Source: WVXU

A project working to reduce energy costs for people living in low-income housing is on hold after the federal government cancelled the grant funding it.

In 2023, Green Umbrella received a $1.1 million award from the Environmental Protection Agency to study energy efficiency and air quality in affordable housing units through a partnership with Over-the-Rhine Community Housing and the city of Cincinnati.

Executive Director Ryan Mooney-Bullock says the initiative also included installing energy-saving technology, like insulation, electric stoves and heat pumps, in about 35 homes.

Now, that work is on pause. Green Umbrella learned last week its grant had been terminated because it is “no longer in alignment with the EPA’s priorities.”

“The loss of these funds means that we have to stop work on projects that were really designed to benefit community members that have been historically underserved, and it’s also preventing us from completing a research study that could then be used to inform how this type of energy efficiency work is rolled out in communities across the country,” Mooney-Bullock said.

She says Green Umbrella was about to make a major purchase of heat pumps when they learned about the grant termination.

“It came at a really bad time in the sense that we were about to do a ton of implementation that is really going to benefit the residents living in these buildings and their nonprofit landlord Over-the-Rhine Community Housing that is managing these buildings,” Mooney-Bullock said.

The Cincinnati-based nonprofit is not the only organization seeing its funding cancelled. The Trump administration is clawing back tens of millions of dollars for environmental research across the country, according to The New York Times.

Green Umbrella is looking for ways to continue the data collection that is already underway. It’s working on the study with three research partners: Indiana University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania.

“We have a group of residents who are participating in this and are helping us collect data, and we don’t want to just drop the ball on them,” Mooney-Bullock said.

The nonprofit also is disputing the grant termination with the EPA and seeking final reimbursements. Mooney-Bullock says she doesn’t know how long it will take to get that money back since the payment system no longer shows the grant.

To keep the project moving forward, Green Umbrella is looking to community members and businesses for support.

Loss of two grants is ‘very destabilizing’

This is the second grant Green Umbrella has lost since Trump took office.

The first was a $500,000 EPA grant helping Greater Cincinnati community members address environmental risks in their neighborhoods.

“It is very destabilizing for a nonprofit to have significant funding pulled out at the last minute or while projects are underway,” Mooney-Bullock said.

She says the organization is not currently in a financial position where it needs to lay people off or make staffing changes.

“That is certainly something that is a concern if grants continue to get frozen and we’re not able to raise the support we need from our local partners,” Mooney-Bullock said.

She says Green Umbrella has started to see an increase in community support.

Source: Movers & Makers, (May 2025 print edition, page 24)

Cynthia Walters is the Green Schoolyards manager for Green Umbrella and is notable for advocating for student health and wellness through outdoor learning spaces and education programs. She recently led development of the Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit, a roadmap for school districts nationwide to customize wellness plans for the needs of the school community. She launched the region’s first Green Schoolyards Summit, showcasing community collaboration to provide equitable access to environmental educational resources. Walters was instrumental in the passage of the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights for the City of Cincinnati, which guarantees that every child in the city has accessible pathways to experience and interact with nature. Walters loves spending time with her family, traveling, and cheering for Ohio State. She always wears colorful pants, bright yellow or flecked with flowers. The back of her laptop is covered with with stickers that say things like “I <3 Compost” and “Outdoors for All.”

Source: Cincinnati Magazine

Join hundreds of business, nonprofit, government, and community leaders at the Sharonville Convention Center on Thursday, June 5, for the 12th annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, hosted by Green Umbrella. This year’s Summit will explore the power of Sustainable Stories and their role in shaping the future, with 100 sustainability leaders from across the Midwest sharing stories of their impact and successful partnerships. The conference serves as a spark to make new connections and celebrate climate solutions that secure a more resilient, equitable, and thriving future!

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Lyla June Johnston, an Indigenous scholar, author, musician, and community organizer. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. In the lunchtime plenary session, she will be joined by Erika Street Hopman (ChavoBart Digital Media), Tory Stephens (Grist), and Becca Costello (Cincinnati Public Radio) to share innovative initiatives that amplify climate stories and tangible solutions. They’ll share insights into crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, bridge divides, and inspire individual and collective action.

