A Message from Our CEO
Thank you for your support of and membership in Ohio Citizen Action during a year of tremendous importance and change. This may be the first time you're seeing this year-in-review report, because it's the first time in our history we've sent it to all OCA donors and members. Whether you've been with us for decades or joined last year and regardless of the size of your financial gift, I want you to know how important you are to our accomplishments and plans for the future.
Decision makers at the top of both government and corporations have consolidated so much power that they rarely act in the interest of those of us at the grassroots. The systems that govern them are designed to serve them and their wealthy donors, not us. Electing new people under these systems is not enough. We must work outside these systems and even change them to create a world that works for real Ohioans.
As you read in this report about our rural solar work and our campaign to end gerrymandering last year, I hope you recognize that's part of what we've been doing – working for real reform to direct power and resources back to the grassroots.
For 50 years now, we've used a strength-in-numbers strategy to inform Ohioans and strategically engage them in actions that serve the public's interest. Your power as a voter, taxpayer, consumer, and citizen fuels our success.
Thanks again for joining the fight,
Rachael Belz, CEO
OUR IMPACT
What makes Ohio Citizen Action and Ohio Consumers Power Alliance unique among groups working for change in Ohio is our ability to reach out to Ohioans for one-on-one conversations. At the door, by phone and digitally we inform and engage people to work together in the public interest. Here's how we did by the numbers and some of the people who made it happen:
2024 ELECTION
Although the election results were mixed, your support helped Ohio Citizen Action canvassers reach some truly incredible milestones last year. During the 2024 election season OCA hired the largest staff in our 50-year history and engaged more Ohioans in one-on-one conversations than ever before.
Issue 1 was not a fair fight. Politicians who benefit from gerrymandering relied on misinformation to win. Voters confused by misleading ballot language either voted against their interest or didn't vote on the issue at all. We know that Ohioans want to end gerrymandering in our state, because we talked to tens of thousands of voters face-to-face.
Despite some losses, all three of the candidates that Ohio Citizen Action supported for US Congress won their races! Marcy Kaptur, Emilia Sykes, and Greg Landsman all have track records of defending the environment and standing up for democracy.
SOLAR ENERGY – FIGHTING MISINFORMATION AND BUILDING SUPPORT
In 2024 Ohio Citizen Action continued the fight for more solar energy production in Ohio. Ohio currently uses more energy than it produces, but local bans on utility-scale solar projects and a lack of community solar programs are stopping Ohioans from making up our energy deficit with clean, renewable energy.
In 2024, Ohio Citizen Action supported several utility-scale solar projects around the state. Senate Bill 52 put an effective moratorium on large scale solar production in Ohio by subjecting renewable energy projects to a new layer of government regulation that doesn't apply to coal and gas. Projects filed prior to SB 52 are grandfathered in and exempt from its restrictions, however each project must win local support to proceed.
They're also a last chance for some rural Ohioans to keep their family farms, thanks to the supplemental income they provide. In 2024, Ohio Citizen Action worked to empower local residents to share their support for solar projects in Knox, Clermont, Stark, Logan, and Fairfield counties.
ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES
2024 was an incredible year for the growth of Ohio Citizen Action. We expanded our reach across the state by opening two new field offices. We now have field canvass operations in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. Last year your support helped us engage in one-on-one conversations with a wide range of Ohioans across many demographics in areas of the state that we haven't been able to canvass in years.
New Hires
Last year we hired four new Regional Field Directors to help build and train our largest and most diverse canvass team in our 49-year history. We're pleased to introduce the folks on the front lines who train and motivate their staffs to do the hard work of knocking on doors and engaging with people on tough issues.
Board of Directors Changes
We'd like to thank Tommy Ferguson for nine years of service on the Ohio Citizen Action Board of Directors. Tommy sat on the board during a transitional time for OCA and his extensive expertise and experience in social services and activism were invaluable.
We also welcomed our newest and youngest member, Kayla Juergens, to the Ohio Citizen Action board. Kayla is a recent graduate of the University of Dayton Law School and an attorney for Thompson Hine.
OHIO CITIZEN ACTION TURNS 50!
Help Ohio Citizen Action celebrate 50 years of grassroots organizing for clean air and water, consumer rights, common-sense energy policy, a strong democracy, and people over profit.
SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
GRAND EVENT CENTER, COLUMBUS
Learn More2024 BOARD AND STAFF
OHIO CITIZEN ACTION BOARD
OCA board: Carla Walker (president), Ted Barrows (secretary/treasurer), Tommy Ferguson, and Kayla Juergens.
OCAEF board: Rhonda Barnes-Kloth (president), Beth Havens (secretary/treasurer), and Phil Leppla.
SENIOR STAFF
Rachael Belz (Chief Executive Officer), Melissa English (Deputy Director/Chief Development Officer/Executive Director of Ohio Citizen Action Education Fund), Lynn Scheerhorn (Finance Officer/Controller), Scott Palider (Chief Political Officer), Crystal Brown (Human Resources Business Partner), Angela Oster (Digital Communication Director), Tatiana Rodzos (Campaign Strategist), Chris Young (Data/IT Director), Joshua Bellis (Phone Canvass Director), Justin Gray-Beeson (Cleveland Regional Field Canvass Director), Melody Linscott (Columbus Regional Field Canvass Director), Ashlee Boatman (Toledo Regional Field Canvass Director), Adam Wilkey (Cincinnati Regional Field Canvass Director), Izabella Bogin (Rural Projects Manager), Kat Ricketts (Solar Community Coordinator), Mark Biszantz (Membership Development Manager), Sarah Strinka (Campaign Coordinator), Riley Young (Membership Clerk), and Curt Moultine (Regional Canvass Director, Hudson Bay Company).