In September 2024, Washington University in St. Louis launched the WashU Climate Corps, part of the Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC), the first nationwide AmeriCorps program solely dedicated to campus-based, community-led climate action.
The first year of the WashU Climate Corps will run from mid-September 2024 through the end of July 2025 and have three focus areas: 1) energy conservation and carbon reduction, 2) urban trees and ecology, and 3) circularity and solid waste pollution prevention. Each focus area is led by one full-time AmeriCorps member and supported by part-time AmeriCorps members, whose time is split equally between relevant projects on campus and in the St. Louis community in partnership with local non-profits.
Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Focus Area
Furthering Campus Commitments
The Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Focus Area is led by Elliot Williams, with support from WashU student Sarah You. Elliot and Sarah spend their on-campus time advancing the WashU Green Labs Program. This program provides resources and incentives to encourage and support lab staff in adopting a range of more sustainable practices, including opportunities for energy efficiency.
Expanding Community Partnerships
Through a partnership with local non-profit EnergyCare, Elliot and Sarah are working to provide home weatherization and energy assistance to low-income households in St. Louis.
Urban Trees and Ecology Focus Area
Furthering Campus Commitments
The Urban Trees and Ecology Focus Area is led by Michael Barash, with support from WashU student Andrew Rothschild Averbach. This team supports activities of the Arboretum of Washington University, including public outreach and education, leading tours, citizen science to document campus biodiversity, tree plantings, the Love Letters to Trees campaign, website updates, and more. The Arboretum of Washington University is a Level 2 accredited arboretum working towards Level 3 accreditation with support from WashU Climate Corps members.
Expanding Community Partnerships
In partnership with Forest ReLeaf, Michael and Andrew are working to expand urban tree canopy, expand tree species diversity, and support a diverse learning environment that is focused on growing awareness around the importance trees play for healthy people and healthy places, particularly in North St. Louis City. As part of its commitment to planting and enriching communities, Forest ReLeaf is committed to focusing on tree equity, i.e., intentionally growing tree canopy in areas adversely impacted by the effects of redlining, disinvestment and environmental racism.
Circularity and Solid Waste Pollution Prevention Focus Area
Furthering Campus Commitments
The Circularity and Solid Waste Pollution Prevention Focus Area is led by Geena Richards, with support from WashU Student Cosmo Jarboe.Geena and Cosmo are developing the Circularity Center programs and channeling new resources (a physical warehouse space and store) to achieve greater social and environmental impact for the WashU and St. Louis communities. The team will also develop standard operating procedures for program operations, evaluation and assessment tools, annual reports for leadership, and marketing materials. Geena and Cosmo successfully collaborate with staff from the Office of Sustainability, Campus Mail, the Office of Government and Community Relations, Residential Life, and other program stakeholders.
Expanding Community Partnerships
In addition to building relationships with a wide variety of non-profit organizations in the region that will become a part of WashU’s materials reuse ecosystem, the Circularity team is working with local community organizations to assess waste infrastructure in the City of St. Louis and convene and coordinate stakeholders to support community-driven solutions.
For more information about the WashU Climate Corps program described above, please contact sustainability@wustl.edu.
For more information about the overall Campus Climate Action Corps AmeriCorps program, please email Glennys Navarrete at gnavarrete@compact.org.