In addition to a full day of panel discussions and workshops, the event will feature an exhibitor expo, poster session, art show, and live performances. “It’s an incredibly diverse event, with something for everyone,” says Green Umbrella’s Corporate Engagement & Events Manager, Charlie Gonzalez, who leads the conference planning.

This year’s Summit offers opportunities to take action among topics you’re passionate about, whether that’s creating healthier communities or joining the fight for climate justice. Every topic is designed to inspire and empower attendees to make a difference in their community. Topics covered throughout the Summit include:

• Healthy & Resilient Communities
• Business & Circular economy
• Government & Policy
• Food Systems
• Buildings & Energy
• Climate Justice
• Green Workforce Development
• Emergency Preparedness

Ready to learn more about sustainability and attend the conference?

Visit the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit’s website to learn more about the speakers and program and to register for the 2025 event.

Source: Soapbox Media

Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Free Festival takes place Saturday, April 26 from 12-5 p.m. at Summit Park in Blue Ash. This year’s theme celebrates “Our Power, Our Planet.” The festival will feature over one hundred Earth Friendly exhibitors with something for the entire family. New this year is a career fair that the organizers  believe is a critical component of the day’s festivities to bring awareness to the many areas of green jobs available today. 

The Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition, in partnership with Duke Energy, is proud to announce the launch of the Environmental Career Path Program at this year’s festival. The aim is to inspire and empower students of all ages to explore careers in environmental fields as well as in construction trades and professions, addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the Green Jobs sector.

Through education and certifications, the goal is to increase the number of people entering careers in the sustainability sectors. Students will have the opportunity to meet representatives from leading environmental organizations, green tech companies and educational organizations. Hands-on activities showcase renewable energy, sustainable building and conservation careers. Green Jobs exist in solar installation and environmental science as well as in green construction trades. The Environmental Career Path Program will expose prospective individuals to consider both vocational pathways and college.

Chuck Lohre and the Greater Cincinnati Environmental Educators co-host the career fair with Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the Foundation for Ohio River Education (F.O.R.E.), Green Umbrella, and the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability. Each organization contributes to creating a cleaner, healthier environment in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Both ORSANCO and F.O.R.E. work toward improving the quality of water in the Ohio River basin by ensuring the river is a resource for drinking water, industrial supplies and recreational purposes. The importance of education empowers communities to value and protect their watersheds and become stewards through firsthand programs. Green Umbrella advocates for systemic change with a goal to empower everyone in our region to act and make a difference.  

The City of Cincinnati Green Cincinnati Plan (GCP) has helped establish Cincinnati as a national leader in sustainability and an attractive destination for businesses and individuals. Created in 2023, the plan focuses on buildings and energy, city operations, community activation, food, mobility, natural environment, resilience, climate adaptation and zero waste. The goal is sustainability, equity, and resilience.

Crucial to Cincinnati’s plan is the promotion of Green Job Pathways. They offer resources for employers looking to fill positions. According to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber there are approximately two jobs for every one person in our region. Howard Miller,  Environmental Manager for the City Manager’s Office of Environment and Sustainability (OES), would like to attract not only potential employees for the city, but to educate individuals on opportunities in the private sector as well. At the Career Fair he hopes to enlighten students as to how processes could work and what types of trainings are available.

Thanapat Vichitchot of Bridge Builder works with the City of Cincinnati to raise awareness of green jobs and green career opportunities. Through education and training partners he is helping to form a formal green workforce landscape by partnering with the city, Cincinnati Regional Chamber. Thanapat hopes to attract all individuals curious about the possibility of working in such fields as reducing carbon emissions as well as the critical building industry with labor force and engineering professionals.

The day at the Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Festival has something for everyone. Children can visit a farm animal petting zoo. There are opportunities to inspect, and even test drive, electric vehicles at the electric car show. Live music is provided by groups such as School of Rock, Immanuel School of Music, and the Northern Cincinnati Youth Orchestra. Vegan food selections will be available, as well as MadTree Brewing craft beer.

