Newsletter

October 2024

WELCOME NEW EFC TEAM MEMBERS!

EFC is pleased to welcome new colleagues who joined our team in August.

Kristin Mielcarek

Program Manager



Kristin has more than 17 years of experience in the fields of environmental restoration, watershed planning, grants coordination and education, with a focus on mitigating the effects of climate change and increasing climate resiliency. She joined EFC after working as Grants Manager for Frederick County, MD's Division of Energy & Environment. Prior to that, Kristin spent 15 years with Canaan Valley Institute, where she served communities throughout the Central Appalachian region. Her work helped underserved communities identify their unique needs and establish the partnerships necessary to provide a framework for implementing practices to restore natural resources and habitats to healthy conditions. She received a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.S. in Biology from Salisbury University.

Danish Kumar

Program Manager, Climate & Sustainability

Danish brings over four years of experience at the intersection of energy, infrastructure, climate change, and policy analysis. He earned his master’s in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming, where his research focused on energy transition technologies such as hydrogen transportation, carbon capture and storage infrastructure, and the safety of small modular reactors along with carbon emission reduction in the construction industry. Danish has experience in carbon emission reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure development, gained through his work with international organizations like the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and government agencies in Pakistan. At ADPC, he contributed to policy frameworks on climate adaptation and water resources and contributed to the toolkit on accessing climate finance. Danish’s technical expertise includes GIS, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and sustainability strategies for the built environment. At EFC, he is eager to contribute to climate and energy initiatives, using his skills to support local governments and diverse communities in building resilience. In his free time, Danish enjoys cooking traditional dishes and spending time with friends.

Ansley Jacobs

Program Assistant, Climate & Sustainability

Ansley (she/her) began her professional journey in Florida, where she conducted research in environmental history and climate resilience, while leading initiatives in native plant landscaping and wildlife habitat restoration. She spent the last year finishing up her first book on the historical ecology of Eckerd College after graduating from Eckerd in 2023 with a B.S. in Marine Science: Biology with honors. Currently, she is honing her research and technical assistance skills as a Climate and Sustainability Program Assistant at EFC, working with local communities across the Mid-Atlantic region. In her free time you can find her gardening, reading, and writing!

Monet Parades

Program Assistant, Climate & Sustainability

Monet (she/her) has worked with communities across the Northeast to combat housing insecurity, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, implement clean transportation and promote overall, sustainable and equitable community development. She joined EFC to help grow the Climate and Sustainability team, providing technical assistance to local communities looking to develop/maintain local mitigation, adaptation and resilience efforts. Prior to EFC, Monet worked as a fellow at Sustainable CT to assist municipal involvement in the certification process. She hopes to use her experience to help support EFC's growing Sustainable Maryland program. Monet graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in Political Science and Environmental Studies where she was heavily involved in the University’s ongoing transition to zero carbon. She is hoping to eventually pursue a Master’s degree to continue her education. In her free time, Monet enjoys exploring Washington D.C., creating art, cheering on her favorite sports teams and watching documentaries.

NEW EFC REPORT AND ONLINE COURSE:

NATURE IN URBAN PLANNING FOR BETTER HUMAN HEALTH

Planners work to improve the general welfare and quality of life of residents. A wealth of research evidence indicates the importance of nature encounters and green space on human health. Studies show that exposure to natural environments reduces stress, improves mental health, increases social cohesion, and promotes physical activity. At the same time, recent studies also indicate that uneven distribution of trees and green spaces across urban areas contribute to health disparities.

Understanding the specific elements of nature experiences and their health benefits is crucial for tailoring urban planning efforts to meet public health goals. EFC, in partnership with the American Planning Association and the University of Washington, developed a guidance document to help translate the health benefits of nearby nature to planning practices. The resulting Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health provides guidance to treat nearby nature as a comprehensive system, including trees, parks, and natural areas, to promote equitable nature access and to support physical, mental, and social wellbeing for all residents.



To accompany the guide and aid in building a community of practice for nature, health and planning, EFC and the project team also developed a short, online course. The course is designed to expand awareness among planners, elected officials, and local government staff of nearby nature as a social determinant of health. It encourages decision makers to treat all nature elements in cities (such as the urban forest, parks and open space) as a comprehensive health promotion system. The course can be accessed on UMD's Open Learning platform HERE.

$125K PEPCO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANTS ANNOUNCED

Earlier this month Pepco and Sustainable Maryland awarded 10 Environmental Stewardship and Community Resiliency grants totaling $125,000 to the following municipalities and nonprofits at an event at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier:

Environmental Stewardship

District of Columbia

Friends of the National Arboretum: Improved visitor experience and education at the Washington Youth Garden on the grounds of the US National Arboretum - $10,000

Prince George’s County

City of New Carrollton: West Field Storm Water Management - $10,000

Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek: Creating a sustainable community meadow in Cheverly - $10,000

World Arts Focus/Joe's Movement Emporium: GreenWorks - $10,000

Town of Colmar Manor: Dueling Creek Invasives Removal Project - $10,000

Montgomery County

Town of Washington Grove: Restoration of a Meadow in the Washington Grove Conservation Park - $10,000

Community Resiliency

Prince George’s County

The Gift Legacy Foundation Ltd: The Innovation Container, an Off-Grid Controlled Environmental Agriculture Education Classroom - $25,000

Town of Berwyn Heights: Initiative for Emergency Medical Equipment Access - $5,000

District of Columbia

DowntownDC Foundation: "Green Charge: Solar-Powered Kiosks with Integrated Planters for Sustainable Park Infrastructure” – $25,000

EFC MOVES TO NEW OFFICES IN THE UMD DISCOVERY DISTRICT

EFC has moved! After more than 30 years on campus, we have moved offices to the Anacostia Building in the UMD Discovery District, 1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, 20740.

You can follow some of our programs on social media: Sustainable Maryland is on Facebook

Jennifer Cotting, Director

jcotting@umd.edu

Mike Hunninghake, Editor

mikeh75@umd.edu

Consider.

 "“When project developers are considering which resources to deploy in the grid, they look 20, 30, 40 years down the line. From that perspective, it’s hard to envision building a coal plant today.”."

-Timothy Fox, a managing director at ClearView Energy Partners, a consulting firm, on the news that wind beat coal for two months in a row for US electricity generation