Great Lakes Day 2026

Each year in March Great Lakes advocates join us in Washington, D.C. to share their stories with Members of Congress. State organizers in each Great Lakes state pull together individuals that can collectively tell the story of restoration success, drinking water investment need, and the importance of climate action and environmental justice.

March 4-5, 2026


Advocacy 101

two people speaking to each other
Meeting with Your Legislator and Telling Your Story

Background Materials

a clock next to a sheet of paper representing an agenda
Agenda
national capitol building
Democracy Statement
a thermometer next to earth, representing climate change
Climate Change and the Great Lakes Region
two speech bubbles
Talking Points
a hand being held out with a coin above the hand, representing giving money
Reimbursement Form
a map with a marker placed on it
Capitol Map
a person speaking
Bystander Intervention and Anti-Discrimination Support
a person presenting a slideshow
HOW Coalition 101
a person speaking from a computer
Prep Meeting Slides
Prep Meeting Presentation Recording

Leave-Behind Materials

a pencil marking a line on a sheet of paper
Policy Priorities
a drop of water falling from a faucet
Water Infrastructure and the Great Lakes Region
a series of checkboxes on a sheet of paper, with one of them checked
GLRI 101 Factsheet
two hands gripping each other
Great Lakes Joint Priority Statement
state of Ohio
a hand holding up a flag in celebration
GLRI By the Numbers Factsheet
a folder
Digital Leave Behind Folder
state of Pennsylvania
a small stack of money fanned out
Funding Charts

Information By State

state of Illinois

ILLINOIS

Lead: Megan Cunningham, Alliance for the Great Lakes

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

state of Indiana

INDIANA

Lead: Harshini Ratnayaka, Save the Dunes

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

OHIO

Leads: Emily Arthur, Ohio Environmental Council &
Donald Wiggins, Junction Coalition

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

state of Michigan

MICHIGAN

Leads: Elayne Coleman, Sierra Club - Michigan Chapter &
Bentley Johnson, Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

PENNSYLVANIA

Lead: Ollie Cugini, PennFuture

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

state of Minnesota

MINNESOTA

Lead: Cristin Curwick, Minnesota Environmental Partnership

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

state of Wisconsin

WISCONSIN

Leads: Joe Fitzgerald, Milwaukee Water Commons &
Erik Kanter, Clean Wisconsin

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes

state of New York

NEW YORK

Leads: Brian Smith, Citizens Campaign for the Environment &
Erin McGrath,
Audubon New York

Social Media Guide

GLRI Successes