An old saying goes that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the next best time is now. May 15 was also a great election. That day, the eve of the second annual MI Healthy Climate Conference, members of Michigan‘s new MI Healthy Climate Corps (MHC Corps) planted 10 trees in downtown Lansing.
Members of the MI Healthy Climate Corps gather for a group photo with Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, who spoke at the MI Healthy Climate Conference on May 16.
It was one of the many ways corps members invested in the future while participating and learning from the sold-out conference. A member of the MHC Corps even hosted Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s keynote address on May 17.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) hosted the event at the Lansing Center on May 16-17 for more than 900 attendees. The “Accelerate Action” theme focused on motivating Michiganders to advance the goals of the Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan (MHCP) and recently enacted landmark clean energy legislation, and to bring home funding federal policies related to climate and clean energy.
“At last year’s conference, the MI Healthy Climate Corps was still in the future,” said Jordan Power, EGLE Climate Action Officer at the Office of Climate and Energy (OCE). “This year, the program and members of our first cohort were integral to the conference theme of accelerating climate action. “It was exciting to show the impact they have already had across the state, just two months into their service.”
OCE hosted a pre-conference leadership retreat on May 15 where MHC Corps members gathered to further develop their leadership skills, report on their service projects, and network with climate leaders and state climate corps representatives. and national and AmeriCorps programs.
MI Healthy Climate Corps members plant a tree in Lansing.
Tree planting followed, with corps members joined by EGLE Director Phil Roos, Michigan Community Services Commission (MCSC) Executive Director Ginna Holmes, and local partners.
Members of the MI Healthy Climate Corps mingle with conference attendees at exhibitor tables.
The conference began in earnest on May 16 when members of the MHC Corps introduced themselves to attendees and showcased their service projects.
MHC Corps member Kala Sperbeck from Grand Rapids then joined Holmes, Alexus Foote of YouthWork, Sydney Deal of Ann Arbor Climate Corps and Maggie Thomas of the White House climate office on a panel to discuss how the corps’ programs Climate in Michigan supports communities and develops leaders. .
“It was enlightening to learn about all the work being done in Michigan and see how the corps is helping to complete that work and achieve the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan,” Sperbeck said.
MI Healthy Climate Corps member Ali Sandifer meets with Lansing Lugnuts mascot Big Lug before the May 16 “Climate Night” ball game, where Sandifer threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
That night, corps member Ali Sandifer, climate initiative program coordinator at EGLE OCE, raised the profile of the MHC Corps by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Lansing Lugnuts baseball game to commemorate “Climate Night.” at Jackson Field.
“This year’s MI Healthy Climate Conference was incredibly eventful, engaging and important for Michigan,” Sandifer said. “I attended panels that will help me in my work and service. I gained connections with climate justice executives and leaders, expanded my network, and learned a ton from those conversations. If those two things weren’t valuable enough, I also made the first pitch. All of these collective experiences, plus being able to connect with each person in my cohort, made the MI Healthy Climate Conference an unforgettable event.”
MI Healthy Climate Corps member Kim Heumann meets with Governor Gretchen Whitmer backstage at the MI Healthy Climate Conference on May 17. Heumann welcomed the governor to the stage to deliver the conference’s keynote address.
Kimberly Heumann of Ann Arbor introduced the Governor’s keynote address and told the audience, “I would not be here today without Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s commitment to the people of Michigan to build a better future that positions our state as a leader in action climate”.
Heumann is working with the city of River Rouge to create a green workforce opportunity playbook, including training programs, schools, certifications, apprenticeships, mentorships and conferences.
“After spending two months researching state initiatives on Michigan’s actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, it was an honor to meet the woman who led the charge,” Heumann said. “What I said when introducing her is true: Governor Whitmer is a true champion of climate action and the people of Michigan, and that’s part of why I’m proud to be a Michigander. I’ll probably brag about having known her for a while!
More about the MI Healthy Climate Corps
The MHC Corps workforce program focuses on promoting and achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, building capacity in communities across the state, and targeting federal and state resources. The corps aims to develop an enduring and capable network of climate professionals committed to their communities and a sustainable future for Michigan. On Earth Day, the corps was announced as an official affiliate of the American Climate Corps (ACC).
Thirty corps members have been working for more than two months at 29 nonprofit organizations, local governments and state agencies. His term ends in November. A second cohort will begin an 11-month tour of duty in the fall of 2024. In future years, the corps hopes to offer additional community support and service opportunities across the state.
The MHC Corps is one of eight AmeriCorps programs that make up the Michigan Climate Corps (MCC), along with Wayne State University AmeriCorps Climate Ready, the Ann Arbor Climate Corps, the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program, the YouthWork Climate and Conservation Corps and the still-launch of the Rural Resilience Corps with Central Michigan University and the SEED Education and Ecology Centers and the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum’s AmeriCorps program.
This summer, more than 200 AmeriCorps members will engage in direct climate action and environmental conservation through MCC programs. More information is available from Amanda Scott, AmeriCorps program officer for MCC, at ScottA35@Michigan.gov.
Prospective host partners, corps members and others interested in supporting the MHC Corps can find more information and sign up for updates on the Corps website.
About the American Climate Corps
The ACC is a partnership between the federal departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy; the United States Environmental Protection Agency; and AmeriCorps. President Joe Biden created the body to fight the climate crisis today and prepare young Americans for the clean energy and climate resilience jobs of tomorrow. The ACC serves as the umbrella organization for state climate body programs, including Michigan’s.
MHC Corps Host Partners and Locations
MHC Corps members are currently serving with the following host partners through mid-November:
- Ann Arbor: Washtenaw County Department of Facilities Management
- Bellaire: Antrim Conservation District.
- Detroit: Detroit City Government, Detroit 2030 District, Detroit Future City, Let’s Grow Michigan, Michigan Saves, Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority, and Transportation Riders United.
- East Lansing: East Lansing City Government.
- Elk Rapids: Elk Rapids Village Government.
- Flint: The Everly Collective.
- Grand Rapids: West Michigan Environmental Action Council and Calvin University Plaster Creek Stewards.
- Ingham County: Spartan Housing Cooperative.
- Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo City Government.
- Lansing: Lansing City Government, Clean Fuels Michigan, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Michigan League of Bicyclists, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, EGLE Office of Climate and Energy, and Department of Public Lands Office of Natural Resources of Michigan.
- Marquette: Marquette County Government and Superior Watershed Partnership.
- River Rouge: City of River Rouge Community Development Department.
- Traverse City: SEEDS Education and Ecology Centers and East Bay Charter Township Government.
- Waterford Township: Oakland County Government.
About the MI Healthy Climate Plan
MI’s Healthy Climate Plan positions Michigan as a leader in climate action and focuses on actions to spur economic development and create good-paying jobs, reduce energy and transportation costs for working families and businesses, and work toward energy independence. and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. , improve public health and protect natural resources and wildlife. Its overall goal is a prosperous, sustainable, equitable and carbon-neutral Michigan by 2050.
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