This year, as in years past, there will be a fashion show solely made up of costumes and everyday wear from local thrift stores. Everyone is invited to show off their creativity and ability to find that gem of a piece of clothing, whether you are under the age of 18, in college, or an adult who loves a good thrift find, the “Thrifty Threads” fashion show is the place to shine. Along those same lines a recycled costume contest will also take place.

Join the fun and education. You will be glad you attended on so many levels.

What: Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Festival
Where: Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: Noon – 5 p.m.
RSVP: This is a free event for the entire family. No tickets are necessary.
For directions, parking and more information, visit: Greater Cincinnati Earth Day website.

Source: UC News

At the University of Cincinnati, Earth Day isn’t just a moment on the calendar — it’s a mindset.
From bioswales to bike shares, from faculty-led public science initiatives to community hikes,
UC is digging deep into sustainability, quite literally reshaping the campus landscape.

This year, UC’s Earth Day celebrations honor a growing portfolio of eco-conscious achievements that stretch across the main and regional campuses. In a university-wide effort that bridges environmental science, design and community action, Bearcats are proving that green isn’t just a color — it’s a culture.

Where invasive insects once left a hillside bare near Langsam Library, a new grove of 19 trees now stands tall, planted by student volunteers as part of a campuswide tree restoration effort. This project, completed in March, transforms the site of once-decimated ash trees into a living example of urban resilience. New ground cover plantings, selected to absorb runoff and fight erosion, flank the grove — quietly combating climate change, one root system at a time.

This is just one piece of a growing arboreal puzzle. UC’s landscape architect John Martini has helped lead multiple tree-planting events this spring, culminating in the university being named a “Tree Campus USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation for the third year in a row. The national designation, set to be formally awarded on April 24, recognizes campuses that effectively manage their trees and engage students in conservation.

Microforests, rain gardens and more

The commitment to sustainability is built into UC’s very foundation — literally. Across campus, rain gardens, bioswales and gold and silver LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings serve as testaments to environmentally mindful design. These aren’t just features; they’re functional responses to stormwater runoff, heat island effects and habitat loss.

Now, the university is planting microforests — densely packed groves of native trees that grow quickly and support biological variability. Ralph Brueggemann, adjunct professor at UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science says, these living labs allow students to learn from, and within, the landscape.

Two wheels, infinite possibilities

Meanwhile, UC’s Office of Sustainability is keeping students mobile and eco-friendly. In the coming months, 10 to 15 new bicycles — complete with helmets and bike locks will be added to UC’s Bike Share Program. Drop into UC’s Bike Kitchen and use your Bearcat card to enjoy one of the university’s sustainable transit options to the campus community.

And for those less interested in cycling and more into recycling: Bearcat Recycling was in full swing inside the Fifth Third Arena during basketball season and will roll right through the football calendar throughout Nippert Stadium, underscoring the university’s commitment to waste reduction.

New model for public engagement with science

Sustainability at UC goes beyond trees and trash — it lives in classrooms, labs and public forums. The UC Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) is pioneering a shift in how science connects with society. Moving past just fact-sharing, PEWS emphasizes back-and-forth dialogue and an understanding of how science interacts with politics, trust and culture.

With monthly events throughout the Tristate region, the center is bringing science into community conversations. One such project: a pilot grant awarded to Assistant Professor Sangyong Cho of UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning helped develop low-cost environmental sensors. Developed in collaboration with community groups and public health experts, the sensors offer a window into neighborhoods known as environmental justice areas in Cincinnati, particularly those that are most at risk from toxic exposures such as air and water pollution.

Honoring champions of change

This year’s UC Sustainability Awards recognize those making the green vision a reality. Winners include:

• Sid Thatham (Staff Award)
• Victoria Carr and Bob Hyland (Faculty Awards)
• Daniel Murphy (Research Award)
• Sofia Ferrigolo (Student Award)

Their work reflects the university’s core values of academic excellence, urban impact and innovation — all grounded in sustainability.

