Father of 11th Hour Expert, J. Nichols, Mayor Wallace J. Nichols was strongly affected and changed by The 11th Hour message. Read about Wallace's transformation and how he has lead his town to become one of Arizona's greenest cities.

11th Hour Expert, J. Nichols, discusses the affect that the film had on his parents, Wallace and Sheila, and the ways Wallace is now taking leadership as the mayor of his town, Fountain Hills, AZ.

Wriiten by J. Nichols:
"My father has been arm's length from my work as an ocean scientist/
activist for most of my career. Things had slowly gotten better
though. We'd evolved from "what the heck are you going to do with sea
turtles?" (meaning, "when are you gonna get a real job?") to a certain
amount of praise for what I was doing. But not really "buy in" to the
environmental movement nor acceptance of the crisis at hand.
Politically, we found only occasional common ground.

With the release of The 11th Hour that all changed. My parents went
to the film's opening n Phoenix, Arizona. Immediately afterwards I
got an email from my dad that reflected his frustration (personal and
political), anger and even defensiveness and helplessness. He
recognized several of the faces and voices in the film as his peers
and former colleagues. And the film had shaken him at the base,
convinced him that our planet was hurting and he wasn't sure what to
do about it. He wanted more people to see the film. He wanted to DO
something. As a lifelong conservative Republican he's a staunch
believer in personal action and responsibility.

(It didn't hurt that there's a scene near the end of his granddaughter
running on the beach with her friend Sabrina!)

A week later he sent another email. It catalogued the changes
underway in my parent's home and in the town where he serves as
mayor. And the list is long. It includes recycling and lightbulb
changing, but also hybrid and electric vehicles, open space
initiatives, public transportation, sustainable seafood and local
produce and speaking up loudly about of of these things.

I call my parents "crunchy conservatives". And it's safe to say that
they are now on-fire environmentalists.

I'm proud of them. And I think they are proud of me. And that's a
very good way for a father and a son to feel"

WATCH VIDEO of J. Nichols discussing his parents' transformation at the National Geographic Earthwatch Awards last month

Read article about Fountain Hills' Environmental Report Card:

NORTHEAST VALLEY - The Valley's environmental reports cards are in,
and Fountain Hills is making the grade after previously falling short.

The town was the "most improved" community in the report, issued by
Valley Forward every four years.

The business-based environmental group gave out letter grades in air,
land, water and transportation to 16 Valley communities.

Fountain Hills climbed three letter grades in land use, thanks to
strides made in trail access and hefty economic development plans.

It still trails larger cities like Scottsdale, which received all "A"
and "A-" marks. Phoenix was the only community to score straight A's,
not even one A-.

Carefree received a "D" in transportation, and is now heading a
massive plan to improve its roadways.

Cave Creek and Paradise Valley did not participate.

Fountain Hills made significant strides in the latest Valley
environmental report card.

The town was the "most improved" out of 16 Maricopa County governments
in the 2008 report published by Valley Forward.

The business-based environmental group surveys communities every four
years, assigning letter grades in air, land, water and transportation.

Eight communities in the Valley, including Cave Creek and Paradise
Valley, did not participate.

Fountain Hills, with a population of about 24,000, scored an "A-" in
land use, three grades above the "D" dealt in 2004. It was the
category winner out of five communities with populations less than
50,000.

The town boosted its trail access and long-range sidewalk plans, and
still leads the Valley in open space and mountain and wash protection,
the report said.

"They're doing some good things out there," said Valley Forward
President Diane Brossart, who attributed much of the town's success to
better involvement.

"Part of the reason they didn't do as well last time is they didn't
respond to the survey in comprehensive enough manner," Brossart said.
"They have since joined Valley Forward and learned a little bit more
about our process."

Fountain Hills also jumped to a "B," from a "D+, in air quality; and a
"C+," from a "D, in water, though it still ranks last in that category.

The town is encouraged to trim violations of the federal Safe Water
Drinking Act and execute a long-term water management plan.

Fountain Hills still trails Scottsdale overall, which scored three
"A-" marks and an "A" in water. Phoenix was the only community to
receive straight "A's.

Carefree is shaking off a "D" in transportation, acknowledging it
"does not have critical mass to support transit," the report said.

The town is currently heading a massive transportation plan to improve
its roadways and sidewalks.

Valley Forward, a 39-year-old non-profit group comprised of business,
civic and community leaders, launched the report in 1993.

Brossart said it is not a "scientific study," but rather "a lot of
concerned individuals that care about the community we live."

For the first time, the group devised a core set of principles for
each subject area to grade communities.