Joe Klein

Joe Klein—2014 Fellow

Year: Class of 2016
Major: Geography, Urban Studies Concentration
Organization: Transit for Livable Communities

As someone who is very passionate about cities, sustainability and social justice, I wanted my Chuck Green project to reflect those interests. I’ve spent the past two years learning about those issues at Macalester, but desired a more practical way to put that knowledge into action. Given my Geography major, and the number of related opportunities available in the Twin Cities, I wanted my fellowship to be an extension of my last two years of learning.

With that in mind, I chose to partner with Transit for Livable Communities, a nonprofit which advocates for expanded access to public transit, bicycling and walking. I primarily worked on the Move MN legislative campaign, which seeks to increase funding for these systems and build out the region’s transit network, connecting people with jobs and enabling them to live more sustainably. No two days for me were alike this summer: some days I spent coordinating with volunteers and planning our field presence at events, while others I worked on research for the campaign, or engaged in conversations with community members about their transportation needs.

Because of my time at TLC, I gained an understanding for how politics, policy and organizing can intersect to create meaningful change. My supervisors at TLC, and the rest of the Chuck Green community, were invaluable resources to me, always willing to pass along their guidance and knowledge to ensure that I was successful. Looking back, I anticipate that the Chuck Green Fellowship will have been one of the most