Celebrate outside the classroom

The celebration extends beyond the classroom and campus this week:

• Greenspace hike at Twin Creek Preserve (April 18, 3-4 p.m.) – Explore restored streams and birding habitats with local collaboratives Green Umbrella and Mill Creek Alliance.
• Spring Fest 2025 at Burnet Woods (April 19, 12-4 p.m.) – Live music, yoga and nature education turn one of Cincinnati’s oldest parks into a green gathering ground.
• Barrows Conservation Lecture Series (April 30, 7 p.m.) – Join wolf expert Rick McIntyre at the Cincinnati Zoo for a deep dive into Yellowstone’s wolf packs.

Looking ahead, UC is also a key planning partner for the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, taking place June 5. With more than 650 attendees expected, the summit unites entrepreneurs, government leaders, scholars and ordinary people around practical solutions for a sustainable future.

As UC continues to lead by example — from planting roots to planting ideas — its Earth Day message rings clear: Sustainability isn’t a sideline, it’s the main event.

Featured image at top: Hands holding new flora growth. Photo by Noah Buscher courtesy of Unsplash

Source: The News Record

Climate change can often feel like a crisis so obscure and formidable that it seems impossible to make a difference. For many residents, like those living here in Cincinnati, both the science of the problem and the possible solutions that could have an impact on our lives can seem opaque and out of reach.

But it’s in communities like Cincinnati where researchers, nonprofit organizations and community members are coming together to identify risks of climate change and come up with solutions together at the local level. One person doing just that is Dr. Kristy Hopfensperger, a professor and director of the Environmental Science Program at Northern Kentucky University, who spent the past year as the climate science fellow at Green Umbrella, a Cincinnati nonprofit focused on promoting equitable climate action across the region.

When Hopfensperger talks to the public about how climate change is affecting the Ohio Miami Valley region, she breaks it down into two parts: “It’s going to get a lot hotter and we’re going to have a lot more precipitation, but it’s going to be delivered in a different way,” she says. “We’re going to have more heavy downpours that don’t soak into ground, so we’ll have a lot more flooding.”   

Hopfensperger says the way to tackle climate change at the local level is not for scientists to act as, “the academic saviors coming down from their ivory towers into the neighborhoods.” Instead, she believes in putting communities first and including them in the science and the solutions, from beginning to end.

That means building trust between researchers and the community. Hopfensberger says scientists need to, “get out of their scientist uniform and think about how to connect with people on a human-to-human level before bringing out data and facts.” In this interview she explains how she tries to achieve this through public engagement work with local nonprofits.

Q. How did you become interested in environmental science?

It started with a love of outdoors and growing up outside. I was fortunate to have an environmental science course in high school and also fortunate to go to an undergraduate school with a college of natural resources. Everything I was learning was very environmentally focused. I didn’t really have a plan to be a researcher or professor until much later. When I decided to pursue a PhD., it was with the intent to work with undergraduate students to engage them in the process of research and to give them those opportunities at the undergraduate level.

Q. As an environmental scientist, how have your research interests changed over time? 

I have never been on a clear path. I work on all different things, and I love that I have the freedom to do that. I was very well-trained in wetlands and ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry and nutrient processing. Over time I have delved into different things like plant ecology, invasive species and greenhouse gas emissions. I have recently branched into climate work that includes urban heat resiliency and air quality – stuff I don’t have a lot of training in. So, collaboration is key.

Q. You mentioned that you’ve done work in “urban climate resiliency.” Can you tell me a little bit about that? 

I was part of the group that brought the Climate Safe Neighborhood program to Northern Kentucky.  We created the dashboard to determine which neighborhoods would be most vulnerable to climate change – the hottest and those that might flood the most – and then we layered that information with socioeconomic data. Then we take that information and work with residents by holding workshops to have them come up with solution ideas so that they’re driving the action steps that would take place in their own neighborhoods. That’s led by Groundwork Ohio River Valley and Green Umbrella. I am just blown away by this cool project. 

Q. You recently spent a year as the climate science fellow at Green Umbrella, a Cincinnati nonprofit.  Why did you want to work with Green Umbrella, specifically? 

