Who are we?

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) is a volunteer-driven, grassroots, 501(C)(3) non-profit organization of over 1,500 Southern Oregonians and friends who are concerned about the climate crisis.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) is to promote awareness and understanding about the science, causes, and consequences of climate change. We work with individuals and organizations in Southern Oregon, statewide, nationally, and internationally to advocate for both personal and governmental actions that reduce the emissions and atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.

Within this framework, we are committed to supporting climate solutions that address the social injustices that have undermined vulnerable communities for many decades and that still plague our society today.

OUR GOAL

We seek a reduction in the global atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration to 350 parts per million Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). We achieve this through science education, community engagement, and policy advocacy.

our story impacts 250 events 13,000 attendees

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now was established in 2012 by co-founders Kathy Conway and Alan Journet who relocated to Southern Oregon after retiring from Southeast Missouri State University. They were accompanied by several dozen area residents who were motivated to remedy the absence of a grassroots climate activist organization in the region. Incorporated in 2014 under bylaws that identify the Board as the organization, the SOCAN mailing list has since grown to over 2,000 recipients.

SOCAN is organized around a seven-member Board of Directors representing a diversity of backgrounds and concerns about climate and social justice. Since its establishment, SOCAN has spawned other climate-focused local groups as several of our activists elected to develop organizations with slightly different defined niches in the climate activist arena, notably Rogue Climate, Southern Oregon Citizens Climate Lobby, Rural Oregon Climate Political Action Committee, and the Ashland Climate Collaborative. The Board of Directors delegates day-to-day management to the co-founders serving as volunteer co-facilitators. These individuals are aided and supported by a Leadership Circle meeting bi-monthly that comprises leaders of SOCAN projects and other interested activists wishing to help the organization move forward in service of its mission.

Position Statements:

In an ever-evolving policy landscape, clarity of values matters. Our position statements reflect the collective insight of our board, synthesizing current science, community priorities, and ethical imperatives into clear stances on key issues.

Position Statements

Milestones

2013

It’s a Rogue Thing: Bringing Climate Concerns Home

this was the first organized climate event in Southern Oregon.

2013
2014

Ashland City Council

approved a request to the Short Term Fund Board to divest taxpayer investments from fossil fuels.

2014
2015

Our Critical Climate: Rogue Basin Summit

attracted a two-day audience of several hundred local residents and agency personnel to explore what is happening locally by way of climate change and responses to it.

2015
2017

Voices in the Valley

a full length video documentary, was produced and released featuring interviews with local residents speaking about how climate change affects them from various points of reference, ranging from health issues to effects on local business.

2017
2018

Policy Advocacy

engagement with state legislators and the statewide activist coalition urging passage of legislation establishing a meaningful comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions reduction program in the state.

2018
2019

Coastal Chapter

 coastal SOCAN was established in Harbor/Brookings as a regional SOCAN project.

2019
2020

Oregon Cliamte Action Plan

collaborated extensively with the Oregon Climate Action Plan advocates after Executive Order 20-04 was signed (in March) by Governor Brown.

2020
2021

Vision to Action

completed a 3-year strategic plan “SOCAN Vision to Action” that initiated efforts to undertake an administrative transition toward a full-time employed Executive Director.

2021
2022

Regional & Local

contributed to the development of a Grants Pass Sustainability and Energy Action Plan (approved by city council) and the Medford Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan (approved the following year)

2022
2023

Youth Climate Protector

collaborated with with the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy and NOWIA Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy, SOCAN received a grant to create an outdoor-based climate education course for underserved Latinx high school students.

2023
2024

Expansion

hired SOCAN’s first executive director, Daniel Scotton. Launched an annual fundraiser called, “Sips for Sustainability”.

2024
2024
2021
2020
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

SOCAN Archive