Net Impact University of Cincinnati

Thank you to everyone who joined us for ABC’s of Sustainability Disclosure, an engaging introductory workshop on key sustainability disclosure frameworks, best practices, and common terminology. The discussion covered important topics, including the ESG materiality process, setting realistic and measurable goals, greenwashing, and environmental KPIs. Through a presentation and interactive activities, attendees gained insight into how organizations communicate their sustainability efforts?and the role transparency plays in driving meaningful impact. They also had the opportunity to engage with real-world examples. A huge thank you to Andrea LeGrand for leading this session and sharing her expertise. Your insights provided a strong foundation for understanding how organizations can navigate sustainability reporting effectively. Understanding sustainability disclosure is essential as companies work toward greater accountability and measurable progress. #SustainabilityDisclosure #NetImpactUC #CorporateSustainability?#UniversityofCincinnati

Last semester, we had the honor of hearing from Gerardo Ramos-Vivas, owner and master roaster of Viva Coffee Roasters, for a conversation about sustainable sourcing. We are incredibly grateful to continue learning from him, this time with a private tour of Viva Coffee Roasters. Earlier this week, a small group of Net Impact members had the gracious opportunity to visit Viva Coffee Roasters near Hyde Park, just 10 minutes from campus. Gerardo shared insights into how the café is run and how he got started in the business. We learned his history, the journey of coffee, and were inspired by his mission. There is so much to learn between the growing of a coffee bean and the roasting of your cup. We had such a nice time and even got to sample a couple of his favorite roasts. Everyone should stop by Viva at least once to experience the love and pride that goes into Gerardo’s work. A special thank you to Gerardo for making this tour a great success!?Your deep knowledge of coffee roasting, commitment to sustainability, and insights into running a purpose-driven business made this experience truly memorable. We look forward to continuing these conversations and learning from leaders who are shaping the future of sustainable business! #Sustainability #CoffeeRoasting #VivaCoffeeRoasters #Entrepreneurship #NetImpactUC?

How can sustainability fuel economic growth? Our panel discussion in collaboration with the UC Economics Society and Kautz-Uible Economics Institute, tackled this important question with insights from Cincinnati leaders and experts. We?explored how sustainability can create jobs, drive innovation, and build a more resilient Cincinnati. Our panelists discussed how sustainability initiatives are generating economic opportunities. They also emphasized the importance of balancing growth with environmental responsibility and examined how Cincinnati is addressing sustainability challenges while fostering economic resilience and equity. We also?discussed the Green Cincinnati Plan and its long-term impact on the city. A special thank you to our panelists for participating: Meeka Owens M.Ed., Councilwoman for the City of Cincinnati and Thanapat Vichitchot, Executive Fellow at FUSE. Thank you as well to the UC Economics Society and everyone who joined us for making this event a success. Conversations like these are essential in fostering a future where economic growth and sustainability go hand in hand. #Sustainability #EconomicGrowth #GreenCincinnati #NetImpactUC #UCEconomicsSociety #KautzUibleEconomicsInstitute

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Abel Gustafson on Climate Change Communication. He shared research-based strategies for making climate messaging more effective and avoiding common pitfalls that prevent people from taking action. Dr. Gustafson highlighted several?psychological and societal barriers to?climate messaging. Overused imagery, like polar bears, can make climate change seem like a distant non-human problem. Politicization creates a false sense of division, as public support for action is stronger than media narratives suggest. Apocalyptic messaging, while urgent, can lead to hopelessness rather than action. Instead, communication should balance urgency with optimism and solutions. For messaging to drive action, it needs four key elements: threat severity, threat salience, self efficacy, and response efficacy. Without all four, messages risk being ineffective or even discouraging. A huge thank you to Dr. Abel Gustafson, PhD for sharing his expertise and to everyone who participated in this important conversation. By focusing on clear, research-backed climate communication, we can inspire real change.?#climatecommunication #sustainability #climateaction #netimpact

The UC Green Jobs Initiative achieved remarkable success at this year’s UC Technical and Professional Career Fair, featuring 36 sustainability-focused job descriptions, representing 13.4% of the companies present. Now in its fifth fair, this initiative aims to highlight employers who provide roles that enable environmental sustainability. As defined by LinkedIn's Economic Graph Report and consultation with sustainability professionals, this approach emphasizes job responsibilities that foster green skill development, rather than merely classifying roles as "green" based on their nature. Participating employers received special signage, allowing students to easily identify companies that are part of the initiative. We extend our gratitude to all employers, our dedicated executive team members, especially Andrea LeGrand, whose hard work led this initiative’s to success, and the UC Technical and Professional Career Fair for their collaboration in making this initiative possible. Looking ahead, we are excited to expand the Green Jobs Initiative, creating more opportunities for students to connect with employers dedicated to sustainability. Together, we are fostering a brighter, more sustainable future for the UC community and beyond. If you are an employer looking to tap into a passionate and ambitious student talent pool or if you are a student looking for a green job, more information can be found on our website. #netimpact #greenjobsinitiative #greenskills

