Partners for the Environment
Working together for a more healthy, sustainable region.
Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment is supported by SOCHE.
2023 Fall Awards Celebration
Partners for the Environment’s Fall Awards Celebration registration is open! The celebration will occur on September 20, 2023, from 6 – 8 PM at the Lodge at Camp Greene.
Gather with us to enjoy local wines, craft beer, and delicious food at the scenic Glen Helen Nature Preserve and mingle with your fellow partners. The evening’s program includes the Partner of the Year Awards, and a featured speaker on Climate Change, Dr. Aaron B. Wilson, an Atmospheric Scientist at The Ohio State University (OSU) who holds a joint appointment as a Principal Investigator at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (BPCRC) and Assistant Professor, Ag Weather, with OSU Extension.
We hope to see you for this inspirational celebration that brings together more than 70 organizations from across 18 counties in the Miami Valley and recognizes outstanding leaders who work to protect, preserve, and restore environmental and agricultural resources.
Register by August 18 to take advantage of the early-bird special price of $50.00, which includes your annual membership to the Partners for the Environment!
Partners for the Environment’s Fall Awards Celebration would not be possible without our loyal sponsors:
- Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm
- Boonshoft Museum
- Brukner Nature Center
- The Dayton Foundation
- Hanley Sustainability Institute and the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community
- Metro Parks
- Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
- Tecumseh Land Trust
- Three Valley Conservation Trust
- Thomas Lasley, in memory of Janet Lasley
- Xylem
Contact soche@soche.org with event questions.
PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINATION FORM
The Partners for the Environment’s Partner of the Year Awards celebrate those who work to protect, preserve, and restore the environmental and agricultural resources of the Great Miami River and Little Miami River watersheds. The Awards recognize some of our victories and honors those who provide us with leadership and inspiration.
The Partners for the Environment is an alliance of environmental organizations, government and civic organizations, and public and private educational institutions. These organizations share the common goal of protecting, restoring, preserving, and promoting the environmental and agricultural resources of the Great Miami River and Little Miami River Watersheds – an 18 county region in southwest Ohio.
Action Teams
The Partners for the Environment Action Teams work to improve, support, and protect their respective environments or subject of focus.
Leader Program
The Partners for the Environment Leader Development Program trains people on environmental issues, challenges, and opportunities, while buiding strong networks.
Awards
The Partners for the Environment Awards recognizes counties in the Miami Valley as outstanding leaders in environmental protection in our community.
Action Teams
The Partners for the Environment Action Teams work to improve, support, and protect their respective environments or subject of focus. Whether an expert or not, everyone is welcome to join one or more action teams.
About the Climate Team
The Climate Team will bring together agencies and organizations with diverse approaches to carbon emission reduction and climate change adaptation.
Goal:
Development of a model Climate Emergency Declaration template for the consideration of local governments in the Miami Valley.
Team leaders:
Matt Lindsay, Miami Valley Regional Planning Agency, mlindsay@mvrpc.org
Karen Jeffers-Tracy
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Virtual meetings fall on the third Wednesday of every month, at 3:00 PM. Check back soon for the list of events and meetings!
About the Food Team
Mission:
To support access to sustainably produced local food and promote community education and involvement.
Goals:
- Provide networking and collaboration opportunities for individuals and organizations working at food production, food sales, food preparation, hunger issues, and food policy agendas, or any other food issues related to sustainability of the environment.
- Facilitate discussions and initiate conversations across the range of consumers and producers regarding sustainable farming, gardening, and the sustainable acquisition of food products.
- Initiate growing and distribution strategies that meet the full spectrum of consumer and grower needs.
- Support area food projects currently in place, such as the Montgomery County Food Summit.
- Demonstrate innovative growing and distribution models for all stakeholders including consumers, growers, and institutions.
Equity in Foodshed Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Team leader:
Bob Jurick, B/W Greenway, Bobjurick@bwgreenway.org
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Meetings are quarterly, as planned by co-chairs one month in advance. Check back soon for the list of events and meetings!
About the Land Team
Mission:
To preserve and protect the land resources of the Great and Little Miami River watersheds while supporting responsible development and redevelopment of our area.
Goals:
- Compile the features, uses, restrictions, and amenities of land in the Miami Valley. Make this information accessible to decision-makers. Make them aware of the information.
