These days, it’s not hard to find evidence of Minnesota’s shifting climate. Shorter winters, smokier skies, heavy rains and flooding — these are all impacts of climate change in the Midwest region.
Many Minnesotans are motivated to address this challenge, but feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. It’s hard to know where to start.
That’s where Community Climate Leaders comes in. This new eight-week program from the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) teaches participants how to build climate resilience in their own communities — from small-scale personal action to community-scale organizing and events.
“Even though we’re all there with a common mission, everyone is coming with a super different viewpoint,” says Lucy Kruesel, a spring 2025 participant from Rochester who works in her local school district. “It reminds me that even when we think there’s not enough climate action going on, there are these beautiful little catalysts happening everywhere.”
The MCAP course includes online and in-person instruction on climate change and adaptation, as well as a capstone project.
Online instructional materials teach participants about the science of climate change and how individual actions can make a difference. During in-person sessions, participants build connections with one another, map community-specific strategies, and learn skills like leadership and effective storytelling to support their work.
Kruesel is hoping to channel her expertise from the Community Climate Leaders course into an after-school bike program for students, a science and technology bookstore she is opening, and public advocacy around climate issues.
“The good news is you don’t have to be a climate expert to make a difference at the local level,” says Christy Marsden, Extension educator and the program’s developer. “We’ve seen incredible interest in this program so far and are excited to see future Community Climate Leaders make an impact across the state.”
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