Nestled in the breathtaking wilderness of Alaska, Tongass National Forest is a crown jewel of America’s public lands. As the largest national forest in the United States, it spans 17 million acres of pristine ecosystems, from ancient Sitka spruce and western hemlocks Read More
Strategic communication is essential in creating inclusive, transparent, and community-centered educational policies. San Diego County Office of Education’s (SDCOE) Equity Blueprint for Action is a powerful example of how thoughtful, culturally responsive communication can support equity in education. The Equity Blueprint initiative Read More
From Compliance to Commitment: How Communication Reframed Pesticide Safety in Sumter County, Georgia
In 2017, Sumter County, Georgia, launched a targeted initiative to address a critical but often overlooked component of agricultural sustainability: pesticide safety. The Ag Pesticide Stewardship Week, a collaboration between the Sumter County Extension Office and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, focused Read More
Effective environmental reform requires more than engineering—it demands meaningful communication, community trust, and cross-sector collaboration. The Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) led by the City of Camden, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Camden County, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, and over 60 other Read More
In northwest Kansas, where agriculture and water scarcity go hand in hand, a quiet revolution in irrigation management has been unfolding. Faced with alarming declines in the Ogallala Aquifer—one of the most vital groundwater sources in the U.S.—Sheridan County launched an ambitious Read More
Louisville, Kentucky, historic zoning decisions and industrial activity have contributed to stark disparities in air quality, land use, and public health. To confront this, the Louisville Metro Government created a localized Environmental Justice (EJ) Screening and Mapping Tool, designed to visualize environmental Read More
Unclaimed property represents a substantial yet often overlooked public resource. Across the United States, local governments regularly hold funds that belong to residents, businesses, or institutions—often unclaimed due to outdated contact information, uncashed checks, or administrative errors. Delaware County, Pennsylvania, took decisive Read More
In 2022, Harris County, Texas, launched a groundbreaking Essential Workers Board (HCEWB) in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s revelation of gaps in worker representation. Essential workers – from healthcare staff to grocery clerks – had borne the brunt of the crisis Read More
Illegal dumping isn’t merely a sanitation issue—it is a complex problem rooted in public health disparities, environmental injustice, and socio-economic marginalization. In cities across the United States, the accumulation of discarded furniture, tires, appliances, and construction debris in alleyways and vacant lots Read More
In Portland, Oregon, historic industrial zoning, aging infrastructure, and regulatory gaps created a landscape where low-income and minority communities bore disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards. The turning point came in 2016 when revelations about unreported air toxics near schools ignited public outrage Read More