. So, if investing in climate literacy matters to you then you can pledge your support here. Please join the movement and add your voice to this urgent call for change. You can sign the Global Plastics Treaty petition, and spread the word to your friends! Or, you can donate to our Canopy Project, which organizes tree plantings all over the world, and take the effort not to buy clothes that promote Fast Fashion.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

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Rebecca Edler is the Sustainability Coordinator for the institute and has served as interim director twice. She has worked at the College for 16 years,  spending 11 with the Institute. This is where her journey with renewable energy started, while serving as Interim Director, when a faculty member won a grant to install solar panels on their trades building. 

Rebecca saw the opportunities solar presented and took action.

She got to work with an Americorps Vista worker, Emma Ardington, to apply for a grant to install solar panels on their library. According to Rebecca, the application was strengthened by the detailed numbers they had collected from a recent greenhouse gas inventory.  They won the grant. 

“I have to be completely honest here, I do not have a solar background. But I was tasked with overseeing this project.” Rebecca Edler

As her efforts to increase solar energy on campus were taking off, Menominee Nation leaders were looking for new ways to protect tribal sovereignty. 

To do this, they partnered with Indigenized Energy, a non-profit capacity-building organization focused on expanding renewable energy production for Native Tribes. “It was almost like it was meant to be,” said Rebecca. Because of their recent solar installations, Rebecca and others from the institute participated in the meetings. It didn’t take long for the institute to take a leading role in this tribal effort. 

With the help of Cody Two Bears and David Riley at Indigenized Energy, Rebecca applied for and won a grant to install a 40 kW grid at the institute. The Menominee tribe tasked the institute to organize workshops to teach community members how to work with and install solar panels. “It was sort of like the perfect storm–  in a good way. We had the tribe, we had the college, and we had Indigenized Energy,” said Rebecca. 

The workshops were intended to welcome 15-20 participants, but well over 50 signed up. So the institute expanded the program. According to Rebecca, the workshops were, “hands-on learning at its best.” 

 “It was not simply installing a grid, it was also thinking about our workforce development. Thinking about equipping tribal members or community members with the skills, the knowledge, the qualifications, that are needed to succeed in this industry.” Rebecca Edler

Rebecca watched as her community came together to pursue sustainability and sovereignty, “One of my greatest memories is when I was sitting at my desk, and I could look out, it was raining out, and there were women, there were grandmothers out there. They had their hardhats on, they had their goggles on, they had their tools in their hands, and they were carrying those solar panels from the pile and they were getting them up on the grid and installing them.” 

Rebecca was inspired by her neighbors, of all ages, genders, and walks of life, who saw opportunity in renewable energy, “To me it showed the dedication, the desire, and the support of the community to move in this direction of clean energy.”

A Sustainability Manager With A Passion for Solar

When you meet Pat Snowden, it doesn’t take long to learn he is a go-getter. His can-do attitude is infectious and he’s dedicated to his work. Something else you’ll learn about Pat is that he has a passion for solar energy.

Pat Snowden serves as the Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager for Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. Everett is a public community college serving over 16,000 students. 

Since 2013, Pat has been managing a 19.2kW solar array and according to Pat this solar array has paid off, “Even in our climate, which is notoriously cloudy and at a high northern latitude, we generate roughly 21,000 kWh of electricity annually.”

But Pat’s journey with solar energy didn’t start at Everett. Pat had already graduated from University of Washington-Bothell with a bachelor’s degree and some certificates in solar system design. But he needed to build his skills with Computer-Aided Design, better known as CAD. So, like millions of Americans, he enrolled at his local community college to earn an Associate of Technical Arts degree focused on CAD.

As a student, Pat joined Everett’s student newspaper, The Clipper. His role at the Clipper allowed him to interview the previous sustainability lead for Everett’s facilities team. That interview left a strong impression on him. “That led me to apply to the Facilities Department when a position became available and then I just never left,” said Pat.

Now over a decade later, Pat is upping the ante on solar energy. Everett recently submitted for a grant to install a 100kW solar array on one of their buildings. To Pat, investing in solar is a no-brainer.

“Aside from the educational aspects for students, I think we can offset our energy use with these systems.” Pat went on to say, “I think solar panels are a great long-term investment because they last for so long and can replace many other types of generation.” Pat Snowden

After this grant, Pat doesn’t plan to slow down, “My goal is to install a megawatt of solar panels on campus before I retire.” Pat sees huge opportunity in solar for Everett and higher education as a whole, “I think it has a lot of potential in many ways, including as an educational tool, increased research opportunities, and good paying jobs that help the economy overall.” 

Pat added, “There have been a lot of advances in the last few years in the renewable energy field, and a lot of this has been driven by research at educational institutions.”

Pat see’s his work on renewable energy at Everett helping lead the country to a stronger economy, energy independence, and clean environment, “Even with the climate change and greenhouse-gas emissions aside, this is a looming national security issue that needs to be addressed.” 

And Pat’s passion for renewable energy goes even deeper than that, “I am a solar nerd and am excited about trying to get more solar and renewable energy projects done on the campus. However, my favorite part of my job is talking to students & staff about solar and renewable systems.” Pat continued, “There are a lot of really smart, passionate young people out there and I love seeing them get excited about this stuff. It gives me hope for the future.”

This April, join Rebecca and Pat in observing Earth Day on your campus or in your community. If you already have an Earth Day event planned, share it with your community by registering it on the Global Earth Day Map. If you are looking for a way to observe Earth Day in your community, you can find events near you on the same Global Earth Day Map! And be sure to follow the great work campuses are doing across the globe on the Earth Day Campus Coalition Instagram page!

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