Our Story

South Dakota Green Project began as SoDak 350 which was founded in early 2020 by a small but mighty group of environmental champions looking to make South Dakota part of the climate solution. Throughout the pandemic, we engaged in virtual climate strikes, hosted educational events, and conducted voter awareness initiatives. At the same time, we witnessed the growing impacts of climate change in the Midwest and recognized the urgent need for communities to build back better with clean and renewable energy.

In 2022, we formally incorporated in Sioux Falls and filed for 501(c)(3) status to help grow our movement and maximize our impact. Today, we are a growing force of committed volunteers working to build momentum for local-level climate solutions and creating a central hub for climate and environmental activism across the state.

In 2025 we decided to transition to the South Dakota Green Project, allowing us to focus broadly on climate issues impacting South Dakota and adding a fourth focus area to protect our constitution & rule of law.

Our Mission

The South Dakota Green Project is building a local grassroots movement to address the climate crisis and encourage the transition to a sustainable future.

Meet The Team
SD Green Project Board of Directors

Chair

Michael Heisler

Michael Heisler is a physician from Sioux Falls. He has been actively working on climate change for over 10 years, initially with a focus on the health impact of climate change, but quickly expanding to climate change more broadly. He is committed to finding measurable, outcome driven, real solutions to this challenge that we all face.

Vice Chair

Jeffrey Smith

Jeff Smith is retired, but still owns a specialized print finishing and letterpress shop in Sioux Falls, now managed by his son. Jeff is a 2019 ‘graduate’ of Climate Reality Leadership Training. He's been a member of the South Dakota Green Project since its inception, and is growing more concerned about his granddaughter’s future every day. Jeff grew up in Dell Rapids, where he and his wife raised their two sons, and has been a resident of Sioux Falls for about 9 years.

Finance Coordinator

Jim McAdaragh

Jim McAdaragh recently retired after working nearly 40 years in the financial services industry. His interest in ecology and the environment dates back to the first Earth Day celebration when his Junior High School sponsored a litter clean-up campaign. He implemented a recycling program at his company's corporate headquarters 35 years ago - a program that continues to this day. Jim was an early adopter of hybrid vehicles, as well as high efficiency household HVAC systems and appliances. His interests include walking and hiking, gardening (using drip irrigation to minimize water usage), American history, astronomy and bird-watching.

At Large Member

Shelby Hintze Jepperson

Shelby Hintze Jepperson is a doctoral student and public health professional. A biology major and naturalist intern during her undergraduate education, she began to understand the importance of providing practical information and engaging the community to increase awareness of environmental health. Now she enjoys teaching about how climate change effects our health and what we can do to make impactful changes. Growing up in an electric passive solar home, she learned about the importance of sustainability through the habits of her parents and grandparents. Having lived in South Dakota the entirety of her life, she knows community members have the know-how to see change is needed. Shelby hopes the work of the South Dakota Green Project will inspire action in people and make the world a healthier and more equitable place to live.

At Large Member

Sharon Schulz-Elsing

Sharon Schulz-Elsing is a lifelong South Dakotan and Sioux Falls community volunteer and activist with a passion for effective communication. She grew up in a small town where nature and seeing the the impacts people can have on the environment were as easy to access as walking out the back door. She holds degrees in English and journalism from Augustana University, and her life's work has been to help people discover deeper knowledge and the power of language and experience to expand our perspectives. She believes in the power of community action and groups like South Dakota Green Project to chart a sustainable future where her two young adult children can live in harmony and prosperity with everything and everyone else who calls this planet home.