About the Host Partner

Incorporated in 1850, the City of Grand Rapids is a municipal corporation. The vision of the City of Grand Rapids is that Grand Rapids will be nationally recognized as an equitable, welcoming, innovative, and collaborative city with a robust economy, a safe and healthy community, and the opportunity for a high quality of life for all. The City of Grand Rapids’ mission is to elevate quality of life through excellent City services. The City’s values are Innovation, Collaboration, Customer Service, Accountability, Equity and Sustainability.  

The City accepted the Grand Rapids Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2025 including two science-based targets to reduce community-wide GHG emissions. (62.8% per capita GHG reduction community-wide by 2030 from 2019 emissions, and 100% per capita GHG reduction by 2050 from 2019 emissions).  

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Complete community center interviews and using an established framework assess each center’s viability to act as a resilience hub, selecting three for the City’s new Resilience Hub Pilot Project.
• Design, plan and host three community engagement events (one in each ward) to receive input from the community on resources and community needs in a resilience hub.  
• Begin Resilience Hub Pilot Project implementation by determining emergency activation, additional programming, resource and budget needs for each hub. 
• Research best practices for resilience hub network models and provide recommendation for potential expansion of the pilot
• Create an online resource hub to guide residents and businesses through available financing resources for renewable energy projects.
• Increase capacity of Office of Sustainability staff to attend community events and increase engagement with residents.
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including three MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual training (training calendar will be provided).

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About the Host Partner

For 24 years, Friends of Rouge Park (FORP) has served as the official steward of Rouge Park, Detroit’s largest city park, working to protect, restore, and activate its 1,122 acres for the benefit of all. As Rouge Park enters a new era with the City’s completion of its first comprehensive Master Plan, FORP is leading efforts to increase public understanding of the park’s climate resilience benefits—including stormwater management, urban heat mitigation, habitat protection, carbon sequestration, and equitable access to nature—while engaging residents, volunteers, and partners to promote long-term stewardship and build community support for implementation of the Master Plan.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Conduct baseline research documenting Rouge Park’s climate resilience benefits, ecosystem services, recreational assets, and public health value. 
• Develop fact sheets, presentations, story maps, and digital communications explaining how Rouge Park contributes to flood mitigation, urban cooling, biodiversity, public health, and neighborhood resilience. 
• Support community engagement activities, including neighborhood meetings, guided park walks, pop-up outreach events, volunteer activities, and presentations.  
• Support the development and launch of a public education and advocacy campaign positioning Rouge Park as critical climate infrastructure deserving sustained public investment. 

• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information.  
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including two MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided).

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About the Host Partner

Justice Climate Fund (JCF) is a purpose-built nonprofit designed to mobilize capital and resources to strengthen underserved communities.  Our network includes more than 400 green banks, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) banks and loan funds, Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), nonprofits, and state and local stakeholders. Our tools include innovative credit enhancement products, direct lending, and technical assistance services. JCF has a geographic focus in the Midwest, Southeast, and Native Communities. In Michigan, we run the Elective Pay Accelerator program as the prime grantee for Michigan Healthy Climate Challenge #2.

The Michigan Climate Investment Hub (MCIH) is a statewide platform designed to help Michigan communities and organizations plan, finance, and deliver projects that support Michigan’s climate goals. We help turn ideas into financed, shovel-ready projects that will ensure climate investment delivers real economic, environmental, and community benefits for Michigan. We work at the intersection of project development, public policy, and capital alignment, supporting local governments, community organizations, and project partners as they navigate complex funding landscapes and move projects from concept to results.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Identify and characterize demand for clean energy projects serving local governments, nonprofits, community serving institutions, etc. 
• Support JCF’s and MCIH’s efforts to educate and communicate with stakeholders about the opportunities around clean energy lending, and to build a more connected ecosystem in Michigan. 
• Support efforts to maximize utilization of federal and state incentives for clean energy projects
• Create a case study for a clean energy project as it progresses through the predevelopment and financing process
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including three MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual training (training calendar will be provided).

