Calling all local governments in Greater Cincinnati! Join us on July 22nd for the kickoff of the 25 Communities Project, an initiative that will bring twenty-five new communities into the movement towards a resilient, equitable, and thriving region. This ambitious and exciting project will bring the resources, skills, tools, and collaborative connections Green Umbrella has developed over the past 26 years to help stabilize their budgets and prepare for the impacts of extreme weather. Participating governments will receive monthly trainings, consultations, project support, and more. Register for the free kickoff event here. Want to learn more about sustainable action? Join us just before the kickoff for a Climate Action 101 training. Register for free here.

Tickets are going fast for the Cincinnati premiere of How to Poison a Planet, coming up next Tuesday, July 15 at Cincinnati World Cinema. This is a new documentary on the global crisis of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” and their impact on public health. This documentary picks up where the film Dark Waters left off. We are thrilled to welcome Greater Cincinnati Water Works Interim Executive Director Andrea Yang, Ohio River Basin Alliance chair Dr. Chris Lorentz, and Taft partner Rob Bilott in our post-film discussion.

Thank you to event sponsor Taft, whose attorneys have been at the forefront of issues relating to PFAS for more than two decades. The evening begins with a reception featuring lite bites from Kate’s Catering and local brews from Rhinegeist and HighGrain Brewery. Secure your spot today for this special event.

Thank you to all our Midwest Sustainability Summit sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, artists, and the 625 attendees who were instrumental in making this year’s conference the best one yet. We invite you to check out the Summit photo album and our longform event recap, where you can join our Communications Manager, Kelly St Charles, on A Day at the 2025 Midwest Sustainability Summit.

Stay tuned for our call for participation for next year's Summit inviting your ideas for panel discussions, interactive workshops, short talks, research posters, and visual and performance art for 2026. We encourage you to start thinking now about how you can participate!

Join Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance and Warren County Park District at the next "Meet a Greenspace" Hike. We will be at Hisey Park - known as the “Jewel of the Little Miami River Valley” - which features woods, wetlands, and a scenic overlook of the Little Miami river.

You’ll have a chance to learn about Friends of Warren County Park District, a non-profit committed to preserving and enhancing local parks in Warren County, and Orienteering Cincinnati, a non-profit dedicated to providing orienteering opportunities for education, recreation and competition in the Greater Cincinnati area. Additionally, the Warren County Astronomical Society will open the Fred Bay Observatory and provide solar viewing for visitors.

This City of Cincinnati program supports sustainable, equitable, and resilient efforts led by residents to relieve burdens and increase benefits for those most affected by climate change. There have been two distinct rounds thus far in 2025: Youth Climate Action ($87,500) funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Open Call ($153,335) co-funded by the City and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. So far in 2025, the City of Cincinnati has invested $240,835 in 35 projects impacting 42 neighborhoods. This brings the total awards for the grant program since its inception one year ago to an amazing $514,826 invested in 103 projects reaching residents of 47 neighborhoods. There will be an additional round in October of this calendar year, seeing another $150,000 in awards, with more to come in 2026. Outcomes and impact will be shared broadly as soon as enough funded projects complete final reporting.

In partnership with HDR, City of Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Regional Chamber, Green Umbrella conducted climate migration focus groups across six key sectors to gather insights on regional growth and resilience in preparation for climate-induced population changes.

Participants were engaged through structured discussions covering predictable and unpredictable climate forces, benefits and challenges of future growth preparation, and regional vision.

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Additional community conversations are being held with frontline communities, as well as a pilot City Hall focus group for Cincinnati departments. The project aims to develop comprehensive strategies for managing climate migration impacts on the Cincinnati region. To learn more, check out this recent WVXU article or email van@greenumbrella.org.

Ohio Environmental Council, Groundwork Ohio River Valley and Green Umbrella hosted Climate Safe Neighborhoods Advocacy Training 102, led by Kylie Johnson, Managing Director of Field Advocacy at OEC. At the workshop, participants received hands-on training on how to write and deliver effective public comment by practicing the five-step framework of introducing yourself, stating your position, backing it up with evidence, proposing solutions, and maintaining courtesy. The workshop equipped attendees with practical advocacy skills for engaging with government councils, commissions, and environmental boards.

Want to learn more? Join us at the July Green Drinks on July 24, co-hosted by Groundwork Ohio River Valley and the Cincinnati Center for Climate Change and Health.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 2, 2025 at the Cintas Center, and be part of the premier event for high-performance and sustainable building design! The 2025 REBUILD Conference will bring together world-class keynote speakers, real-world case studies, and insightful panel discussions, creating a dynamic space for industry leaders to exchange best practices and innovative solutions. Register by September 12 to save over $50!

Be a part of the Archaeological Research Institute’s (ARI) mission of preservation and stewardship by joining us for an evening to celebrate the biodiversity of our region! The Bugs and Bonfire series will incorporate activities like species identification, iNaturalist training, programming centered around insects, and a fun evening around the campfire. Sign up for the event here.

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

The Common Orchard Project is looking for more volunteers to join them in growing food and community in Greater Cincinnati and beyond. The Common Orchard Project works to install and maintain hundreds of small orchard plantings across Greater Cincinnati and grows commonly held resources by educating communities on fresh food and urban land management.

These common orchards provide increased food access, tree canopy, walkable greenspace, and community building in neighborhoods that have experienced disinvestment. Join our volunteer list here!

Anderson Township, Ohio, seeks qualified applicants for a full-time Greenspace Inspector. This position is responsible for managing the Anderson Township Greenspace program, collaborating with multiple stakeholders on the environmental impact of land use decisions, and creating and presenting environmental education and community outreach initiatives. More information and how to apply can be found here.

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.