Planting the Seeds of Inclusive Communities
Breakout Session Two: Energy, Environment, and Equity: Developing Community-Determined Projects
What do community-determined energy and environment projects look like? What kinds of resources are available to support them? What do you want to see in YOUR community? The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) walk alongside community members as they develop projects focused on clean energy, sustainable food systems, resilient communities, and natural resources. This session will bring together examples of past projects, lessons learned, available resources, and the opportunity to share and discuss your project ideas.
Presenter: Melissa Birch, CERTS
Melissa Birch is the Rural Energy Development Manager and Central CERT Coordinator for the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) in the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) at the University of Minnesota Extension. She holds a PhD in International Relations, and she has previously worked in teaching, research, and nonprofits. In her work, she focuses on the space where community, economy, and environment come together, seeking win-win-win opportunities. At CERTs, she has partnered with numerous Minnesotan organizations to help them reach their clean energy goals.