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About the Host Partner

The Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition (KCCC) is a Kalamazoo County nonprofit coalition of 40+ organizations working to mobilize collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate renewable energy adoption through a transition grounded in social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. KCCC’s vision is a climate-ready Kalamazoo where every household, especially those historically left behind, can thrive in safe, efficient, and healthy homes powered by clean energy. KCCC operates three core programs: Climate Ready Homes, which provides free home repairs, weatherization, and indoor air quality upgrades for low-income households in Environmental Justice-impacted neighborhoods; the Ardea Youth Climate Coalition, a leadership development program for high school students; and Community Education and Engagement, including the Climate Conversations lunch-and-learn series and civic engagement support. KCCC does its work in partnership with other organizations and local governments across the greater Kalamazoo community network, with a tone that is inspired, determined, and action-oriented.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate community engagement events, such as tabling, workshops, and informational sessions, to grow enrollment in KCCC’s Climate Ready Homes Program.
• Coordinate and suppport 2-3 community sustainability roundtables for special collaborative projects, managing scheduling, communications, meeting logistics, and follow-up materials.
• Develop community-facing promotional and educational materials on green energy adoption, including solar readiness, Elective Pay for tax-exempt entities, to raise awareness of available climate resources.
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including two MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided).

Apply

About the Host Partner

Live6’s is a non-profit community planning and development organization working to increase economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life in northwest Detroit.  Working at the intersection of neighborhood stewardship, resident stabilization through strategic support services, small business attraction and retention, and real estate development, Live6 takes a comprehensive place-based approach.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Support the coordination and installation and of a pilot commercial solar project coordinating activities and roll out with project partners, business owners and other Live6 stakeholders
• Support the planning and development of Live6 as a neighborhood Resilience Hub and plan for activities and improvements a 2 key demonstration sites
• Work with Live6’s Resident Resources and Support team to advise and plan for the inclusion of sustainability features related to existing home repair programs and planning efforts.  
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including three MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual training (training calendar will be provided).

Apply

About the Host Partner

Marygrove Conservancy is a nonprofit organization responsible for the stewardship and operation of the 53-acre Marygrove campus in northwest Detroit. Marygrove serves as a P–20 educational and community hub, bringing together educational institutions, nonprofit partners, community organizations, and residents to create opportunities for learning, community engagement, and neighborhood advancement. As steward of a historic, multi-building campus undergoing continued investment and redevelopment, the Conservancy is committed to responsible campus operations, long-term sustainability, equitable community development, and ensuring Marygrove remains a vibrant community asset for generations to come.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Develop Marygrove’s first Campus Sustainability & Resilience Plan by assessing existing campus practices, establishing baseline conditions, engaging key stakeholders, and identifying short-, medium-, and long-term priorities related to energy, water, waste, transportation, land use, and sustainable campus operations
• Establish baseline energy and resource-use benchmarks for priority campus buildings and work alongside Marygrove’s operations team and technical partners to identify and prioritize practical energy-efficiency and resource-conservation opportunities related to electricity, natural gas, water, lighting, HVAC operations, recycling, and other building systems.
• Assess sustainability opportunities associated with current and future campus capital and infrastructure projects, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, stormwater management, sustainable landscaping, EV charging, waste diversion, and other resilient infrastructure strategies, and develop a prioritized inventory of opportunities for further evaluation or implementation.
• Develop a sustainability funding and resource pipeline by identifying relevant public, philanthropic, utility, and other grant, incentive, technical-assistance, and partnership opportunities and supporting priority applications that can advance Marygrove’s sustainability goals.
• Engage Marygrove’s campus partners and surrounding community in the development and implementation of the sustainability strategy, including gathering stakeholder input and developing or piloting educational activities that connect students, families, and residents with climate, energy-efficiency, environmental stewardship, and other relevant resources
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including two MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided).

Apply

About the Host Partner

Michigan Climate Jobs (MICJ) is a coalition of labor unions across Michigan building a worker-led affordable clean energy future now and into the future. We have a vision and a mission to make Michigan a leader in clean energy generation, create good-paying union careers, build strong and vibrant communities, and ensure our children have safe and healthy spaces to learn and thrive. One of Michigan Climate Jobs priorities is focused on modernizing and decarbonizing Michigan’s public school buildings. This work is supported by the state’s MI Healthy Climate Challenge #2: Unlocked Elective Pay Program. MICJ is partnering with the Michigan Association for Student Opportunity, 5 Lakes Energy, the Michigan Innovation Energy Business Council, and Undaunted K12 on the Modernizing Michigan Public Schools Initiative.  

