Join the COOLER Climate Leadership Institute and learn to build local climate change resilience

There are lots of things brewing at COOLER! Starting in September, we will launch the COOLER Climate Leadership Institute (COOLER CLImates), a year-long professional development program with three cohorts: one for UNCO students, one for faculty, and one for representatives from local community organizations. Each cohort will spend a year learning about climate, how it impacts their work or field of study, and how we can build local climate change resilience. There will be stipends for participation, and opportunities for cohorts to work on projects together that strengthen our local resilience.

We invite community members working with local organizations interested in building climate change resilience to join our COOLER CLImates Community Organization Cohort (details are posted on our Community webpage).

UNCO Students can find more information and an application for the Student Cohort here: Student COOLER-CLImates cohort.

UNCO Faculty can find more information and an application for the Faculty Cohort here: Faculty COOLER-CLImates cohort.

Be Sure to Join Our Ask Me Anything Social Media Events!

In our Ask Me Anything (AMA) events each month, Kennedy Dechant, COOLER student Community Manager and student environmental leader at UNC, hosts guests who share their experience working in science and/or climate change resilience. Audience members are invited to ask questions. We welcome and encourage questions that are provided in advance of the event, and these can be posted on our social media.

Our most recent session featured Sean Short from Blooming Health Farms. Sean shared his experiences in empowering youth through sustainable agriculture.

Catch the replay on our Facebook page!

Our Next Event will take place in late August - follow us on social media for more info!

Events are broadcasted live via our Facebook page, then posted on our YouTube Channel .

A bit about our student team…

We are about to bid farewell to our first COOLER Student Team! Over the past couple of months, we’ve been introducing you to the students who have supported us over the past year and sharing their aspirations for making the world a better (cooler) place. This month:

Meet Environmental Studies major, Kennedy Dechant!

Role in COOLER: Community Manager

Kennedy Dechant is a recently graduated Environmental Studies and Sustainability major at the University of Northern Colorado. She wanted to work for COOLER because the mission aligned well with her personal values and her major. Her work with COOLER has mainly focused on connecting with community through social media and in-person events.

Kennedy was initially planning to be a teacher, but when she started to learn more about how climate change is impacting her generation and those who are younger, she knew she had to do something. Her career aspirations include educating communities about climate change impacts and helping people find the tools to adapt to change. She hopes to become a full-time environmental educator for K-12 students.

She said that her role in COOLER has taught her how to have meaningful conversations with community members about climate change. She says, “It’s difficult for me to be optimistic when it comes to the climate crisis, but I think human connection and community will be a critical part of helping each other through the impacts of climate change and I’m glad I know how to create these spaces for myself and others.”

“If you want to do something about climate change, I think the best thing you can do is show up and make a meaningful effort towards the cause every day.”

Meet the COOLER Team:

COOLER Faculty at UNCO: Cindy Shellito (Climate Science), Sharon Bywater-Reyes (Environmental Science), Chelsie Romulo (Sustainability)

COOLER Community Activator: Arika Virapongse (Middle Path EcoSolutions)

COOLER Evaluation Consultant: Rupu Gupta (Rupu Gupta Consulting)

COOLER Student Team: Kennedy Dechant (Community Manager), Sydnee Klug (Events Coordinator and Graphic Designer), Anna Dispirito and Kyle Thoutt (incoming Community Managers)