THAW Powers Forward with Millennial-Lead Council
THAW has launched its inaugural Emerging Leaders Power Forward Council. The purpose of the Emerging Leaders Council is four-fold: to create a pipeline of talent for THAW and the nonprofit community of Michigan; to establish a diverse and inclusive council that represents the community THAW serves; to build and expand awareness of the mission and organization throughout the region; to improve opportunities for volunteerism.
Earlier this year, THAW sought out millennial leaders of diverse backgrounds to lead this effort. Embracing and encouraging differences in age, race, ability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics, THAW has formalized the council.
One of the members is Amanda Spinner. Amanda is a second-year MBA/MS dual degree student at the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan. She focuses on strategy and sustainability, with an interest in renewable energy and how traditional energy companies are adapting to a changing energy economy. She is also passionate about energy equity and ensuring that a clean energy transition is both just and inclusive.
She expressed that becoming a member of the Power Forward Council is not only an opportunity to make a difference but a chance to drive an equitable energy future. Amanda is looking forward to understanding the needs of households that THAW serves because “inequity really does plague the energy space.” Amanda says that she is interested in examining the impact of coal plants in low- income neighborhoods and communities of color and advancing the conversations that center these groups.
In addition to inequity, inclusion is critical to Amanda. “There’s a need to make sure all voices are heard, and representative of people impacted by these things or we’re not adequately solving problems,” she said.
Amanda, who graduated from Stanford University in 2015, was formally trained in advertising and technology. She became interested in utility and energy access and climate change right before beginning her current degree program.
California born, she recalls experiencing wildfires. “I also have family on the East Coast who experienced hurricanes.” These disasters created a sense of urgency, causing her to change her entire professional trajectory.
Amanda hopes that the Power Forward Council will “help establish a tight-knit, collaborative group of young professionals who are helping to forward the mission of THAW, understand what’s made the organization successful, understand the needs, and add a refreshing perspective to drive change.”
Millennial service and collaboration are essential to THAW’s continued work. “It’s important for younger generations to be involved in work that serves a greater purpose. Service helps to understand the magnitude of problems and address them better. Inter-generational problems require inter-generational change. We can learn from previous generations and use knowledge to more impactfully problem solve.”
Part of that problem solving includes working towards energy equitable and sustainable Michigan. “When I think about the future of the energy industry, I think clean energy transitions come to mind. It’s only a matter of time before we shift here. This can only happen through an equitable lens, ensuring everyone has access to energy, and everyone can participate in a clean energy economy. For example, too many barriers exist in allowing people of low-moderate income to weatherize homes. This shouldn’t be out of reach,” she says.
THAW’s mission is vital to Amanda because she fundamentally believes that access to energy and utilities are fundamental human rights. Moving from the sunshine state and experiencing several frigid Michigan winters, as well as COVID-19, has helped her to realize that “while we feel energy secure today, we don’t know what the future holds.” That is, unless more people commit to making the change.
COVID-19 has intensified energy insecurity, making THAW’s work even more critical. Amanda says that THAW’s work “helps people live healthy and need-fulfilled lives.”
Amanda, who considers herself to be a champion and fighter for energy equity, is inspired by the words of Carla Walker-Miller. She leads and serves with them in mind:
- Courage is a renewable resource. This is a time to be courageous.
- Diverse policy and voices allow us to make better decisions.
- Energy justice.
Amanda looks forward to learning, collaborating, and helping THAW to Power Forward. To learn more about the Power Forward Council, visit thawfund.org/power-forward.
Return to Winter 2021 THAW newsletter.
