Mark Smith

I became involved with PA IPL when the Philadelphia chapter formed a number of years ago. Along with other environmental groups focusing on climate change, I have been active with numerous projects of the Philly chapter including leading the Germantown Interfaith Power and Light Tree Tenders group that I started as an urban outreach project for PA IPL.

PA IPL's mission of responding to climate change as an urgent moral imperative resonated with me because most faith traditions have creation care as a core belief in their origin stories and practices. The climate crisis is an unprecedented and overwhelming existential threat. I believe communities of faith have the potential for a unified voice that can be a catalyst for the action that is needed.

I love the concept of the bike ride because it takes our message directly to the halls of power where the systemic changes must be made if we are to avert the worst aspects of the climate crisis. It was a terrific experience for me serving on the support team for the riders from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. two years ago. I am thrilled to be able to actually be a rider in the 2022 version of the bike ride!

I reside in the Philadelphia suburbs where I garden, make ceramics, and create outdoor sculpture to live out my personal mission of creating beauty.