December 2025
Photo Credit: Office of the State Superintendent of Education/Ida B. Wells Middle School
Browse through sustainability plans from cities around the country and you might notice DC’s includes topics that most don’t. For example, Sustainable DC includes an Education section with goals, targets, and actions related to incorporating environmental education in schools and engaging community members on sustainability practices. For a true deep dive on environmental education in the District, check out the 2023 DC Environmental Literacy Plan (soon to be updated), and the 2024 Healthy Schools Act Report for an overview of how progress on the plan is going.
One key way students gain knowledge about their environment is through garden-based learning. During the 2024-25 school year, the District had 133 public and public charter schools with gardens, more than 16,000 students engaged in garden-based learning, and more than 1,000 teachers engaged in garden-based teaching. DC recently celebrated School Garden Week, with schools getting to showcase their gardens and District Government staff visiting and photographing all school gardens in one day. Want to learn more about the school gardens in your neighborhood? Check out the Thriving School Garden Success Storymap!
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Applications for Urban Forestry Fellowship Open
Casey Trees partners with the Garden Club of America (GCA) to administer the GCA Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry. The fellowship funds one or more students annually at $7,500 for study and research that will advance the knowledge of urban forestry and increase the number of scientists in the field. The fellowship is open to graduate or advanced undergraduate students that are studying urban forestry, environmental studies, horticulture, forestry, or related courses of study with a special interest in the urban forest. Learn more and apply by January 15 at https://caseytrees.org/urban-forestry-fellowship/.
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Applications for District Sustainability Awards Now Open
The application period for the 2026 District Sustainability Awards is now open! Know a business, individual, or organization that is working toward a more sustainable DC? Encourage them to apply! All it takes is filling out a short form explaining how they are addressing the environmental, economic, and social needs of the District. Applications must be submitted through https://doee.dc.gov/service/sustainabilityawards by January 23. Winners will be recognized at the Destination DC Sustainability Summit in March, receive an award of locally-reclaimed wood, be featured in newsletters and case studies, and more!
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Stream Restoration Dashboard Published
The Department of Energy and Environment recently published the Stream Restoration Dashboard, where you can learn all about both completed and upcoming stream restoration projects. Click on the map to see details about each project, such as which watershed it’s in, project status, project length, and more. Each project also has its own dedicated webpage with more information. This dashboard can be used to track progress toward the Sustainable DC action of restoring 10 miles of streams in the District.
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College and University Sustainability Pledge Case Study Published
When originally signed in 2012, the College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP) was a first-of-its-kind compact between the District’s entire higher education sector and District Government to advance sustainability. The pledge was resigned in 2019 and sustainability staff at local universities regularly meet to learn from each other and collaborate on initiatives. The CUSP group recently published a case study showcasing key sustainability projects on their campuses since the pledge was initiated. Check it out at https://doee.dc.gov/service/college-university-sustainability-pledge.
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Gilda Allen Best School Garden Awardees Announced
The Gilda Allen Best School Garden Award recognizes students who exhibit passion, dedication, and forward thinking about their school gardens. Students were able to nominate their school garden as the best in the District through a short essay, making a video, creating art, or other expressions. Congrats to this year’s awardees!
- Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho
- Noyes Elementary School
- Friendship PCS - Blow Pierce Middle
- Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS – Brookland
Learn more about the winners here.
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Public Engagement on Strategic Bike Plan
In November and December, the District Department of Transportation has been holding public workshops to hear resident input on the future of DC's bikeways and trails network. For those that weren’t able to attend a workshop in person, they can get the virtual workshop experience by reviewing materials at https://bikelanes.ddot.dc.gov/pages/7a221839676c4f3fbcec7c5db38dcaaa and taking a short survey and/or providing location-specific feedback on the same website. Make your voice heard!
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The Coalition – Senior Director, DC Community Anchor Partnership
The Coalition is a dynamic 501(c)3 nonprofit that advances equitable community economic development solutions in the District of Columbia. The DC Community Anchor Partnership (DCAP) is a citywide initiative connecting major employers with District-based businesses to strengthen the region’s economic fabric. Led by The Coalition and co-convened by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, DCAP works with hospitals, universities, and other “anchor institutions” to expand contracting opportunities for local small businesses. The Senior Director of DCAP leads the daily operations, institutional partnerships, and supplier development initiatives that make DCAP a nationally recognized inclusive growth model. For more information and to apply, visit https://thecoalitiondc.org/join-our-team/. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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Potomac River Gets a ‘B’ for Water Quality for 5th Year in a Row: The Potomac Conservancy released its latest report card for the health of the Potomac River, showing vast improvement from the D rating in 2011, with more work to be done to become a swimmable and fishable river.
D.C. Environmental Advocates Push Black Youth to Live Green: The Washington Informer recaps a panel discussion held at Howard University that served as a call to action on how to persevere in environmental activism in the face of adversity and how community building can enable environmental progress.
MLK Library Clothing Swap
Head to MLK Jr. Memorial Library on Sunday, December 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m. for a transformative clothing swap, where you can breathe new life into pre-loved pieces and discover unique treasures. Whether you're decluttering or seeking one-of-a-kind finds, this event empowers fashion enthusiasts to refresh their style while promoting sustainability. Visit the event page for more information and to register.
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Sustainability Summit
Save the date for Destination DC’s Sustainability Summit! On Wednesday, March 25, 8:00-11:30 a.m., Destination DC will convene the local tourism and hospitality sector to elevate the importance of District leadership on sustainability. Winners of the District Sustainability Awards will also be honored at the event. Keep tabs on https://washington.org/event/save-date-sustainability-summit for more information.
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DC Climate Week
DC Climate Week will be back for its second year in 2026, from April 20 to 26. DC Climate Week is a community-organized week of events, exhibitions, tours, screenings, and gatherings across DC to explore the challenges of the climate crisis and discover the solutions that give us hope. Sign up to get updates at https://www.dcclimateweek.com/.
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