In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the State of California with over $250 million dollars for energy efficiency programs to drive workforce development and reduce energy costs for homes throughout all 60 counties and utilities. Mindy was part of an early team hired for marketing and communications for the counties of Alameda and Los Angeles. Once onboarded, she and her team realized that each of the 60 counties and utilities were all planning their o

What if you could map out at a neighborhood scale where a community or government agency should invest in nature-based solutions, systematically helping to reknit the ecological system? What if those investments prioritized communities most vulnerable to climate hazards, reducing the risk of flooding and impacts from extreme heat? And what if you had a tool so simple to use that a layperson, a community-based organization, or a non-technical staff member could use it to help

We know how City Council meetings can go. (We’ve seen Parks and Recreation .) Community members gather at the podium for public comment, sharing issues with the City that may or may not be relevant to the issue at hand. And while community members may not know the ins and outs of government, they know their own needs. Meanwhile, elected officials and City staff, as experts in their field and a broader view of City government, have their own priorities they want to move forwar