Tucked away in a corner of a Brooklyn brewery, a table lit with fairy lights is surrounded by mugs of beer and a hub of people typing away on their computers. Danny DeBare, Alec Regitsky, Kristie Ha and others have made it a weekly tradition to meet at Threes Brewing every Wednesday at 8 p.m. for the past two years — brought together not by coincidence, but by a shared passion.
Known as the Climate Changemakers, the group, whose members range in age from 26 to 35, is part of a broader climate advocacy network. They host a weekly “hour of action,” providing attendees with everything they need to participate. DeBare, a co-founder of the Brooklyn chapter, said typical tasks in the lead-up to an election month include phone banking, drafting personalized emails to local assembly members, and reading educational briefings on relevant laws. He said the goal is to equip people with enough resources to act without expecting them to be experts.
“Our mission is to make climate action achievable and digestible in one hour for anyone,” DeBare said. “The premise is that you can come in, know nothing from the beginning, get upskilled on what you need to know, and then do the action all within one hour.”
DeBare said he wanted to create a space accessible to anyone, even those with little to no prior knowledge, where people could socialize and make a difference. He said he was drawn to the Gowanus watering hole because of its low barrier to entry. Third spaces are extremely rare nowadays, and the owners genuinely try to create one that feels homey, he said, and “Everyone knows etiquette when you walk into a bar.”
“You have to have enough knowledge to make sure that you’re doing the right thing, but we do not let perfect be the enemy of good,” DeBare said. “Our thesis is that everyone should be able to come in with a baseline level of nothing, learn what they need to learn, and then do the action on that topic within one hour.”
Regitsky, the group’s other co-founder, started as a regular attendee before DeBare recognized his potential to take on a larger role. He said both the people and the tasks felt approachable, allowing him to get involved and even propose new policies. For example, he said, the current law they are lobbying for — an Emergency Order directing electric, gas and water utilities to halt disconnections — originated with him. Climate Changemakers welcomes new ideas, he added, as long as they align with the group’s priorities.
Daniella, a newcomer who asked to keep her last name anonymous, said she appreciates that the meetings, while low-pressure, still hold her accountable.
“It’s so much harder to take climate action alone in my room,” Daniella said. “It feels less intimidating to go to a bar for an hour commitment by yourself knowing that you’re going to be with like-minded people.”
Although their focus will shift in the coming months, Regitsky said the Brooklyn chapter is currently promoting Democratic mayoral candidate and current frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s support of ballot measure number three, which seeks to make clean energy and climate resilience projects easier to build. He added that many of their projects focus on decarbonization and fighting emissions.
Regitsky noted that the national organization, a 501(c)(3), can support certain policies but does not endorse specific candidates. Their alignment with Mamdani is specific to the Brooklyn chapter and separate from other chapters, though it reflects the group’s broader values.
Ha, a regular member, emphasized that many conversations with potential voters are not directly about climate change. Instead, they aim to show how climate-related laws affect everyday life. Human care is climate care, she said.
The group typically shifts between federal, state and city priorities depending on the month. But in the lead-up to the mayoral election, DeBare said the focus is on reinstating decarbonization policies stalled during Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. These policies, he said, are crucial for reducing emissions and accelerating climate resilience in New York City.
While Mamdani has not confirmed support for some ballot initiatives, the group is hopeful that, if elected, his leadership could advance a broader set of climate policies.
“This is one of the most impactful political actions you can take this week for climate,” DeBare said. “The New York City mayoral election is the biggest election in 2025, so we are excited about the idea of Mamdani coming to power — and hopefully building a more climate-resilient city.”
