Virtual Assembly | Support Role Application
Get Involved in Washington State's first Climate Assembly
APPLY FOR A SUPPORT ROLE
Open assembly support roles
Though Assembly members are chosen at random, there are a number of ways you can contribute to the process. Below are available roles that are currently open.
To apply, please click on the purple button “apply for a support role." You will be directed to an online form and our team will be in touch with you about next steps once you complete the form.
UPDATE: The deadline to submit applications from interested parties was Jan. 22, 2021. The application process is now closed.
Have a policy recommendation you’d like the Assembly Members to consider?
Proposals for policy recommendations on the subject of the Assembly (How can Washington State equitably design and implement climate mitigation strategies while strengthening communities disproportionately impacted by climate change across the State?) can be submitted by anyone. If you have a policy recommendation you would like the Assembly Members to consider, please participate in the WA Climate Assembly Recommendations Survey .
Support role timeline & actions
For honoraria document click here *
*Payment offered out of good will and without obligation on the part of the giver—see Wikipedia. These may be accepted or not, depending on the organizational affiliation and choice of the recipient.
Further details on these roles are provided in the Assembly Organizational Structure document.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Washington Climate Assembly?
A Climate Assembly is a democratic process that seeks to answer a question or solve a problem facing a community around climate pollution in a way that fairly represents everyone’s interests from all walks of life.
The concept of Assemblies have been used historically and worldwide to help shape the work of governments. At the Assembly, members learn about the issue, take time to discuss with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen.
How does it benefit our democracy?
“Citizens’ Assemblies” (intended here for all state residents) are a well-tested activity notable for their emphasis on a quality process. Participants are presented with comprehensive and balanced educational content from experts, affected parties, and other interested community members, which serves as a basis for their deliberation. They get to meet with a diverse group of fellow Washingtonians, listen and be heard, compare viewpoints, and express their personal stance in this context. Trained facilitators ensure that discussions take place in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect that is also engaging, heartfelt, and inspiring. This form of political participation is qualitatively different from our current democratic tools. Recommendations that emerge will have already been vetted by a broad spectrum of the public. Policy makers benefit from guidance on managing conflicting interests, thus clarifying policies and priorities that a representative sample of the population agrees upon.
Has it been done before? Does it work?
Yes! Assemblies are an increasingly popular form of democratic process and solution-finding across the world. Thankfully, we are able to benefit from the experience and expertise of U.S. states like Oregon and countries like Australia, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Poland, and more. The recent French “Convention Citoyenne Pour Le Climat,” focused on reducing carbon emissions, led President Macron to pledge to adopt and fund 146 out of 149 policy recommendations. Assemblies can be effective and powerful!
What is the scoping question of the WA Climate Assembly?
The WA Climate Assembly will focus on answering the following question: How can Washington State equitably design and implement climate mitigation strategies while strengthening communities disproportionately impacted by climate change across the State?
Why support it?
For decades, elected officials have failed to properly address the climate crisis. It is time to let the people speak on how to best protect our common home. Through the Assembly, we can hear their voices loudly, clearly, and before it is too late. The power of the Assembly lies in its diversity, integrity, transparency, and independence. Running an Assembly professionally requires engaging skilled coordinators, facilitators, experts and technicians. And to ensure that there are no barriers to participation, the Assembly will compensate participants for their time and personal costs.
How was the Coordinating Team selected?
The Assembly's Initiating Team, People's Voice on Climate, put out an open call for potential bidders via a request for proposals in July 2020. All submitted proposals were considered and ranked by a Hiring Team whose constituency was designed by the Assembly's Pro Bono Design Team, the Center for Climate Assemblies. The Hiring Team consisted two representatives from the State Legislature, one Academic, and two members of the Initiating Team, with several NGO representatives serving in advisory roles. Cascadia Consulting Group was the successful bidder.
How was the WA Climate Assembly designed?
Follow our design process and interactive processes on our Mural Board.
Who is funding the WA Climate Assembly?
The WA Climate Assembly is funded by People's Voice on Climate (PVOC). PVOC contributed $290,000 towards this project but does not play more than a minority role in deciding how the Assembly is designed, facilitated, or run. A neutral Hiring Team chose Cascadia Consulting Group to facilitate this work to create and lead a neutral Assembly process.
To learn more about People's Voices on Climate, visit their website:
Who gets to present at the Assembly?
There are two types of presenters (Expert and Interested Party) at the Assembly who present during the “learning sessions”. Experts are individuals who specializes in the subject of the Assembly, by profession, eduction, training, skill or experience, and whose role is to transfer that knowledge to Assembly Members. Interested Parties are an organization, institution, or informal group whose activity is related to the subject of the Assembly, or who is directly affected by issues raised during the Assembly.
What should I do if I want to present?
Experts and Interested Parties are invited to present by the Coordinating Team by Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. The list of Experts and Interested Parties who have accepted the invitation to participate in the Assembly is published on the Assembly’s website. If you have not been invited to speak in the Assembly, but are interested in presenting, please notify the Coordinating Team by emailing info@waclimateassembly.org.
What do I do if I am not selected to present?
If you are not selected to present, you may appeal against this decision to the Monitoring Team, by emailing johanna@peoplesvoiceonclimate.org, within 7 days of receiving a refusal to participate in the Assembly. The decision of the Monitoring Team is final.
How do I suggest topics to be covered during the learning phase of the Assembly and/or experts to present them?
If you are participating in the Assembly as an Interested Party, you have the right to (1) suggest topics to be covered during the learning phase of the Assembly and/or experts to present them, (2) make an oral presentation during the Assembly Members’ meeting, which may include proposals for Recommendations and references to the Experts’ speeches, (3) provide Assembly Members with a summary of your opinion via email to info@waclimateassembly.org , and (4) provide the Assembly Members with your comments on the suggested recommendations by Experts and other Interested Parties via email at info@waclimateassembly.org.
How do I provide input to the Assembly Program in the form of suggestions regarding topics to be presented during the learning phase and the choice of Experts?
The Coordinating Team solicited input via individuals who signed up to be “Agenda Consultants.” Everyone interested in serving as an Agenda Consultant within the specified time listed on the website was provided with a link to a Google Document that listed the proposed topics and potential presenters. The Coordinating Team received over 98 comments from Agenda Consultants, and this resulted in the refinement of agenda topics, confirmation of key topics, and identification of potential new speakers and topics. Though we received great input, there is always an opportunity to share your ideas on additional topics or speakers. Please email your ideas to info@waclimateassembly.org.
How do I express concerns about the integrity of the Assembly Program?
Anyone may ask the Monitoring Team to evaluate the integrity of the Assembly Program.
Please contact johanna@peoplesvoiceonclimate.org.
Where can I make a recommendation to Assembly members?
Proposals for policy recommendations on the subject of the Assembly (How can Washington State equitably design and implement climate mitigation strategies while strengthening communities disproportionately impacted by climate change across the State?) can be submitted by anyone. If you have a policy recommendation you would like the Assembly Members to consider, please participate in the WA Climate Assembly Recommendations Survey.