RELEASE: Indy's Thriving Neighbors Series to Bring Sustainability Workshops to Indy Parks This Spring

All Indy neighbors are invited to learn more about topics like plant-based eating, environmental justice, eco-therapy, and climate change
 

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Indy Parks, today announced a series of sustainability- and climate-focused workshops convening this spring for community members to learn more about different aspects of environmental action and wellbeing. The Indy's Thriving Neighbors Series includes seven different topics presented by local experts and hosted at Indy Parks family centers. Each workshop is free to attend and open to all ages.

"We know that Indianapolis community members are thinking about the changing climate and interested in learning ways to be more sustainable and resilient to environmental stressors in their own lives," said Morgan Mickelson, director of the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability. "Our hope is that these workshops can be an opportunity for people to get out into the community, meet their neighbors, and go home equipped with the knowledge, resources, and connections to be a part of the solution and continue advocating for local climate action."

More details and registration information is available at ThriveIndianapolis.com/events. The schedule of workshops is outlined below:

  • Climate Change 101 with Dr. Gabe Filippelli of the IU Environmental Resilience Institute | Tuesday, April 9 | 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Rhodius Park Family Center

  • Eco-Therapy with Hemlock Counseling Services | Saturday, April 13 | 1pm - 2pm | Washington Park Family Center | *includes a guided nature walk through the park's trails

  • Environmental Justice with Kheprw Institute | Friday, April 26 | 11am - 12pm | Garfield Park Family Center | *AES Indiana will also be giving away tree saplings at this Arbor Day celebration event

  • Water + Rain Barrels with the Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District and the White River Alliance | Wednesday, May 1 | 10am - 11am | Brookside Park Family Center | *includes rain barrels for the first 10 registrants

  • How to Compost with Indy Go Green | Thursday, May 9 | 6pm - 7pm | Pride Park Family Center

  • Healthy & Sustainable Eating with Black Leaf Vegan | Thursday, May 16 | 10am - 11am | Frederick Douglass Park Family Center | *includes food samples and a plant-based meal for registrants

  • Home Energy Rebates with the Hoosier Environmental Council | Wednesday, May 22 | 6pm - 7pm | Municipal Gardens Family Center


The goal of the workshops is to build community and solidarity around the topics of climate change and adaptation, especially in Indianapolis neighborhoods that have been historically under-resourced and over-polluted.

The general public is also encouraged to celebrate Earth Month in Indy Parks by helping clean up any litter in their local park. Gloves and trash bags donated by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful are available for pickup at all Indy Parks family centers for the entire month of April. Tag #IndyParksEarthMonth on social media for a chance to be featured!

Indy's Thriving Neighbors Series is made possible by a grant from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, a membership-based nonprofit that works to create equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by advancing the field of local government sustainability and equipping practitioners to be catalysts of transformative change.
 

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Lindsay Trameri