ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES

ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP: ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP DRIVES ALLIANCE STAFF MEMBERS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, CIVIC GROUPS AND DECISION-MAKERS TO DEVELOP ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR LAKES AND COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS BY WORKING AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS TO ENSURE PROGRAMS AND FUNDING RESTORE OUR GREAT LAKES AND REFLECT A STRONGER FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS WORK ALSO INCLUDES ADVOCATING TO PREVENT THE ONSLAUGHT OF INVASIVE SPECIES, REDUCING SOURCE WATER POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF, STEMMING THE TIDE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE LAKES, AND ENSURING OUR REGION'S WATER SUPPLIES ARE PROTECTED.

EDUCATION & ACTION: EDUCATION & ACTION IS THE ALLIANCE'S INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE ACTION-ORIENTED INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE LAKES. THIS YEAR, OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT MORE THAN 13,000 MESSAGES TO LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL DECISION-MAKERS TO TAKE ACTION ON MEASURES PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES AND THOSE WHO RELY ON THEM. NEARLY 10,000 VOLUNTEERS HELPED REMOVE LITTER FROM BEACHES ON ALL FIVE GREAT LAKES AND ALLOWED US TO SURPASS MORE THAN 10 MILLION PIECES OF LITTER REMOVED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE ADOPT-A-BEACH PROGRAM. THROUGH OUR FACILITATION, THE STATE REVOLVING FUND ADVOCATES FORUM HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 200 MEMBERS, PROVIDING VALUABLE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES IN CRITICAL NEED OF SAFE DRINKING WATER AND PROTECTION FROM FLOODING AND SEWAGE OVERFLOWS.