Summer is officially knocking on our doors with the solstice approaching, can you believe it? Being the mid-point in the year as well, it’s a great time to reflect on where we’ve been before we head into the second half of 2024. We are so fortunate to have had the support and dedication of this month’s Climate Hero all this year and many year’s before, David Alley!
David got started with 350 Colorado in October 2019 through the Climate Strike that was happening in Denver (when Greta Thunberg was here!). A snowy day and huge turnout, it was a significant event in the climate movement. And since then, David has diligently made his way from supporter to truly incredible supporter, and we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him.
But first a little background on David:
David cofounded Designs for Learning in 1992 and has served as vice-president, president and CEO. He chairs the employee-owned company’s Board of Directors through 2024 as envisioned in a succession plan established many years ago. He has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Memphis, with an emphasis in Adult and Higher Education. He has been a system engineer at IBM and served as director of institutional evaluation and planning, associate academic dean, and vice president for student services at a small private college in Arkansas. It’s no wonder that David is such a gifted communicator and great team player, as has been noted since 350CO staff’s first interactions with him.
“Getting to meet and work with David these last years has been such a gift, in every sense of the word,” said Chelsea Alexander, Movement Building & Volunteer Director. “We first met at the Together Colorado Climate Justice Committee meetings that happen every month, and I was immediately struck by his thoughtful and positive leadership. He was able to ensure others feel heard and supported, which can be hard to do in virtual, organizing spaces, let alone when in-person.”
A particularly memorable event was when David was an active part of the Youth Action Committee’s march and action in front of Chase Bank in Denver in March 2022, as seen in some of the pictures in this post! As youth speakers spoke and artists performed, David stood diligently in a circle around the group, engaging with others and creating a safe space to be in.
“From serving on our board of directors to our fundraising committee, David has been a wonderful and dependable leader for our organization, and we’re so grateful for all of his tremendous support!”
– Micah Parkin, Executive Director & Co-Founder of 350CO
In February 2023 David applied for and was joyfully accepted to the 350 Denver Local Team Leadership Council. LC members are instrumental in helping lead local movement building and campaign efforts, as well as statewide ones. Given Denver’s position in the state’s capitol there is even more emphasis on the importance of good distributed leadership efforts if we are to make an impact on reducing carbon emissions, pollution, and degradation to our planet. David is truly that leader that helps ensures we are doing that, while also uplifting and endlessly supporting one another.
David sets the bar for what it means to be a passionate, dedicated activist for the community. He is actively engaged in social change efforts, particularly racial, climate and economic justice. He is a co-founder of the Reparations Affinity Group at the Denver Foundation. Learn more about this incredible group here and consider getting involved to create more intersectionality and justice in your organizing efforts!
Just last year David also joined 350 Colorado’s Executive Board. Supporting fundraising operations and cultivating relationships with donors and foundations is no small thing, but he is a tremendous leader in that realm. Even down to sending thank you post cards to donors during the busy holiday season, David does what needs to be done.
Part of what makes David such a force is that he not only believes in dedicated leadership and doing the behind the scenes work, but he is easily one of the first people you’ll find in any given non-violent protest, action, press conference, or march, carrying signs, sharing positive, supportive energy with others, and doing whatever needs to be done to make it an effective event. Even civil disobedience is something he is familiar with, given his work with Extinction Rebellion in the past and even being arrested for blocking traffic! Running into David at one of these events means a friend to be with, to check-in and maybe lament about things, but definitely to laugh! “I would be amiss if I didn’t emphasize David’s sharp wit and humor. I’m sure to laugh any time I’m with him,” said Chelsea.
Just recently at the end of March, David was among the ranks of those that stayed late into the night to testify in support of SB24-159, the Phase Out & Clean Up bill of oil & gas well permitting, when it was being heard in the Agriculture & Natural Resources committee. His testimony when he was finally called sometime after 9pm (or later maybe even?) was powerful and to the point. It takes courage, patience, practice, and so much more to use your voice and knowledge in public comment process. But the more of us that rise to that action, and as often as we can, the more likely we are to build the regenerative future we envision. David is a steadfast force when it comes to this, and thank goodness so!
In May he came to a screening of ‘A Good Neighbor’, the documentary about superstar organizer, human being, and Adams County Board of Education Member, Lucy Molina! Don’t worry, if you haven’t seen it we will be having a screening in Boulder in July! Check our calendar and emails for more details soon. Okay, back to the story!
David was in attendance to support Lucy and the message of environmental justice, as we came to learn that one of the panelists participating after the film was less than, let’s say, ‘on board’ with the reality of the climate crisis and it’s disproportionate impacts to black, brown, Indigenous, low-income, communities across the world. During the Q&A David asked how future generations will look back on us right now and if our actions were enough to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Despite the continued dismissiveness of our warming and changing planet, David showed up with heart and persistence to challenge the dangerous misinformation we still deal with in this work.
“As a new Denver Team Coordinator, David welcomed me with open arms; it was abundantly clear from the beginning that David is well loved within the Colorado climate movement. David consistently shows up for the causes and people he cares for – whether that be within Denver Leadership Council events, or film showings of our very own Lucy Molina. If you are lucky enough to be at the same event as David, you know that you have a friendly face to stand with,” said Melissa Burrell, 350CO Denver Team Coordinator.
When David isn’t busy giving generously of his time and energy, he makes time for running (like the Twin Cities Marathon in 1992, 1994, 2014, 2015 and the Boston Marathon 2016), reading, music, travel, hiking, non-technical mountain climbing (Long’s Peak, six times 1978-2016), biking, and working on computers. He is an active member of the First Unitarian Society of Denver, and we are truly grateful for all the ways in which he and members of the congregation have continually supported and uplifted our campaigns to phase out fracking and clean up our air! A true lover of the arts, and also a Coloradan in that sense of loving and celebrating the many gifts of this special place! Is anyone else rubbing their hands for tubing season?!
David, getting to write about your activism was a gift and inspiration in and of itself. We so deeply admire your big heart, thoughtfulness, generosity, and unshakeable good attitude! Thank you for having shared your many talents with the movement and 350CO for so long now, and while managing the many waves of life. You are a shining star that will continue to strengthen and unite us across Denver and the state. Thank you so much for all that you do!
– Written by Chelsea Alexander, Micah Parkin, and Melissa Burrell