Green Umbrella was shifting more and more toward climate, and I’ve been amazed with the work they’re doing. I see what other cities are doing and it’s amazing what we have right here in our area.  I wanted to be a part of it. I started to think, “Where do my knowledge and skills best fit in these activities that are happening in the region? How can I play a role and what can I bring to the table?” It took a year of conversations and planning to find out where I might best fit in their organization and what projects I might work on.  

Q. What kind of climate work did you do with Green Umbrella? 

Some of the work I’ve done with them is to create the climate science incubator. Last year was our first year of running it. The goal of the climate research incubator is to be an idea space – not necessarily a tangible physical space but a space where people can come in the region to find others to do research with. It includes people from all different stakeholder backgrounds: academics, government staff, nonprofit organizations. If people have research ideas but don’t have all the skills or pieces of the puzzle to do a project, the climate research incubator can be a space where they can go to work on climate ideas with others in the region. We train academics in the fall with some workshops on science communication and public engagement, and then we bring in public community partners to somewhat organically form project teams.  

Another project I worked on is on air quality through the RISE communities (Research Innovations using Sensor Technology in Environmental Justice Communities). I am partnered with a nonprofit organization in Newport, Ken., where we’re studying air quality using PurpleAir monitors. Through that project we have expanded our collaboration to create a dashboard of air quality for the region, with the target audience being residents. This way the data is accessible, understandable and available.   

Q. It sounds like many of your projects have community involvement or a community-focused goal. Through this work, what have you found are the most successful methods to engage the public in a constructive and accessible way?  

I’m always learning. One of my tips is to be really authentic.  Be a real person. Titles and backgrounds go to the wayside – if you can find ways to connect with people in a real human-to-human way, that is the most important.  None of the work will happen if you don’t have trusting relationships with people. To do that, you need to be really transparent and clear with your communication.  

There are barriers that happen between academics and community partners. It’s not necessarily our jargon; it’s the timelines we function on and the goal of what we do with data that is really different. The timeline of peer review publication is glacially slow compared to what communities need to do with data.  Being transparent with goals for the project is key. To be successful in these endeavors you must include the community as early in the process as possible, even in the development of the research question.  

We’re trying to train academics to do a lot of listening to the community’s interests. To ask, “What are their needs? What are your skills and how might you apply your skills and knowledge to the community?” And then we’re training them to talk to the community about project ideas.  The best practice is to have the community involved from the beginning all the way to end of dissemination and ownership of data. 

Q. What do you think are the responsibilities of scientists doing environmental work in terms of public engagement and communication? 

It’s a really individual thing. As I started doing more formal training in public engagement, I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone by doing radio and TV and newspaper interviews. It’s not uncommon for a lot of scientists to feel like they don’t want to speak as an authority on a topic because they don’t know everything about it.  I think we need to push past that. As a scientist, you know more than most people in the room on topics of science. Before, when I would be asked for interviews I would think, “I don’t know about that, I study wetlands,” and I’d stick to my little bubble. But I do feel more scientists need to be out there speaking and building that relationship between society and science. By doing that, the goal is that our policies will be informed by science and our society then will be better off.  

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Source: Highland County Press

Green Umbrella will host its 12th annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit June 5 at the Sharonville Convention Center. This year’s Summit will include a keynote by Indigenous scholar, author, and musician Dr. Lyla June Johnston and a plenary panel focused on “The Power of Sustainable Stories: Inspiring Change Through Climate Narratives.”

The panelists will offer valuable insights into crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and inspire individual and collective action. As climate change continues to have impacts both across the globe and here in the Midwest, how we talk about it has more weight than ever.

The panel will feature speakers from various innovative media organizations – Erika Street Hopman, Co-Founder of ChavoBart Digital Media; Tory Stephens, Climate Fiction Creative & Brand Partnerships Manager of Grist; and Becca Costello, Local Government Reporter for Cincinnati Public Radio.

“The Summit serves as a spark for connecting and learning together and we’re thrilled to center this year’s program around how storytelling can be harnessed as a catalyst for bridging divides and creating a resilient, equitable future,” says Charlie Gonzalez, Green Umbrella’s Corporate Engagement & Events Manager, who leads the conference planning.

