"Leading one of America’s largest and most influential environmental advocacy groups has never been an easy task.

But after the tumult that has rocked the Sierra Club the last few years, it may be especially challenging.

The Oakland-based nonprofit has grappled with the legacy of its founder, John Muir, with some Sierra Club members and staff describing Muir as blatantly racist and others rejecting that narrative as wildly overstated. The club was roiled by allegations of workplace discrimination and harassment, and by frustration among volunteers who said its national leadership was determined to strip the autonomy of their local chapters. Amid those debates, longtime executive director Michael Brune resigned in 2021.

Now Ben Jealous has stepped into the fray — and he’s got an ambitious agenda for tackling the climate crisis."

Sammy Roth reports for the Los Angeles Times February 23, 2023. [2]