- Update the development policies in communities throughout the region.
- Encourage redevelopment.
- Educate more people about land issues.
Team leaders:
Michelle Burns, Tecumseh Land Trust, Burns@tecumsehlandtrust.org
Eric Sauer, Five Rivers MetroParks, esauer@metroparks.org
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Meetings are quarterly, as coordinated by team leaders approximately one month in advance. Check back soon for a list of our events and meetings!
About the Water Team
Mission:
Discuss items of mutual concern and share ideas to leverage resources in the Great Miami River Watershed.
Team leaders:
Sarah Hippensteel Hall, Miami Conservancy District, shippensteel@gdpartners.org
Matt Lindsay, Miami Valley Regional Planning Agency, mlindsay@mvrpc.org
Water Team Meetings
View the recording from December 15, 2022 Water Team meeting
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Meetings are quarterly, as coordinated by team leaders. Check back soon for a list of our events and meetings!
About the Wetland Special Interest Group
Mission:
To develop and share tools and methodologies to preserve wetlands in the Great and Little Miami Watersheds.
Team leader:
Bob Jurick, B/W Greenway, Bobjurick@bwgreenway.org
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Check back for the list of our events and meetings!
About the Wetland Special Interest Group
Mission:
To develop and share tools and methodologies to preserve wetlands in the Great and Little Miami Watersheds.
Team leader:
Bob Jurick, B/W Greenway, Bobjurick@bwgreenway.org
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Check back for the list of our events and meetings!
About The Greater Dayton Environmental Leader Development Program
The program is a year-long cohort-based training program to recruit, educate, and engage early-career community members to become leaders who will understand natural resources and regional assets and take action to advocate for and to improve and protect the environment.
The quality of life in our community depends on clean air and water, places to live, work, and play, and a mix of land for urban development and productive farmland. Making wise choices to ensure these things are here for the future is critical to a thriving economy. If our local leaders and influencers understand the importance of the environment to health and safety and economic development, they will take action to protect our natural resources.
The program is for people who want to learn about local, state, and federal environmental issues, challenges and opportunities to develop leadership and collaboration skills, and build strong networks.
You will be partnered with a mentor. The mentors are carefully selected because of their experience, expertise, and area of interest.
Apply for the Leader Program
We are looking for leaders! Do you care about the environment?
Contact Partners for the Environment at admin@gdpartners.org for application and more information.
PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The Partners for the Environment’s Partner of the Year Awards celebrate those who work to protect, preserve, and restore the environmental and agricultural resources of the Great Miami River and Little Miami River watersheds. The Awards recognize some of our victories and honors those who provide us with leadership and inspiration.
The Partner of the Year Award
Wright Memorial Public Library
The Individual of the Year Award
Jennifer Wentzel
The Sustainable Community Award
City of Fairborn
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Douglas “Dusty” Hall & Tom Allen
Become a Partner
Participation in the Partners for the Environment is open to any organization that works to protect, restore, preserve, and promote the environmental and agricultural resources in the Great Miami River and Little Miami River watersheds and is interested in leveraging and maximizing their resources to further those goals.
The Partner organizations include community-based organizations, local and regional governments, educational institutions and private and business interests that work within the great Miami River and Little Miami River watersheds.
Partnership Levels
Partner: $50 annually
Supporting Partner: $500 annually
Supporting Partners receive recognition at events, on websites, and in media materials.
Benefits of Partnership
- Eligibility to apply for grant funds from the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund
- Discounts on trainings
- Eligibility for Annual Awards recognition
- Assistance researching grant funding
- Opportunities for networking and partnering
- Participation in regional advocacy
DONATE
Why Donate?
The Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment is a component fund of The Dayton Foundation. Donate today and help us accomplish our goals! Your donations help us:
- Recruit and train new environmental leaders
- Host the Fall Awards Event
- Honor recipients of the Partner of the Year Awards
- Facilitate Action Teams
- Host training and development workshops
Click the button to make your donation through our online giving page at The Dayton Foundation.
Contact Partners for the Environment
2750-B Indian Ripple Rd., Ste 225
Beavercreek, Ohio 45440
Phone: (937) 258-8890
Fax: (937) 258-8899