As the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, the Summit brings 650 passionate professional and community leaders to the Cincinnati region for a full day of inspiring programming, with 100 speakers, exhibitors, an art show, and live performances. Discussions and workshops will span a wide variety of topics that include green workforce development, corporate sustainability, clean energy and environmental justice.

This year’s Sustainability Summit theme centers on “Sustainable Stories” and using storytelling as a vital tool to bridge complex data and personal experiences, align collaborative partners toward shared goals, and create opportunities for transparency and accountability.

You can learn more and register at www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org.

Green Umbrella, the Tri-State’s Regional Climate Collaborative, leads cross-sector collaboration to accelerate climate action across Greater Cincinnati.

Source: WVXU

The federal government is cancelling a nearly $500,000 environmental justice grant for Greater Cincinnati’s regional climate collaborative.

Green Umbrella received the funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to help community members address environmental risks in their neighborhoods, Executive Director Ryan Mooney-Bullock says.

It planned to work with Cincinnati residents in the Beekman Corridor to manage stormwater and overland flooding; in Newport, Kentucky, to create a resilience map; and in Aurora, Indiana, to introduce climate action concepts.

Now, Green Umbrella is unsure if those projects can happenat all.

“The loss of that funding means that we don’t have committed resources for our staff time or for our partners to engage in that work,” Mooney-Bullock said.

Green Umbrella’s grant was one of 400 terminated by the EPA and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to an agency release. The EPA cited changing priorities in its decision to cancel the funding.

“It was really just a huge hit to organizations across the country that are working to make sure that people who live in communities that have poor environmental quality are able to have an opportunity to improve those and to protect their own health and wellbeing,” Mooney-Bullock said.

The local organization is planning on disputing the cancellation.

Moving forward with a focus on local and private funders

In the meantime, Mooney-Bullock says she’s looking to fill funding gaps left by the cuts. Federal grants made up 40% of the organization’s $2.5 million operating budget this year.

“We are really starting to have conversations with local funders, regional funders, national funders, around how do we step up in a private way to meet some of these needs?” Mooney-Bullock said.

She says Green Umbrella is focusing on the climate and environmental projects it has funding for, while navigating changes made by the federal government.

“Ultimately, we’re committed to making sure that local communities in Greater Cincinnati are able to start doing the type of planning that they need to do to reduce their emissions and also to prepare for the impacts of climate change, because climate change isn’t slowing down just because the government refuses to talk about it, it’s still here,” Mooney-Bullock said.

Source: Movers & Makers

Storytelling has the power to inspire action, and this year’s Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit will explore how to harness that power for climate solutions.

Green Umbrella will host the 12th annual Summit on June 5 at the Sharonville Convention Center, bringing together leaders, advocates and experts for a day of discussions, workshops and performances focused on building a more sustainable future.

A keynote by Indigenous scholar, author and musician Dr. Lyla June Johnston and a plenary panel on “The Power of Sustainable Stories” will highlight the role of narratives in driving change. Panelists will share how to craft narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and drive action. With climate change affecting communities worldwide and in the Midwest, how we talk about it matters more than ever.

The panel includes Erika Street Hopman, co-founder of ChavoBart Digital Media; Tory Stephens, climate fiction creative and brand partnerships manager at Grist; and Becca Costello, local government reporter at Cincinnati Public Radio.

“The Summit sparks connections and learning, and this year’s program highlights storytelling as a tool to bridge divides and build a resilient, equitable future,” said Charlie Gonzalez, Green Umbrella’s corporate engagement and events manager, who leads conference planning.

As the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, the Summit brings 650 professionals and community leaders to Cincinnati for a full day of programming. It features 100 speakers, exhibitors, an art show and live performances. Discussions and workshops cover green workforce development, corporate sustainability, clean energy and environmental justice.

This year’s theme, “Sustainable Stories,” focuses on storytelling as a way to connect data with personal experiences, align partners toward shared goals and promote transparency and accountability in terms of preparing for climate change.

The event is taking place in Sharonville because the downtown Cincinnati convention enter is under construction.

