Washington Green Amendment Tour… A Big Success!

Ever wondered what happens when those who support a Green Amendment get into a room with those who oppose or are unsure?
Good Things!
Here’s a little story from our recent Washington Tour:
The week-long Washington Green Amendment Tour organized by the Washington Leadership team was a GREAT success. The turnout varied community by community. But every stop—from Seattle to Spokane—taught us something.
Some of the rooms were packed.
Some… not so much.
But it was in some of the less crowded rooms where we had the richest conversations.
Such was the case for our meeting in Yakima.

The day before the event, we had done a radio interview where the moderators were clearly charged up and both questioned and challenged the values of a Green Amendment, asking:
- “We have environmental laws already so why do we need this?”
- “Won’t environmental regulations just result in more taxes and costs?”
- “How will a Green Amendment help address wildfires?”
- “Isn’t this just more regulation that will burden farmers?”
When asked how we would respond to concerns from farmers, we told the interviewers that we would encourage them to come to our Yakima event so we could share our information, listen to their perspectives, and have a thoughtful dialogue. The interview ended.
Fifteen minutes before the Yakima event, a woman rushed into the room enthusiastically stating her opposition, suggesting the Amendment was a take over of people’s rights, and that she did not want to see government have more power. She wanted to know if she was welcome to come to our meeting and if we were going to be open to statements of opposition.

Maya’s response?
“Absolutely.
Everyone is welcome.
We want to hear your concerns.
But we also want to engage in dialogue and hope you will be open to conversation about them.”
She ran out of the room. Interestingly, she did not return for the talk.
So that was the lay up for our evening in Yakima.
The evening began with 5 people filtering in – all clearly community members interested in environmental protection and excited to learn more about the Amendment.

Slowly, as the event started, 5 more filtered in.
One worked for the county conservation district, and clearly worked closely with the farming and ranching community.
A young couple with their young daughter were next, they were a ranching family.
Another rancher. A man.
And then another. A woman.
Over the course of the evening we had an amazing and enlightening conversation about the impact and values of a Washington Green Amendment and we heard some powerful insights from the ranchers:
- They thought the Amendment would result in government actions that would target them and result in more stringent controls for ranchers and ranching.
- They believed the Amendment would support legal action filed directly against the ranchers themselves.
- We heard concerns that environmental protections in Washington were being weaponized against ranchers and farmers, and that government was not fairly listening to the science but was instead cherry picking science in order to support more stringent controls on the ranching community they shared.
Maya stressed that the Amendment would not support direct litigation against ranchers and farmers or individuals, but that it was about checking government action.
Maya also shared her belief that if the government was in fact disregarding clearly applicable science in their decision-making, the Amendment might be used by the ranchers themselves to challenge that failure of government to fully and fairly review and consider the science.
We discussed how the Amendment was oriented towards protecting people, and that while it created an obligation on government to protect environmental rights and natural resources, in the final analysis this was a tool for communities to use to ensure government was fully, fairly, and equitably protecting us all.
We talked about how the Amendment was value-added for farmers by helping to ensure the quality water and soils they needed.
And we talked about how the Amendment could be beneficial in helping to secure land management that might help address concerns about current strategies that some believe are contributing to the wildfires.
One of the best moments of the night was when one of the ranchers—an older woman who shared that she was from a 4th generation ranching family—said that when she arrived she had a certain perspective on the Amendment and had concerns, but after hearing the conversation now saw how it could be used in other kinds of ways and she was now open to it.
It was a really positive and informative evening demonstrating that when we share, talk and listen, everyone can see the values of a constitutional Green Amendment.

We would love to do this kind of tour in every state—making sure to hold meetings in those communities where we know there will be concerns—as we did in Washington.
Thank you to our Washington team for making it happen.

This was the kind of email we received during and after the week-long tour:
Thank you, Maya, for coming to Seattle and giving such a dynamic talk! Yesterday I sent an email to my two state representatives and my state senator about promoting and passing the Washington State Green Amendment. I will follow up with calls.
Thanks so much for the work you have done and continue to do to protect the right to clean air and water for now and future generations.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Green Amendment Coalition also continues to educate, organize and engage communities on the values of having a constitutional New Mexico Green Amendment.

At the 2025 NM Indivisible statewide conference, leaders in the New Mexico Green Amendment movement—including 5 of the legislative champions, Representatives Joanne Ferrary, Joseph Hernandez and Patricia Roybal Caballero, and Senators Harold Pope and Shannon Pinto, along with Eric Jantz from the NMELC and Maya van Rossum leader of Green Amendments For The Generations—spoke about how a Green Amendment would provide essential protections for New Mexico communities and environments. You can view a video of the session here.
Also this month, NM Coalition member Lora Lucero testified before a legislative interim committee meeting, ensuring the NM Green Amendment stays top of mind for all who are thinking about the environment.
Coming in October
Sunday, October 5, 11:00am ET
Fountain Street Church
24 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI
The Green Amendment message will be coming to the pulpit of the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids Michigan. Get all the details here.
Wednesday, October 15, 7:00pm ET
Medford Friends Meeting
14 Union Street, Medford, NJ 08055
This in-person Green Amendments workshop will strengthen your ability to engage as a leader in the NJ Green Amendment movement. Get the details here.
Tuesday, October 28, 7:00pm ET
Smith College
Neilson Library, Neilson Browsing Room
7 Neilson Drive, Northampton, MA 01063
Get the details here.
Leave a Legacy
As we head into the Holiday & Year-End Giving Season, we are hoping you will keep Green Amendments For The Generations at the top of your list for giving. Every penny goes towards helping us help you, and leaders in communities across the nation, to secure and enforce a true and meaningful RIGHT to a clean, safe and healthy environment.
So please look for our emails, text messages, and letters in the mail giving you the opportunity to give. Or take a moment and give today to leave your legacy of protection:
