The Community Climate Action Plan follows 18 months of planning, public engagement, and guidance from the Community Climate Advisory Committee. Give the plan a read. There’s something in climate action for everyone. Working together, we can build a resilient, accessible, and carbon-free community that builds on our strengths and grows our prosperity.

Please view the plan, seeing our important:

• Challenges & Conditions (page 9)
• Carbon-Free Goal and its 12 actions (page 24)
• Resilient & Accessible Goal and its 12 actions (page 46)

Special thanks to our Climate Advisory Committee members: Ana McClain, Carter Oswood, Dennis Rigby, Jason Snell, Jean Wiedenheft, John Zakrasek, Kelzye Bedwell, Kristine Sorensen, Laura Barr, Mark Weldon, Megan Crawford, Mugisha Bwenge, and Rachel Maker.

How can we help your neighborhood get as many homes in the Sustainable Neighborhood program as possible?

• This week, we’re headed to Cedar River Academy (Taylor Elementary) with tablets and the Sustainable Neighborhood participation form to get parents signed up as they wait for their kids after school!
• Contact Eric Holthaus, Sustainability Program Manager, at e.holthaus@cedar-rapids.org.  

Sustainable Neighborhoods Dashboard

Here’s a look at the actions Cedar Rapids residents are taking so far:

• Healthy Food: Growing vegetables and fruit at home or in community gardens
• Green Yards: Eliminating pesticides from your yard
• Small Footprint: Conserving energy and water
• Sustainable Materials: Recycling and composting and reusing water bottles
• Clean transportation: Picking up litter when you go for a walk
• Informed citizen: Reading the Community Climate Action Plan

Top action residents are committing to:

• Get an energy audit from Green Iowa AmeriCorps and receive free energy efficiency tools for your home. Due to COVID, Green Iowa AmeriCorps is delivering Energy Saver Kits. Click here to request an Energy Saver Kit for your home.

On that note: Electric and gas prices may be higher than usual this winter. Through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), you can get free financial support for your utility bills. Learn about the program, and apply here as early as November 1!  

Here are some of the Sustainable Neighborhood participants’ favorite sustainability books, articles, and videos. Check them out!

• The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
• Nature’s Best Hope, by Doug Tallamy
• The Circular Economy

MANY THANKS to the neighbors who helped create this program, including: Tom Banta, Liz Callahan, Adam Miller, Obi Odenigbo, Juan Ignacio Llanos, Tamara Marcus, Steve Nylin, Kit Kirby, Monica Vallejo, Michael Garner, Jonathan Heifner, and Lynette Richards.

Join our team!

The City of Cedar Rapids is partnering with Volunteer Iowa to place an AmeriCorps VISTA member into service for the City. The VISTA program is a full-year commitment, where members help build capacity at nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

Our Community Outreach and Engagement VISTA member will assist in the development of additional volunteer engagement capacity, including oversight of a pilot Snow Buddy Program. The member will also implement strategies to support municipal age-friendly, climate-action, and neighborhood-planning efforts alongside other outreach and engagement projects and processes.

VISTA members receive several benefits from AmeriCorps, including a living allowance, choice of end-of-service, education award or cash stipend, leave time, health benefits, and more. If you are interested in learning more about the position or to apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=106898