 The City is seeking community input on upcoming climate efforts to make sure action is taken in an equitable and effective way.
You can help by taking a roughly seven-minute survey that asks what barriers and benefits the community has faced in taking on climate action.
Survey responses are confidential and give the City information to help residents and businesses save money, improve health and reduce negative environmental impacts. Take the Greener Living Survey online.
Applications are now being accepted for the AmeriCorps team in the 2021-2022 service term.
More information can be found on their web page. And applications are being accepted on this web page.
Minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
With a dry summer in the forecast, a rain barrel can be an earth-friendly, cost-saving tool to help keep plants watered.
Green Iowa AmeriCorps has 50 barrels and conversion kits to connect to your downspout available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To sign up for the July 10th pick up, visit the Google Form. This PDF has more information; any questions can be directed to Green Iowa AmeriCorps at greeniowaIC@gmail.com.
 The City of Iowa City has recently released new curbside composting guidelines. Effective on July 1, the guidelines apply to residents using City waste services.
Test your knowledge of the new guidelines through this fun, quick quiz.
Yard waste, food scraps and other accepted materials should be placed in the yellow-top organics cart.
These guidelines are to ensure clean, non-contaminated material is turned into clean, high-quality compost. Complete guidelines are available on this PDF.
 Ezra Schley
Climate Ambassador, Iowa City
 What are some of the ways you take climate action?
I try to bike to work as often as possible, and I am going to make a new commitment to the bus to take it when it is just a bit too cold for biking.
I follow a vegetarian diet as best I can but I definitely do have my lapses. The summer months have allowed me to shop at the farmers market and participate in a CSA where I am able to support local, lower impact agricultural practices.
I think my favorite climate action household activity is using cloth napkins. Many of my current napkins are from my childhood, so the cotton is living a long life. Additionally, I am always on the lookout for new climate-related podcasts, books and articles to consume and share with my friends and family.
What can others do to take climate action?
If you have the opportunity to bike to work, just try it once! It beats sitting in traffic and getting grumpy (that's the case for me). If biking isn't your thing, you can just switch up your diet a few times a week. Tofu is my go-to protein these days, tossing it in corn starch and then baking it in the oven gives it a great texture and makes a great addition to so many meals.
Why does climate action matter to you?
Climate action is important to me because it provides an opportunity to feel connected to a community, whether it be a natural landscape or my neighborhood. When I participate in climate actions, big or small, I feel part of something greater. I've had long conversations with my neighbors about things as mundane (or exciting) as rain barrels and compost bins. The specific climate action is really just an avenue for me to spark relationships with people and places; the resulting relationships are just as tangible as recycling a can or taking the bus.
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Ezra Schley is one of several Iowa City residents who recently completed the Climate Ambassador training program.
Congratulations to all the Climate Ambassadors who have participated in the training program so far in 2020: Stefania Acosta Ramirez, Ashley Beelendorf, Amiela Canin, Robin Christianson, Alex Ross Felker, Lizzy Fitzsimmons, John Fraser, Clarity Guerra, Taylor Jones, Kylea Malloy, Kristen Morrow, Olivia Pond, Kelly Smits, Gabriel Sturdevant, Julie Tallman, Jodie Theobald and Kate Walters.
To learn more about the program, visit icgov.org/ClimateAmbassadors. The next training is scheduled to begin in September.
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