Meet Erin O’Kelley Muck – climate communications expert, keynote speaker, optimist
Climate success is possible
Hi! I’m Erin O’Kelley Muck and I’m on a mission to bring joy to the climate movement! Why? Joy is magnetic and invites more people to join. When people take action toward a shared goal, we will feel the power of community.
My superpower is hope
Yes, we’re facing an increasingly hot planet. But there’s so much we can do (and are doing) to reshape the future. Hope is a fierce internal fuel — it will power our determination to create the world we actually want to live in.
Creative climate communication
With my background as former executive director of the Ashland Climate Collaborative and owner of a communication agency, my sweet spot is creative climate outreach. Contact me about speaking — let’s help people make meaningful shifts in their lives.
I live by these mantras:
Collectively, we can shift a few things in our lives and make a HUGE impact.
It’s not too late — let’s do everything we can now to ensure the next generation has a healthy future.
I lead by example — talk the talk, walk the walk.
I know in my bones that change is possible.
I believe in the power of the human spirit.
I believe in us.
“You have been extraordinary for climate awareness in Ashland. You’ve made climate action fun and far more visible than it was before you began. People like you (and all of us, together) are our best chance at ensuring a livable and bright future for our children. That is priceless.” – Sonya Daw
Communications meets climate
I think of myself as a friendly translator — with a knack to decipher technical jargon into approachable language.
That’s what I did for 22 years, as an entrepreneur at my web design company — Ruby Slipper. My dream team built powerhouse websites for incredible nonprofits and organizations. I’m especially proud to have created the award-winning Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative site.
In 2018, the climate call inside me could not be ignored. It asked, am I doing everything I can to help on this front?
So I went deep. I led six online ecochallenges with 60+ people, took an incredible science class from SOCAN and became a master climate protector, read a hefty stack of books and websites — sifted through the noise and wrapped my head around solutions.
I also saw “climate” had a communication problem. It was too jargony and abstract, disconnected from the heart — big, scary, and overwhelming. On the hunt for ideas, I devoured materials from the experts at Yale Program for Climate Change Communication and Potential Energy Coalition.
My dream to combine climate marketing, communication, and community outreach manifested in 2024. I closed Ruby Slipper and applied for the executive director role at Ashland Climate Collaborative.
For almost 2 years, I lived my passion! Alongside brilliant volunteers, we advanced community action on clean energy, transportation, composting, water conservation, and wildfire resilience. Outreach was on the upswing in Ashland. Alas, due to nonprofit funding curveballs, my role was eliminated in the Spring of 2026.
Enter the Climate Joy Project. Encompassing keynote speeches and highlighting inspiring people — this new venture aims to rev up climate action in my community, and yours! The throughline in everything I do is this:
Action breeds hope. For the sake of our kids and grandkids, let’s reshape the future, together — and have fun along the way!
Ebike
My main ride is an electric bike. I have a basket on the back and love hearing birdsong as I pedal around town.
Electric Vehicle
We bought a used electric Chevy Bolt and it’s perfect for trips around town and our valley.
Electric Yard Tools
Did you know that gas power tools are hundreds of times more polluting than cars? We love our quiet electric leaf blower.
Electric Appliances
Our house is going all electric — no natural gas. Electric stove, dryer, fireplace, water heater — and soon, heat pump.
Compost
We supply farms with our local food scraps which helps farmers with fertilizer and keeps methane from building in landfills.
Conserve Water
Goodbye grass lawn — we have drought-friendly landscaping: plants on a drip system and lots of open space.
Protect from Fire
To better prepare for wildfire, we cover outdoor vents with mesh screens, have a Go Bag packed, and use Fire Watch.
Meet the Neighbors
In 2025, we invited neighbors to a climate and cocoa party. We met a sweet group of people — and are there for each other.
Talk about climate
It sounds simple, but one of the biggest things we can do is talk about climate. Too political? Listening is a great place to start.
“You bring such passion, joy, and energy to the work.”
– Mike Wright, Electrify Ashland Now
Gorgeous Ashland Oregon
I live in a BEAUTIFUL town. Nestled between the green Siskiyous and the golden Cascades, Ashland has deep pine forests, tip-toeing deer, and glorious parks. It’s an outdoor paradise as well as culturally vibrant with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, delectable restaurants, and charming downtown.
But the true heart of Ashland is our community. We boast a colorful cast of characters who revel in parades, champion our schools and universities, and want to see our town flourish and thrive.
Climate change where I live
For the past 25 years in Ashland, we’ve seen first-hand the effects of climate change. The new norm in summer is “smoke and wildfire season.” August skies are often chocked with smoke — kids can’t play outside, you can’t walk your dog, and neighbors living in drafty homes are breathing hazardous air. In 2020, the devastating Almeda wildfire destroyed 2,600 homes in our valley.
The call for us to change is clearly here. It’s up to all of us, right now, to rise to the occasion and create a healthier future. Action breeds hope!
Let’s work together
I’m 100% committed to do everything I can to help create a more promising future — for my kids and yours, for those without voices — the butterflies, bears, and beautiful trees.
Please contact me. I’d love to inspire your audience and find creative ways to motivate action. We can do what needs to be done — together.
Climate joy
project