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Green Jobs Initiative Speaker Panel as part of Sustainability @ UC Week! As part of our Green Jobs Initiative, this panel served as an opportunity for students to prepare for the upcoming UC Professional and Technical career fair, learn what it means to have a green job, and discover the abundance of sustainable opportunities in the workforce. ? ? A special thanks to our panelists for participating:? Molly Robertshaw Sustainability Manager at City of Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability Andrew Bechtol Facilities Supervisor at Kinetic Vision Christopher Flores, CFP?, CAP? Lead Planner at Three Corners Capital A big thank you to Andrea LeGrand for planning, directing, and moderating this impactful speaker event! Following the panel, attendees connected with panelists during a networking mixer, fostering meaningful conversations about sustainability and career growth. We're so lucky to play a part in equipping students with green skills. It was inspiring to see so many students eager to make an impact in green industries!? ? #sustainability #greenjobs? #netimpact #cityofcincinnati #kineticvision #threecornerscapital

Appreciating everyone who joined us for another great sustainability event! The Sustainability @ UC: Campus Opportunities Fair was a one-stop shop for all things sustainability on campus and served as the kickoff for Sustainability @ UC Week. Hosted by the #KautzAttic, we were able to bring together faculty, researchers, UC sustainability entities, and student organizations, creating a valuable platform for networking and collaboration within UC's sustainability ecosystem. Here, students were enabled to make meaningful connections, as well as discover ways to contribute through volunteer roles, paid research, and student organizations. ? ? A special thank you to our exhibitors, who played a vital role in the success of this event. Their participation not only provided valuable exposure for their initiatives but also allowed them to connect with students and peers, recruit volunteers, workers, and members for their projects and organizations, and showcase the impactful work they are doing within the sustainability space at UC. We would like to express our gratitude to the following:? ? Faculty exhibitors: LAURA Zanotti from the @School of Environment and Sustainability, Lotsmart Fonjong from Environmental Studies, Amy Townsend-Small from the School of Environment and Sustainability, Ahmed Elgafy, PhD from Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and Andrew Bernier, PhD from UC School of Education for Sustainability? ? Organizations: School of Environment and Sustainability, Clean Up Cincy, Sustainable Fashion Initiative, Society of Environmental Engineering, UC Horticulture Club, UC ASHRAE, UC Students for Burnet Woods, and UC Thrift. Your support and involvement have greatly contributed to fostering a more sustainable future at UC. ? ? A big thank you to Sarah Austgen for planning and directing this amazing event for the 2nd time! Together, we are building a stronger, more engaged sustainability community on campus and look forward to future endeavors to connect students with faculty and organizations. #sustainability #universityofcincinnati?#netimpact

We’re excited to share that Net Impact University of Cincinnati is a finalist for the 2024 Net Impact Chapter of the Year award! ??

On the second day of the Net Impact Chapter Leader summit, one of our very own VP's, Andrea LeGrand, had the opportunity to represent our Chapter by presenting a project debrief covering the #GreenJobsInitiative. We were honored to be invited to join leaders from various chapter types and countries attended the virtual event. Our initiative was discussed through a presentation and questions from the leaders in attendance. ?? The Green Jobs Initiative is where we highlight employers that offer sustainability based, or “green,” skill development within the description of a job being offered at UC’s professional and technical career Fair. Going into its 5th?fair come Spring 2025, the initiative has reached 15% representation at the fair and expanded outreach through our Green Speaker Panel Events. Thank you to Net Impact Global for this recognition and opportunity to share the initiative.

As a student-led organization, we are constantly striving to expand our impact across UC’s campus and beyond. Our growth is fueled by the dedication of our students and guided by the strategic #mentorship and support of our advisory boards.?We've recently?held our Internal Advisory Board for Sustainable Education, bringing together key faculty and advisors to guide our efforts in advancing sustainability at UC and leveraging the the existing resources on campus. We extend our sincere thanks to all the IAB advisors for their participation and expertise:?Rajan Kamath, David Stradling, Andrew Bernier, PhD,?Alexandra Roman Gonzalez,?Sid Thatham,?Braden Trauth,?Ahmed Elgafy, PhD, Eduardo Martinez,?LAURA Zanotti, and?Amanda Webb. We also hosted our External Advisory Board for Sustainable Business, bringing together the region’s leaders in sustainability to discuss ways to connect the local industry with opportunities in sustainable innovation and programming at the University of Cincinnati. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to driving sustainability forward, fostering innovation, and creating real-world impact. We are incredibly grateful for the invaluable guidance and support you provide to help advance Net Impact UC’s mission. Special thanks to?Mary Cropenbaker,?Jeremy Faust,?Amanda Petzinger,?Pete Blackshaw,?Lisa Ingmarsson Zwack?, Councilwomen Meeka Owens M.Ed., Melissa Wideman, Marianne Lewis, and?Tim Donovan?for being part of?EASBS.?Together, we’re building a more sustainable future!