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Assist in tracking each school’s progress toward completing a comprehensive, bid-ready modernization and decarbonization plan, as well as tracking schools that want to be part of the pipeline. 
• Identify and build relationships with champion districts that have already implemented clean energy solutions in their buildings, leading the development of case studies and storytelling about the projects, and providing opportunities for them to engage with cohort members.  
• Assist with the planning, coordination, and filming of videos showcasing the importance of modernizing our public schools with clean energy solutions while utilizing union labor.  
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information.   
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities, including three MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided). 

Apply

About the Host Partner

Founded in 2002, Michigan Interfaith Power & Light (Michigan IPL) is part of a faith-rooted response to climate change. Our mission is to inspire and equip people of faith and conscience to exercise stewardship of and love for all Creation. We envision a stable climate where humans live in right relationship with one another and the natural world, and where all beings thrive.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Build relationships with faith communities across Michigan, using virtual engagement and periodic travel to connect with congregations and community partners in Metro Detroit, Kalamazoo, greater Lansing, the Upper Peninsula, and beyond.
• Develop practical energy-affordability resources that help faith communities connect people with utility bill assistance, weatherization, energy-efficiency, home repair, and other locally available programs.
• Build energy literacy by developing and facilitating workshops that help people understand how Michigan’s energy system works, its connections to climate change and affordability, and how energy decisions affect our communities.
• Build civic capacity by helping people understand how energy decisions are made and how they can participate in democratic processes, public meetings, and utility regulatory proceedings that shape Michigan’s energy future.
• Gather and share community stories about energy costs, household needs, and local solutions, while helping Michigan IPL develop reusable workshops, tools, and other resources that can support faith communities statewide.
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including two MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided).

Apply

About the Host Partner

Northern Michigan University offers academic and career programs to just over 7,000 students. We are a “right to try” institution and we provide opportunities for scholarship, creativity, and community engagement to all students, graduates, faculty, and staff. We strive to contribute to a diverse and sustainable world. Our mission, vision, and strategic plan are based on eight core values: Community, Opportunity, Rigor, Environment, Inclusion, Connections, Innovation, and Wellbeing. NMU has adopted a carbon neutrality plan with strategic targets to decarbonize the University, and our current strategic plan (Compass Strategy 1.4) commits the University to embedding sustainable values into curriculum, operations, and external partnerships, with measurable targets for reducing emissions, energy use and waste on campus.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Work with the University’s Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Sustainability to identify and implement climate action projects for NMU’s campus focused in four areas: climate education, emissions, energy use, and waste reduction. 

• Work with the AVP for Sustainability to design and launch two new climate action programs for students: (1) “Climate Corps” – a program introducing first-year students to campus sustainability work and climate action pathways, and (2) “Campus as a Climate Lab” program connecting upper-division students from any major to hands-on campus decarbonization and waste-reduction projects.

• Conduct research and help implement NMU’s carbon neutrality plan and Compass Strategy 1.4 action plan to address reductions in emissions, energy, and waste.
  • Emissions: Assist with the annual GHG emissions inventory and reporting; identify opportunities for GHG reduction and improved efficiencies.
  • Energy: Assist with renewable energy project planning, including research toward transitioning the Ripley heating plant from natural gas to a renewable fuel source and exploring other opportunities for renewable energy installations on campus and with partners.

• Waste: Help organize and coordinate climate resilience programming focused on waste reduction and diversion efforts, working toward Compass Strategy 1.4 targets. Identify best practices to increase recycling and post-consumer compost collection and reduce landfill-bound waste. Align campus targets with the state’s goal of tripling Michigan’s recycling rate to 45% and cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030.

• Attend Marquette County’s Climate Adaptation Task Force meetings and the Northern Climate Network’s Climate@Noon seminar series.
• Empower the campus and local community to access federal and state climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and other outreach activities to consistently share information related to reducing emissions, energy use and waste.
• Participate in MHC Fellows member development, shared learning, and collaboration activities, including in-person convenings and monthly virtual trainings.
• Host a community input session with the host site to collect community feedback and advance the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

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About the Host Partner

The mission of the Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sectors (RECESS) nonprofit is to empower disadvantaged and environmental justice communities by promoting equitable access to clean energy resources, fostering education and workforce development, and advocating for inclusive policies and practices. Through collaboration and community-driven initiatives, RECESS aims to create a sustainable and just energy future where everyone can thrive.   