Register for the Summit

Source: Movers & Makers

Local nonprofit Green Umbrella played a key role in developing a new policy toolkit that gives school districts a framework to create tailored wellness initiatives addressing their communities’ evolving needs.

The Local School Wellness Policy Toolkit is a free resource for schools participating in the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast programs. It encourages schools, local governments, and community organizations to collaborate and establish equitable wellness programs for students and staff.

Green Umbrella’s Green Schoolyards Action Network partnered with Slow Food USA and Whole Kids to develop the project. Green Umbrella, the Tri-State’s Regional Climate Collaborative, leads efforts to accelerate climate action in Greater Cincinnati. The Green Schoolyards Action Network unites school district leadership, city officials, health agencies and partner organizations to expand greenspace, environmental education and farm-to-school opportunities for K-12 students and educators in the region.

Although designed for nationwide use, Cincinnati shaped much of the toolkit’s content, demonstrating how city and school district policies can work together to increase greenspace and improve access to nutritious food.

“The work of the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools demonstrates how aligning policies can drive meaningful improvements in school wellness,” said Cynthia Walters, Green Schoolyards manager for Green Umbrella.

The first edition comes in English, with a Spanish version in progress. Additional training modules will help school leaders implement the toolkit effectively. Walters highlighted its potential to enhance student success, citing its impact on academic achievement, attendance, and graduation rates.

It’s available for downloading here.

Source: NKY Tribune

Green Umbrella is accepting applications for its Climate Action Fellowship program for governments in Greater Cincinnati communities.

The fellowship pairs undergraduate and graduate students, and individuals who want to pivot careers into the sustainability space, with Green Umbrella government members to develop practical plans and solutions for a changing climate.

Local governments receive research support and added capacity, assistance in sustainability planning. Fellows receive invaluable experience in the public sector, and networking and professional development support.

The three local governments selected for Green Umbrella’s Climate Fellowship program inaugural year were the Cities of Covington; Milford, Ohio; and Oxford, Ohio. These cities initiated or accelerated their sustainability planning processes during their fellowship, as well as implemented projects related to energy cost savings, greenspace, and more.

Only 3 jurisdictions (the Cities of Cincinnati, Fairfield, and Oxford, OH) in Green Umbrella’s 10-county region, encompassing 188 jurisdictions, have sustainability action plans. Milford and Covington designed and launched environmental committees last year with support from the fellowship to start their planning process. The Climate Action Fellowship program will work directly with local governments to provide capacity to help kickstart a community-driven, whole-of-government approach to sustainability planning and implementation that centers community resilience, helps stabilize budgets, and supports access to expanded funding.

The 2025 Climate Action Fellows are supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Green Umbrella

Source: The News Record

The Earth is at a point now where climate change is a real issue that should not be ignored, experts say. While the environment around us continues to worsen, people worldwide are taking important steps to mitigate climate change issues and help communities.

Green Umbrella, located in Cincinnati, is one of these organizations, working as the regional climate collaborative for the Greater Cincinnati area. Green Umbrella brings together stakeholders and community members to coordinate climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts across the region.

The organization does this by running several different programs, each with its own focus and initiatives. While it started as a volunteer-run green-space protection group, Green Umbrella has evolved to become the connective tissue between different organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area that are working to make meaningful change.

Nobi Kennedy has been Green Umbrella’s regional climate collaborative coordinator, a fairly new position, for almost a year now, and works to bridge communications between the many different programs under Green Umbrella. They are using this role to establish connections in the community so more people can work toward solving climate change.

In this interview, Kennedy explains their responsibilities in their job and shares why Green Umbrella is an important resource in Cincinnati.

Q: Can you tell me about the responsibilities that come with your position at Green Umbrella?

A: As the regional climate collaborative coordinator, my colleagues and I oversee a bunch of different programs in the RCC (regional climate collaborative), such as the Climate Research Incubator, which educates scholars on communication strategies, the Climate Action Fellowship, which pairs climate champions with local governments to create resiliency plans, and Climate Safety Neighborhoods, a partnership with Groundwork Ohio River Valley focused on educating lower-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods on climate resiliency strategies and encouraging them to build their own plans. As the RCC coordinator, I have to be aware of the other programs that we operate under. I primarily do community engagement.

