Dear Friends,

I earned my teaching credential from Dominican University, but it didn’t take long to realize that balancing full-time teaching with activism was impossible.  So, I chose to be a substitute teacher instead—and I loved it!  Showing up every day in the GandhiMobile, I quickly became known as the “Gandhi Guy”.  Hearing students say, “You’re the best sub I’ve ever had!” meant the world to me, and I know it was because of the mutual respect we shared.

After 15 years, I retired and returned to full-time activism, with climate change as my top priority. My latest vision was to build an 8-person Pod and a 20-foot Pine Cone (Mobile) Home to bring attention to climate change in high schools. However, I’ve recently realized that driving around in a Pine Cone Home might not be the best idea right now.

So, here’s Plan B: I want to pick up where Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda left off by bringing Fire Drill Fridays to high schools. (Check it out here: Fire Drill Fridays.) Meanwhile, I’ll continue working on the Pine Cone Home and aim to launch it in 2028—when, hopefully, a progressive president is in office.

I’m looking for a partner to join me in this next phase of activism. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, let’s talk!

In the meantime, if you’re looking for guidance through the next few years, I highly recommend Heather Cox Richardson’s daily newsletter, “Letters from an American.” And if you’re looking to get involved with an activist group, the Petaluma Postcard Pod is full of wonderful people, and Indivisible, a national movement, is growing fast.

There’s no doubt we’re in for a wild ride ahead. But I truly believe the challenges we face now will open the door for a progressive leader who might not have had a chance otherwise. As Thom Hartmann always says at the end of his podcast:

“Get out there, get active! Tag, you’re it!”

Peace & Love,
❤️ Jes
https://gandhimobile.org/