Neighborhood Climate Action Network
Networks help local organizations share strategies, best practices, challenges, and goals and identify opportunities for collaboration on climate action.
The power of collective impact
In 2017, many leading Ashland organizations participated in the development of Ashland’s Climate & Energy Action Plan. Many of these organizations — and others — have taken significant steps since then to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate changes already underway.
In 2022, the Ashland Climate Collaborative started developing networks for local organizations, businesses, and neighborhoods to come together to accelerate climate action and integrate it into standard practice. Networks can be formed for a particular business sector (for example, grocers, realtors, or banking), or can cross business sectors to focus on particular challenges like reducing food waste, electrification, or making biking and walking safer.
Our executive director Erin with neighborhood climate club leaders Jim, Sonya, Pam, and Melody.
Climate network goals
- Position our community for success in a changing climate
- Increase visibility of and accelerate tangible climate action in Ashland to reach our community goals
- Provide a venue for Ashland organizations and businesses to collaborate on climate action
- Build climate leadership across our community
Our vision
Everyone uses their unique talents to prepare for climate impacts and reduce their community’s greenhouse gas contribution. Everyone feels supported by their group and connected to their neighbors and friends in new and significant ways. Each participant feels capable and confident, knowing they have the necessary tools to make a difference.
Jim Hartman
Chair and Founder of the Neighborhood Climate Action Network
Jim has lived in Ashland since 1990. He recently retired from Ashland High School, where he taught environmental science for 27 years. Jim is passionate about protecting our community from the extremes of climate change. Throughout his teaching career, he taught his students global warming units. He was also on the Ad hoc Committee to develop Ashland’s Climate & Energy Action Plan (Adopted 2017). With the help of Ashland Climate Collaborative, Jim launched the Neighborhood Climate Action Network in the fall of 2022. For fun he enjoys tennis, playing music, and adventuring with his wife Maggie.
Pam Greenblatt
Allison Street Climate Club Co-Leader
Pam has lived in Ashland since 1988. She recently retired from Asante Health System, where she practiced as an Occupational Therapist for 37 years. Pam joined the Allison Street Climate Club in 2020 and enjoys the planning and implementation of discussion topics for a program she helped create, entitled Climate Conversations. The monthly meetings have evolved from presentations led by the planning team to a program that meets in various homes in the neighborhood, utilizing other club members as speakers, inviting guest speakers from outside the group, and adding a book/podcast group and a movie night. Pam enjoys hikes on local trails, reading, yoga, and anything and everything she can do with her family.
Eric Strong
Upper Clay Street Climate Club Co-Leader
An Ashland resident since 2003, Eric has been an active member in the community through several businesses. Most recently, he is the business manager of Full Circle Real Estate, where he interacts with people throughout the valley. He also served on the Ashland School Board for several years, where he experienced firsthand the importance of community engagement. Drawn to the Neighborhood Climate Action Network by his neighbor, Jim Hartman, Eric has seen the impact and beauty of bringing together neighbors to tackle climate change. He can often be found exploring the valley on his gravel bike.
If you want to go fast, go alone, If you want to go far, go together.
– AFRICAN PROVERB
Contact us
If you would like to learn more about becoming a neighborhood leader, joining a climate club, or have other questions, please email Jim Hartman, leader of the Neighborhood Climate Action Network.
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