Q: What did you do before coming to Green Umbrella?

A: I was a barber for 13 years before I came here. It was working with people one-on-one, having conversations and quickly assessing their needs based on what they’re asking me to do. I have tried to take that same consultation-service mindset into this role because, ultimately, we’re trying to serve communities. There’s no point in protecting the environment if you’re not protecting the people who are living there. Climate change affects people and connecting it to people is where my work lies.

Q: How has your time with the organization been so far?

A: Very eye-opening. As a barber, it was just a team of one, just me and my client, and now I’m working on a team of 17 plus other partners. Working on a team is a different mindset. Having been a barber, I was outcome focused. As long as the client was happy with the outcome, we were good. But with this work, it’s ongoing and builds upon itself, so you can’t be focused on the outcome as much but have to be focused on the process and making sure that people aren’t left behind in that work. There are a lot of moving parts, such as community, organizational and government involvement, and it’s incredibly complex. Trying to get everybody on board is quite a task in itself.

Q: Did you have any other experience in environmental work before coming to Green Umbrella?

A: It’s new for me, but that’s the wonderful thing about working in the environment. I think that there might be a misconception that you have to have an environmental science background or study these nuanced things about the working environment, but it’s just not the case. It goes back to people and trying to make sure that initiatives impact people. I did go through a fellowship called Dream.org that takes beginning activists early in their careers and puts them through advocacy training, campaigning, lobbying, etc. They asked us to create a dream project, and mine was a land conservation project, so I started there. I have always found a lot of solace in nature, being a first-generation immigrant, biracial and queer. There are a lot of parts of my identity that I grapple with in everyday society, but nature is the place where everybody belongs, and I felt this inherent connection.

Q: In your opinion, why is Green Umbrella important to Cincinnati and the surrounding areas?

A: I think it’s important because we’re trying to serve as this connective network, as the friend that you know at the party that knows everybody else. It’s trying to be this hub of sustainability, environmental initiatives and collaboration. We make a connection and try to facilitate that relationship. We know that our members and the people in our region are more than capable of creating and executing solutions. Sometimes you just need to make connections with the right people to make things happen.

Q: How do you work with the other team members?

A: The in-house programs are all run independently for the most part, but there is cross-collaboration. Primarily, my role is to make sure that the events, initiatives and workshops that we have are being communicated properly to our network. Another thing is connecting inquiries to the correct people in our organization. If I’m talking to someone who is interested in Green Umbrella and starts talking a lot about energy, it seems like a perfect fit with our 2030 District. That’s when I tell them there’s this person here that I think might be great for them to talk to and try to make those connections. Everyone here is brilliant and very talented, and I learn from them constantly. I think there’s a place for everybody, from children to people in their 90s. I would say climate change is the greatest threat we face as a society. When a hurricane comes through and power lines are down, access to food is gone, roads are washed away, suddenly the things that we think matter don’t matter. If I can find a place for anyone to plug in and feel like they are doing enough, then I feel like I’m doing my job right as a coordinator.

Q: What would you say is the most impactful part of this experience for you so far?

A: I think there are two things. A year ago, I would not have thought I would be here. I look back at who I was and I see a very different person, and I appreciate the challenges that Green Umbrella has allowed me to step up to and attempt, sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully. But I am willing to learn from my experiences. I think the most meaningful thing is connecting with people and instilling hope. Any movement starts with just the thought that maybe you can make a difference, the thought of showing up or using your voice, and that it matters somewhere. For me, creating safe and inclusive spaces for people is something that I value a lot personally. I think that there are not enough places for people to just be themselves and be vulnerable. With climate change, we all understand we’re vulnerable. I think that’s the biggest thing for me, just instilling hope and seeing people take action when they otherwise wouldn’t.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

This story originated as an assignment in the JOUR-3040 Environmental Journalism course from fall semester 2024 and is part of a special series of environmental stories being published in The News Record in spring 2025.