Michigan Saves is proud to be a host site for the inaugural cohort of the MI Healthy Climate Corps. The MHC Corps was developed and launched by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Office of Climate and Energy in partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission to help our state advance and reach the MI Healthy Climate Plan goals.
MHC Corps members were selected in early 2024 and placed at host sites across Michigan to serve an eight-month term. Host sites are state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations whose mission and work align with the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan. This includes projects in clean energy access and education, environmental justice, sustainability, and environmental restoration.
Michigan Saves is thrilled to have MHC Corps member Julia Cunnien join us as a program coordinator to advance our efforts towards a more equitable transition to a carbon-free Michigan — a vision that directly aligns with and supports the MI Healthy Climate Plan. Julia is assisting in developing a strategy to respectfully and thoughtfully build long-term relationships with community-based organizations in historically underserved communities; she will be meeting with organizations alongside Michigan Saves staff and on her own, researching best-practices, and developing resources to share with these organizations.
“Having someone dedicated to helping us more authentically and deeply connect with communities aligns with Michigan Saves’ mission and values,” says senior project manager Nishaat Killeen, Julia’s site supervisor. “By building these relationships with community-based organizations and those who we are serving already, our goal is to deliver energy efficiency and clean energy benefits to more people.”
The additional capacity and perspectives that Julia brings to our community outreach efforts will help us build awareness and understanding of healthy climate resources in underserved communities and overcome potential barriers such as a lack of knowledge, awareness, trust, and interest around clean energy improvements that can contribute to inequities in Michigan’s clean energy transition.
By hosting a MHC Corps member, we’re also helping to develop Michigan’s clean economy workforce. MHC Corps members gain professional experience at their host sites and participate in trainings and other professional development opportunities as a cohort.
“There’s a lot of work to do and we need smart, dedicated people with fresh ideas to do that work,” says Nishaat, who is excited for the opportunity to serve as a mentor for Julia. “I’m glad to have someone with new perspectives, and I’m looking forward to guiding Julia through the energy and climate space in Michigan, showing her all the possibilities and work that needs to be done, and exploring what kind of impact is possible as an individual, even early in your career.”
Through the MHC Corps, and with Julia’s support, Michigan Saves is excited to be expanding our capacity, resources, and collaborations to create more healthy and thriving communities across Michigan.
