Resiliency Updates from Across Indiana
Shikha Bhattacharyya - Terre Haute
Environmental Activists for a Resilient Terre Haute, known as EARTHlings, is a group of youth and adults who want to help our local government and schools to take action on climate change by passing climate resolutions. In May, EARTHlings met twice and recruited four new young members as a result of the Plastic Vs. Planet Speak-Off. EARTHlings had a dinner with the Mayor, attended by about 45 participants of the Plastic Vs. Planet Speak-Off and their parents. The children had a great time with Mayor Brandon Sakbun. We continue to create momentum in Terre Haute regarding climate action.
Lauren Kuester - Evansville
This summer Lauren is working with the Evansville Climate Collaborative and Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute’s McKinney Fellows Program in a summer climate action cohort to create local strategies to reduce waste at large-scale events within our community of Evansville. We are collaborating to create a guidebook containing information on best practices and local resources to help event planners strategize green solutions to adopt and implement to decrease the overall environmental impact of local events. Additionally, we are creating a green events rating system to recognize events and local vendors that implement sustainable solutions to reduce their environmental impact and identify areas for future improvement.
Kathryn Lisinicchia - Northeast Indiana
Kathryn is deepening our partnerships with Solar United Neighbors and Faith in Place by organizing a workshop on how to bring solar energy to places of worship and non-profits.
Kathy Sipple & Grace Tafolla - Northwest Indiana
20-year old Grace Tafolla of Gary, Indiana joined Earth Charter Indiana in April and immediately was off to a very busy start! She was immersed in sociocracy training that fellow RC Kathy Sipple of Valparaiso helped to teach. She then applied that training in a UN side event where young people from all over the world gathered to make recommendations regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Three other Indiana youth participated in UN SDG 13 (Climate Action) along with Grace: Valparaiso High School Junior, Paige Hein and two Purdue University honors college students, Selin Kemiktarak and Soroosh Aliakbar, also took part. Recording link here.
Our NWI Earth Charter Indiana team was awarded a grant from the Legacy Foundation of Lake County to install five pollinator-friendly school gardens in Lake County. Kathy got some much needed help from Tim DaSilva install the plants. Tim is a student at Purdue University Northwest studying Biological Sciences and he works with Brown Faces Green Spaces, based in Gary.
Gowri Sundaram - Fort Wayne
In addition to planning, promoting, and leading a week long nature camp this summer, Gowri has been collaborating with Fort Wayne Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council and local schools to to promote organic waste management through composting. She founded an eco circle club that focuses on circular economy, and she’s helping with CLS9, which will take place in Fort Wayne on September 8, 2024
Alison Zajdel - Richmond
This summer Alison has focused on two projects: 1) wrapping up “Beat the Heat” with an air conditioner distribution program for vulnerable residents. 2) working with IU as a part of the most recent cohort focused on urban canopy development. The IU summer climate fellow recently arrived, and Alison is connecting her with local groups to ensure the community has input and sufficient education. Both of these projects are directly related to our Climate Action Plan goals. We look forward to having help from a student intern on these projects as a partner in the pilot student EC program!