text: You see Dinh's words as an opportunity to tie the agenda to something she feels is important.
  
  You say "Ms. Dinh protecting future generations is what CLACC is all about. We understand that climate change poses the greatest risk to future generations - and that's why we are here seeking your help. We think that if the RNNR Committee can take leadership on this issue - it will be a tremendous step in the right direction for progressing the fight against climate change. Specifically, we would like to see you and other RNNR committee members channel that leadership by helping move the GHG Pollution Pricing Act of Canada out of committee."
  
  The MP responds "I hear you, I really feel like this is preaching to the choir. You have to understand where we're coming from. Many of my colleagues in this committee do everything in their power to obstruct this committee's work under a "no job killing" banner. She turns to John, her energy & environment staff member and says "John, don't we talk about this regularly?"
  
  John speaks up and says "We've been working on this, I mean we are here meeting with you - but I think the MP summed it up best - the political climate is very slow and steady. I've been in touch with the energy & environment staff of many other representatives in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia - my colleagues say the same obstructionism is happening with them. People are so divided on the simplest thing."
  
  Things seemed to be going so well then this resistance appeared out of nowhere. Bob warned you about this specific case in your preparation, that a lot of Liberal MPs feel blocked in the rollout of bills in committee by Conservative obstructionism.
  
  > roll with the resistance
  This is troubling for MP Dinh and her staff as well. If you want to progress forward you need to first help her to cope with the fact that she's dealing with some difficult committee members who are obstructing the goals she is pursuing. You read before that "rolling with resistance" is the best way to help someone move beyond that resistance.
  
  You say "So what I'm hearing from you, is that Conservatives are really blocking the road to progress on our fight to stop climate change. You'd really like to do something about climate change, and for a lot of good reasons - if only you had some help" As you say this you see the MP's body language loosen up a little, she is expressing positive body language, her head nodding yes - and you realize you made the right decision.
  
  You ask if there are any other things really blocking progress from a progressive climate change agenda?
  
  She responds "Oh yes, there are so many things. Shall I count the barriers ... we have fossil fuel money, Conservatives being pulled by their base shifting right. These topics really put the fear into my Conservative colleagues, and restrains our capacity for collaborative non-partisan action. I can tell you I've had off the record conversations with some of the more, shall we say, reasonable Conservatives and they support doing something about climate change. They say even if they did support it the backlash would just throw them out of office - and then what would that accomplish? This is the climate we're operating in, denial on so many sides"
  
  You really feel empathic for her plight and want her to feel heard, so you keep rolling with the resistance saying "For you, its like a crapshoot out there. There's resistance everywhere - blockades in so many places. This doesn't stop your desire to do something good - you just feel like, how can I with so much resistance."
  
  You ask if it would be beneficial to brainstorm some ideas to make some multi-partisan headway, just as Dinh gets a phone call. She looks down at her phone and excuses herself saying "John, I like the idea of this brainstorm - could you set up a meeting with the staff and invite our guests, I think this could be a meaningful activity." Then she thanks you and excuses herself.
  
  Invited back for another meeting, this is so exciting - what should we plan to bring to the meeting?
  
  > Offer to facilitate the meeting
  You think the best use of your time is to continue down the track you've been going on. Ultimately its not about your ideas, but the ideas of others that are in the office that matter.
  
  3 weeks pass, and you have prepared copiously for this meeting. Bob once again suggests you take the lead, and he'll do his best to support as a back up facilitator. You even prepare a couple backup plans if the agenda gets derailed like having postits ready for a silent brainstorm or doing a round robin to give everyone a chance to contribute.
  
  You send your proposed brainstorm agenda to the MP:
  
  As the day comes and you work through the event with only a few minor hiccups. The results look very positive, the MP and her team were able to formulate meaningful new ideas and plans on how to navigate building success for future environmental-focused legislative efforts. You met several people and learned a bit more about internal processes, and how MPs work to integrate constituent input into how they do business.
  
  > Mini-epilogue
  Its the summer of 2021, and you are preparing for your 3rd Climate Town Hall in collaboration with your CLACC friend Bob and Tuyen Dinh's office.
  
  At your first event you had 30 RSVPs and 25 people showed up. It was a small and intimate crowd, but a lot of the supporters, and yourself turned around and volunteered for Ng's most recent re-election campaign - which was successful.
  
  Your 2nd Climate Town Hall had 100 RSVPs and 80 people showed up. It seemed like the word really spread about the way you ran the town hall. Everyone felt engaged - felt heard and that was so important. You think that is why you got the crazy turnout for this 3rd town hall about 3 years from when you first met Ng.
  
  You stop for a moment and look around at your 30 person volunteer team running around setting up tables and greeting early arrivals. You think "maybe we didn't pass what we wanted to but we made one hell of an ally, and our numbers speak for themselves. " You glance at the guest list - 300 RSVPs, 15 VIPs - and think of the 2 venue changes you made to accommodate the guest list. This is about ensuring people are heard. This will be the hardest challenge yet but we are up for it. We have trained table facilitators and we are going to help these people know this isn't some normal public comment session - their feedback will be channeled directly the MP.
  
  As far as political commitment to CLACCs cause, it's clear that Dinh is in our court. Who wouldn't want the support of so many staunch allies willing to volunteer?