RECESS, the nonprofit organization, was founded by Carla Walker-Miller the CEO and Founder of Walker-Miller Energy Services.  Walker-Miller Energy Services is a 25-year-old Detroit-based, core-values driven company committed to changing lives through energy efficiency. The organizations are mission-aligned affiliates with separate legal and governance structures.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

The fellow will primarily support two strategic initiatives:

1. RECESS Clean Energy Education and Workforce Development Programs

The fellow will support innovative programs connected to the RECESS Conference and year-round initiatives focused on clean energy education, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, and community empowerment, particularly within underserved communities.

2. Commercial Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Initiative

RECESS and Walker-Miller Energy Services are collaborating with community-based organizations, commercial entities, and institutional partners to develop a Commercial Virtual Power Plant proposal for DTE. The initiative will aggregate distributed energy resources across multiple facilities to provide more than 1 MW of flexible grid capacity during key demand events while demonstrating equitable participation in the clean energy economy.

Specific Fellow Responsibilities

• Support cross-functional projects aligned with RECESS’s organizational goals. 
• Collaborate with internal teams, as well as community partners, universities, governments, and other external stakeholders to advance strategic priorities
• Educate and engage communities on clean energy initiatives including those tied to Virtual Power Plants
• Develop case studies showcasing success stories and best practices. 
• Measure the annual and cumulative impacts of RECESS23-25
• Research clean energy technologies, distributed energy resources, and virtual power plant best practices.

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About the Host Partner

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission (SWMPC) mission is to promote and support sound regional planning and development through cooperation, technical assistance, and coordination among local governments and communities in Southwest Michigan. SWMPC serves a three-county regional planning organization that assists the 285,000 people of Southwest Michigan that also serves as a Metropolitan Organization (MPO) to two of Southwestern Michigan’s metropolitan areas.  SWMPC addresses issues every day that cross county, township, city, and village lines.

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Research EV infrastructure, funding opportunities, policies, and best practices and assist communities with EV readiness and implementation activities.
• Support public transit planning and community engagement in Benton Harbor and Berrien County – collect, organize and analyze transportation and community data.
• Support climate resiliency planning and implementation efforts in Benton Harbor by assisting with mapping, presentations, outreach materials, and public engagement activities.
• Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information. 
• Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including two MHC Fellow in-person convenings and MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (training calendar will be provided).

Apply

About the Host Partner

Wayne County Sustainability & Innovation is a relatively new team seated within the County’s Economic Development Department. Guided by Mr. Warren C. Evans’s leadership, our team collaborates to create projects and policies that decrease the County’s carbon footprint and build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of a changing climate.   

This division’s work was championed by local sustainability pioneers and established by Commission Resolution 2022-838. Today, we’re in an exciting startup phase. Sustainability & Innovation focuses on supporting the County’s most vulnerable residents and neighborhoods, improving resource efficiency, and strengthening alignment between existing State, Regional, and Local sustainability goals.  Every day, we strive to embody the County’s core values of Integrity, Transparency, and Diversity as we work toward a more sustainable future for all.   

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the continued growth and implementation of Wayne Forward, Wayne County’s technical assistance program for local governments. Support the planning and coordination of Wayne Forward sessions throughout the service term. This will include identifying and scheduling speakers, coordinating logistics and outreach, developing meeting materials, supporting interactive programming, documenting feedback, and following up with participants after each session.
• Support ongoing engagement with local government staff across Wayne County to better understand community priorities, implementation barriers, and emerging needs and develop practical resources that respond to needs identified by local governments.
• Develop local case studies and success stories that document how Wayne County communities are addressing sustainability, resilience, infrastructure, and planning challenges.
• Support related Sustainability & Innovation initiatives where they directly complement Wayne Forward and provide useful resources or learning opportunities for local governments
• Empower the campus and local community to access federal and state climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and other outreach activities to consistently share information related to reducing emissions, energy use and waste.
• Participate in MHC Fellows member development, shared learning, and collaboration activities, including three in-person convenings and monthly virtual trainings.

Apply