Green Umbrella fellowship grows local climate action, future leaders

Source: Movers & Makers

Green Umbrella is doubling down on its mission to help local governments tackle climate change – and building the next generation of sustainability leaders along the way.

The nonprofit’s Climate Action Fellowship returned for a second year this summer, expanding from three to seven fellows placed in five local governments: Hamilton County, Oxford, Fairfield, Milford in Ohio and Newport, Ky.

Running from May 28 through Aug. 8, the 10-week program gives fellows hands-on roles advancing public-sector climate action – from developing sustainability plans to mapping green infrastructure and engaging school districts.

The current cohort will wrap up on Aug. 8, with a public showcase on Aug. 20 where fellows will present their work to local leaders, partners and prospective employers.

“This fellowship delivers real capacity to local governments and helps communities act on climate with urgency,” said Van Sullivan, Green Umbrella’s senior director of programs and climate strategy. “At the same time, it’s training future leaders who understand that systems change starts locally.”

Tailored projects, tangible impact

Launched in 2024 as a small pilot in Covington, Milford and Oxford, the program aims to help local governments expand capacity in their sustainability efforts and grow a diverse pipeline of future leaders.

This year, each participating organization is completing four core projects focused on climate planning, procurement, budgeting and community wealth building. Fellows then help shape additional work based on local goals – all in close collaboration with government staff.

Two fellows, Ava Heffernan and Shobha Pai, have worked this summer assisting Hamilton County draft its first sustainability plan, a strategic document that outlines approaches to integrating social, environmental and economic considerations into its operations and decision-making processes. They’ve reviewed existing policies, led early engagement efforts and analyzed county services to better understand how they could improve operations and overcome any coverage gaps.

Heffernan said working with Brad Johnson at Hamilton County’s Department of Environmental Services gave her insight into policy-making and community engagement that she couldn’t get in the classroom.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to contribute to such meaningful and lasting work,” she added.

In Milford, Jackson Hare, a recent Xavier University graduate, is partnering with city leaders to boost sustainability commission outreach, assess greenspace and climate resilience, and track energy use in municipal buildings.

Oxford fellows Kate Kozak and Oluwaseun Olubodun are supporting stormwater funding research and zero-waste efforts, while also engaging students and benchmarking city facilities, all under the guidance of Sustainability Manager Reena Murphy.

Newport fellow Rachel Cranmer is working alongside municipal specialist Josh Tunning to promote sustainable purchasing, evaluate parks, identify tree-planting opportunities, and build climate education partnerships with local schools.

Graduate student Constance Kammerer is helping lead Fairfield’s sustainability tracking efforts, teaming up with Program Manager Gillian Hart to design internal and public metrics for the city’s “Fairfield Sustains” plan.

The fellows have taken part in activities as a group, including collaborative learning sessions throughout the summer, gaining exposure to real-world sustainability practices and partnerships in action. As a group, they toured Cincinnati Public Schools’ green schoolyards to see how cities, school districts and nonprofits are working together to create outdoor learning spaces that promote environmental education, youth wellness and climate resilience.

One of their working sessions included time with Wyatt King, director of the Greater Cincinnati 2030 District – a public-private initiative facilitated by Green Umbrella that unites property owners, developers, commercial tenants and community groups in a shared commitment to cut energy use, water consumption and transportation emissions by 50% by 2030.

“I have always been pulled to get involved in my community, and getting engaged with local government felt like the perfect way to tie that into my career,” Kammerer said. “This experience with Green Umbrella and Fairfield has given me a chance to see how different parts of local government function, and learn where I could fit in this space.”

A regional strategy with momentum

The fellowship is part of Green Umbrella’s broader push to accelerate climate action across its 10-county, three-state region.

Right now, fewer than 10 local governments in the area have a sustainability plan. Green Umbrella is working to change that through its network of more than 200 businesses, governments, nonprofits and educational institutions – all collaborating to reimagine outdated systems and drive progress.

Green Umbrella has launched numerous initiatives such as the new 25 Communities Project, which provides technical support to local governments across the region, with a focus on helping more historically underserved communities plan for climate resilience.

But the annual Climate Action Fellowship has become a key part of that strategy. It helps local governments build capacity while also preparing a diverse pipeline of future climate leaders. So far, fellows have:

• Completed 25 projects
• Helped three communities create sustainability commissions
• Initiated three climate planning processes
• Benchmarked 12 public buildings for energy efficiency.

The fellowship will be offered again next year as part of the 25 Communities Project. Greater Cincinnati governments can sign up to participate today by reaching out to Sullivan.

“Only 1% of regional jurisdictions have a sustainability plan right now,” Sullivan said. “This fellowship lays the groundwork for more community plans by delivering training, creating jobs, engaging communities, identifying future funding opportunities and implementing projects.”

The successes of this year’s fellowships will be on display Aug. 20 at the Climate Action Showcase – a public event at UC Digital Futures Building where fellows and local leaders will share how they kicked off or advanced climate planning efforts this summer. Green Umbrella will also outline simple steps any community can take to get started, access funding and build a more resilient future.

The showcase is free and open to all.

And if you’re wondering what kind of impact the program really has, just talk to any of this year’s fellows or those they’ve worked with over the past two and a half months.

“It’s inspiring to see how much can happen over the course of a summer when local governments commit time and energy to exploring what local climate action can look like for them, and have access to the expertise and people power,” said Ryan Mooney-Bullock, Green Umbrella’s executive director. “I am excited to follow the trajectory of these communities and professionals over the next five years as their impact becomes evident.”