Dr. Lyla June Johnston is an Indigenous scholar, author, community organizer, and musician. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives, and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for all life. In her profoundly hopeful TEDx Talk, Dr. Johnston outlined a series of timeless human success stories focusing on Native American food and land management techniques and strategies.

Registration for the 12th annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit on June 5 is now open for exhibitors and attendees. Learn more and register here.

A Local School Wellness Policy exists in every school district nation-wide that participates in the USDA National School Lunch & Breakfast programs. Green Schoolyards Action Network Manager Cynthia Walters, in partnership with Slow Food USA and Whole Kids, has developed the Local School Wellness Policy Tool Kit to provide a roadmap for school districts to devise a customized wellness plan that reflects the current needs of the school community. This ground-breaking resource is designed to help schools improve attendance, academic performance, and graduation rates. The work of the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools is featured in this tool kit, demonstrating how the alignment of city and school district policy drives the expansion of greenspace and nutritious food access.

The application deadline for Green Umbrella's 2025 Climate Action Fellowship program is now March 15, 2025. This program pairs a Fellow - undergrad/graduate students and individuals who want to pivot careers into the climate space - with a Green Umbrella member government in order to support local climate action planning. Government hosts receive training, planning support, and implementation capacity while Fellows receive invaluable training, experience, and professional development support within the public climate sector. The Fellowship is free/subsidized for participating governments and Fellows receive a $6,000 stipend. Eligible governments and Fellow candidates should submit their applications by March 15, 2025.

We’re doing an audit of Green Umbrella’s social media platforms and we need your help! Please take this anonymous, 10-question survey about how you interact with social media. Those who submit can choose to enter our Green Umbrella green umbrella (yes, a literal green umbrella) raffle.

The Boone Conservancy completed the purchase of a 350-acre tract of land in Petersburg. The tract has more than a mile of unspoiled Ohio River shoreline with a mature tree canopy, a rarity in the Greater Cincinnati area. Made with the support of several public and private organizations, this $2M purchase represents the Conservancy’s largest single transaction. Altogether, the Boone Conservancy protects 1,300 acres of land across Northern Kentucky, making significant progress toward protecting natural habitats in the region.

Green Umbrella Sustainergy Co-Op has acquired the building at 611 Burns Street, Cincinnati, 45215. They are looking for like-minded businesses to join them in the space, which has access to off-street parking, kitchen & conference room space, and views of downtown Cincinnati. For more information, reach out at 513-244-2700 or sustainergy@sustainergy.coop.

Cardinal Land Conservancy recently acquired properties in Winton Hills and Springfield Township that will become open to the public by 2026. Filled with century-old maple, oak, hickory, sycamore, and beech trees, the once-threatened acres are now protected through deed restrictions. The conservancy also enrolled the land in City Forest Credits, a nonprofit that calculates the amount of carbon stored in trees and issues credits that companies can buy to “offset” their carbon emissions. The profits from the sale of the carbon credits will go to the Conservancy to help manage the local forests’ health, remove invasive species, and maintain trails.

The City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability has announced the launch of year two of their Green Cincinnati Plan Seeds of Change Open Call Grants. This funding aims to bring the Green Cincinnati Plan to life through resident-driven sustainability, equity, and resilience projects in the neighborhoods hardest hit by climate change. There will be an optional pre-application workshop on March 13 from 5:30-7:00 pm at Walnut Hills Library – all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Learn more about the Seeds of Change Grant Program here. Applications are due April 30, 2025.

We Are One: Water explores the importance of water in Native American and Asian Indian culture while addressing conservation issues through storytelling, music, art, and dialogue. This orchestral music festival seeks to amplify under-consulted voices by acknowledging historical and contemporary inequities and celebrating unique cultures. Reservations for all 4 free festival events are now live, and tickets are on sale for the special event, “Echoes of the Great Miami”. Learn more here.

Click here for the full Events Calendar. Members can submit events in the Green Umbrella online portal here.

This internship provides the unique opportunity to live and work in an urban ecovillage homestead. Responsibilities include maintenance, food preservation and gardening tasks, as well as helping educate people about urban ecovillages. Community Earth Alliance can work with college students to gain credit for this experience to satisfy internship requirements with their college or university. See more details here.

YSQC is a 5-year-old organization with growing local, regional, and national partnerships. We empower marginalized communities by supporting resident-led initiatives that address systemic food inequities. One key project of YSQC is Meiser’s Fresh Grocery & Deli. The Executive Director leads a team of full-time, part-time, and consultant staff, cultivates philanthropy and development, volunteers, oversees programs and properties, and manages finances. You can find more information about this position and how to apply on the Green Jobs Board.

Have an event, volunteer opportunity, or job posting to share? Green Umbrella members can submit them via the online Membership Portal. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a member, click here.